Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-06-10
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION.


convention, returning thanks IN an eloquent
prayer for the prosperity and unity of this ua-
ton.
The chairman then called on the secretary to
read the call and Secretary keogh proceeded in a
clear voice to read the document.
Mr. Cameron then spoke as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF TIE CONVENTION: Before the
convention enters upon the important duties that
have called us together, ask your attention for a
single moment. During the canvass lust ended there
has been manifested in many sections OF the country
considerable bitterness which trust will entirely
disappear before entering upon the duties de
volving upon us. Let there be but motive gov
ernng our action and let that be determination to
place in nomination the strongest possible candidates.
men strong in themselves, strong in the confidence
and affections Of the people and men who will COM
mand the respect of the civilized world Our coun-
try, of which We are justly proud has grown rap
idly in population, wealth and influence during the
existence of the Republican party that we have at
tanned position as one of the leading powers of the
world
We can no longer be satisfied with our isolation
Recognizing the changed condition must place in
position men whose familiarity with other nations
viii enable them to direct our atfsirs that viii
take the lead in commerce we have in agriculture
and manufactures. Do not for moment doubt the
strength of our institutions. They have been tried
in blood and came from the contest better stronger
purer than the most ardent patriot dared to hope for
No combination Of circumstances, coterie of ind-
yiduals personal ambition ever prevail against
the intelligence and the Unborn love of liberty which
are implanted in the hearts of Americans. When
the nominations are made, and the convention has
completed its work, let there be but sentiment
animating all earnest sincere and unselsh Republic
cans and let that be that each shall vie with the other
in carrying our grand cid party through the coming
contest to victory
have been reques ed by the national committee to
designate Hon. George +. Hoar, of Massachusetts,
temporary chairman.
The chair appointed Governor Davis, of
Texas Mr.. Frye, of Maine, and Gen. Raum of
Illinois, committee to wait on Mr.. Hoar and
conduct him to the chair As the committee
with Ny IA
forth in loud applause.
The chair proposed ON behalf of the national
committee the following-named gentlemen to
complete the organization: Temporary secre-
taries-John H. Roberts, of Illinois; c. l..
Magee, of PENNSYLVANIA; Chas. W. Clisbee of
Michigan; JAS. c. Broadwell, of Missouri. as
reading clerk, and Eugene Davis, of New York.
as stenographer.
Upon taking the chair, Mr.. Hoar spoke as
follows:
GENTLEMEN THE CONVENTION: thank you for
this distinguished mark of your confidence. The
trainers of the constitution expected that the pres-
dent would be chosen by electors who were assembled
In their respective states and consultation with
each other give their ballots for chief magi strate.
In of failure by the electors, the house of rep
resentatves acting by states were to make choice
from the four who had the highest number of votes
in the colleges. SO far from direct popular action
did the constitution the choice of the
tive but the people, by the customs they have estab
shed have baied the expectations of the trainers of
The conventions Of the great political parties desig
nate each for whom the people vote directly through
their agents, the electors, and to choice between
whom they practically restricted. The functions
of this convention therefore, is to name of the
two men from whom the people of the United States
are to select their president. If it performs its
duties wisely, fearessy, freely it IL to name the man
whom the people viii make their president Your
term of Office is brief, bur scarcely any duty is in
trusted to the most honored citizen Of the Republic
which in dignity, in authority, in farreachng public
Importance equals yours. 1t is twenty years since
the Republican convention met in this city, which,
after stormy but friendly contest put in nomination
Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamin. Lincoln
has gone to his rest. His companion upon that
tcHe in a fresh and vigorous age' is present with
to-day to give us counsel from the stores of
an experience gathered from life OF honorable pub
lie service Lincoln has gone to his rest, as have
Douglas and breckenridge, his two competitors for
the great office of president but the parties which
confronted each other then confront each other
unchanged in purpose, in temper and in character.
The Democratic party was ruled then as now, by
the south The single purpose of its being was to
give political supremacy to the oligarchies of the
south, and office, without influence, to their subser
Went northern allies. In the pursuit of that end
every great public interest was sacrificed disre
garded. Expanding little for public improvements,
either in the west or in inland river and lake, in 1860
the credit of the nation poor, its six per cent
bonds below par. Cur unprotected Manufacture
commended at fearful disadvantage with the paupor
labor of Europe, on whose workshops We depended
for large portion of the necessares and comforts of
life. Our 'itte navy was scattered the four
quarters If the globe. Four million countrymcn
in JpeieHs bondage To them every state
ii took It's place in the great family but added new
dungeon to their gloomy prison-house. At last,
the Democratic party let go its hold power, the
national flag itself seemed about to be folded and laid
aside to be regarded thenceforth as miserable SYM
Dol of the fuiy and folly of the last great expert
ment of self-goyernment The Democratic party
confrons us to-day. as said, unchanged in purpose,
In temper and character. United in nothing else
proposing no o'ner measure of policy, it urges its
warfare upon the safeguards which the nation has
thrown around the purity of the elections can see
other evil that freeman should cast
vote under the protection of the national authority
In Louisiana and Mississippi it is the accom-
pce of the White League and the
Ku-Klux. In South Carolina it takes the
honest ballot from the box and sus the tissue ballot
into its place. In New York it issues fraudulent
naturalization papers, three score thousand in num-
ber In Maine its ambitious larceny tries TO pilfer
whole state government at once IL Delaware itlooks
with complacency on the whipping post. As in war
II found in the constitution nothing which could pro
tect the national life, so in peace it finds nothing
there which can protect the national honor. Canyon
find in the history of the Democratic party for the
last sixteen years anything the Democratic party has
done or tried to do except to break down the legal
safeguards to make these things possible? The
Republican party has no such miserable history;
The rebellion subdued slaves freed, great public
ways constructed, homestead laws, naturalization
treaty, public credit rc d. debt diminished,
sound currency restored, flag respected, above all.
But not for these things alone, chiefly does the Re-
publican party live The Republic lives, the Repuh-
hcan party lives that every within our borders
may dwell secure in happy home, may cast and
have counted his equal vote, may send his child at
the public charge TO free school, Until these things
come to pass from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from
Canada to the Gulf the mission of our party il not
accomplished nor its warfare on Its ancient adver-
sary ended.
Hale of Maine. offered a resolution that the
roll Of states be called, and that members be
named by the chairman of each state for men,
bers of committees on permanent organization,
rules, credentials, and of resolutions.
Mr.. FRYE. of Maine. called attention to the
omission Of Utah in the call, and asked that it