Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1880-06-09
ELK POINT UNION COUNTY. D. T. WEDNESDAY, JUNE g.
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION.


the CHICAGO CONVENTION.
First Day.
CHICAGO, June 2.--At LOS precisely Chairman
Cameron. Of the national committee, called the
convention to order. Rev. A. e. Kittredge of
the Third Presbyterian church Of Chicago in-
yoked Divine blessing upon the labors Of the
convention, returning thanks in an eloquent
prayer for the prosperity and unity Of this ma
The chairman then called on the secretary to
read the call and Secretary Keogh proceeded in
q clear voice to read the document.
MIR. Cameron then spoke as follows.
0xNTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: Before the
convention enters upon the important duties that
have called us together, ask your attention for sim
gle momcnt. During the canvass just onded there
has been manifested In many sections OF the country
considerable bitterness which trust viii! entirely
dsappearbefore entering upon the grave duties do.
voivtng upon us. Let there be but one motive gov
erning action and let that be determination TO
place in nomination the strongest possible candidates.
men strong in themselves, strong in the confidence
and affection OF the people and men who will COM
mand the respect Of the civilized world. Our
try Of which We are justly proud, has grown SO rap
idly in population, wealth and influence during the
existence of the Republican party that have at
tained position - 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
will enable them TO direct affairs that will
take the lead In commerce as we have in agriculture
and manufactures. Do not for moment doubt the
strength OF institutions. They have been tried III
blood and came from the contest better, stronger,
purer than the most ardent patriot dared to hope for
No combination OF circumstances, no coere OF indi
viduals no personal ambition ever prevail against
the intelligence and inborn love Of liberty which
implanted In the hearts Of Americans. When the
nominations are made and the convention has COM
pleted its work, let there be but one sentiment
animatng al earnest sincere and unseliish Republi-
cans and let that be that each shall vie with the other
in carrying our grand old party through the coming
contest to victory.
have been requested by the national committee to
designate Hon. George F. 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
appeared with Mr.. Hoar the audience broke
forth in loud applause.
The chair proposed on behalf Of the national
committee the following g-named gentlemen to
complete the organization: Temporary secre-
taries-John. Fl. Roberts, Of Illinois; Z. 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 OF THE CONVENTION: thank you for
this distinguished mark of your confidence. The
trainers Of the constitution expected that the presi-
dent would be chosen by electors who assembled
in their respective states and on consultation with
each other give their ballots for chief magistrate.
In Of failure by the electors, the house Of rep
resentatives 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 remove the choice OF the
tive but the people, by the customs they have estab
lished have baed the expectations Of the trainers Of
pf1efit xClaN 1aJ io t.,txa
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 are practically restricted. The functions
of this convention, therefore, is to of the
two men from whom the people of the United States
are to select their president If it performs Its
duties wisely fearlessly, freely, s to name the
whom the people will make their president. Your
term Of oce is brief, but scarcely any duty s In
trusted to the most honored citizen Of the Republic
which in dignity in authority, in farreaching public
importance equals yours. 1t is twenty years since
the Republican convention met In this city, which,
1ycon oa and ~
has gone to his rest. His companion upon that
ticket, in fresh and vigorous age is present with
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 now
unchanged in purpose, in temper and in character.
The Democratic party was ruled then now, by
the south. The single purpose OF Its being w0s to
give supremacy to the oigarchies Of the SOUTH and
office, without influence, 10 their subservient north
ern allies. In the pursuit OF that end every great
public interest was sacrificed or disregarded. Ex-
pending little for public improvements either in the
west or in inland river or lake. in 1890 the credit Of
the nation was poor, the treasury empty te six per
een Sonas below oSs snIf
per labor of Europe. on whose workshops we de-
pended for large portion Of the necessaries and
comforts Of life Our little navy was scattered over
he Efarr vs,i1li
trymen were in hopeless bondage. To them every
new state it took its place In the great family but
added new dungeon to their gloomy prison house.
At last, the Democratic party let 60 its hold on
power, the national dag itself seemed about to be
folded and laid aside to be regarded thencefo-th
miserable symbol Of the utiity and folly Of the last
great experiment Of self-government. The Demo
cratic party confronts us to-day, said, unchanged
in purpose, in temper and character. United in
4 apon the G
nation has thrown around the purity Of ie elections
1t can other evil except that freeman should
ss itee vote % ns S o. the nal
accomphce Of the White League and the
Ku-Klux. In South Carolina It takes the
into its place. In New York 1t issues fraudulent
naturalization papers, three thousand In num-
her, In Maine its ambitious larceny tries to pilfer
whole state government at once In Delaware looks
with complacency on the whipping post. Az in war
1t found in the constitution nothing which could pro-
tect the national life in peace Il finds nothing there
which can protect the national honor. Can you 6nd
in the history Of the Democratic party for the past
sixteen years anything that the Democratic party has
done or tried to do except 70 break down the legal
Republican party has no such miserable history:
The rebellion subdued, slaves freed, great public
ways constructed, homestead laws, naturalization
sound currency restored, nag respected above al.
But not for these things aone chiefly does the Re
publican party live. The Republic Hives, the Reput-
can party lives, that every man within our borders
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