The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-11-06
Extracts from q Speech by Richard
O'Gorman, Of New York.

We want to elect a President that shall not
be the President OF a section, not the Presi-
dent of o class, not the President of a party,
but President Of all parties, of all classes. all
races, black men as well as white men, native
born and foreigners, North and South, East
and West-a President of all the people, a
President of all this great Nation, the latest
I and greatest republic of this earth.
/ Four years and no more was the term that
the Constitution designated for the govern
ment by any one man or any one party in the
an important provision that is. Four years is
something in the life of every one. Events
change in four years; public opinion changes
in four years. party that may be useful and
powerful for good now. may -four years hence,
be mischievous and dangerous. Thus, a par
ty that could, at its own will and pleasure,
hold power in the United States more than
four years, not to speak of party that could
SO hold power for twenty years, may check
progress and expansion, and become a
standing menace to the liberties of this peo-
pie.
Fellow citizens, let us look at this question
from the high position of American citizens
American patriots-and not from the position
OF Democrats contending with Republicans.
Don't you see that when any one party contin-
ues to hold power tortwenty years, the length
of its tenure of Office enables it. by thousand
means, to fortify itself more and more in
hold office for twenty years more. and SO on n
until it becomes the only .party-absorbs the
power and life of all other parties,
and introduces an imperial or arlsto-
party that can continue itself in office for
more than the term allotted by the Constitu-
ton and by the traditions of the people is a
party Will strive to continue itself in Office
forever. There is no instance in all the his
tory OF mankind of any party that has once
grasped that power that did not hold it with
liberties of the people and erected itself into
imperial dominion. The first duty therefore,
OF the American people now is to take care
that no party be allowed to grow into a
dynasty, and perpetuate its power. =
Now, citizens let us see where we stand as
to the next Presidential election. First, can
we be sure that we are to have fair election?
Until 1876 that question need never to have
been ASKED. But, in 1876, there happened an
event most disastrous and disgraceful, not
only to the Republican party, but reproach
and disgrace to the whole republic. You, the
dent. You elected him By d popular majority
of q quarter of million. He was elected by q
majority OF the electoral vote. You the peo-
pie. expressed yeur sovereign win in the
A party-no, not. party, but q cabal,
Clique, conspiracy in the Republican
party, gainsaid the sovereign viii of the peo-
whom YOU clectedwas cheated out Of his cleo
t1on. That man was Samuel j. Tilden You
saw him denied tlle ONCE to which your voices
would have borne him. And the man you did
MI that ONCE than any one of those I see
before me- that man, for nearly four years.
Dy trick and device, fraud and conspir-
insfon, and performs the duties Of
N once to which he was not chosen.
Therefore I say 70 You. citizens, Il Il BY no
count and tres election. or that we shall ever
have . fair election again. An depends ON
ne sy eSI ls the people Of she United states
Fey ~ ft tss nov = 5ney dons stamp with the
BY which their SOVEREIGN with VIVA III varied