Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-08-19

be those of the gentleman now holding
that place, and that consequently much
good could be done both to the State
and the party therefrom.
1t was in no spirit of mere Union par
tisanship that these letters were adj
dressed to me, but rather as depreciat-
ing such distinctions and predicating
their choice on grounds only too COM
plimentary to myself But there were
other communications, more numerous
even and united i'm expression, coming
from those who had been under politi-
cal disabilities after the war, who had
been restored to citizenship, largely as
they were pleased to attribute it, by the
result of my canvass for Governor in
1870, that they felt incumbent on them
a debt of gratitude for that service and
wanted to repay it by returning me to
the Senate and to the sphere of national
politics. Now, my Democratic friends,
/ trust / do not put forward any arro-
giant claim, and you can correct me IL
do, when say that to that great work
of the emancipation of the white men of
this State-the Democrats of this State
some of the hardest work and most
intense hours of my life were given, and
that the result was to bring into exist
ence as voting power the large Dem
ocratic majority you now hold in Mis-
souri,. And if you feel, my fellow-citi-
Zens-yOu who In your own persons re-
aliZe that very restoration tn civil rights,
that l am entitled to to this return at
your hands, if you feel that for high pub
lie duty thus unflinchingly performed
in the past, it is right that you should
intrust me with your confidence and ap-
probation i'm the present, if you feel that
it is not true that political favor soon
passes into oblivion, nor is it true that
political gratitude is a thing of the i'm
agination, then / shall be proud tO re-
ceive such consideration at the hands
of the 10000 Democrats of this State
once alien to its francbise-whO now
stand clothed in all the panoply of citi-
zen rights.
Recurring to that conflict of 1870, I
am reminded that it was here in this
| very county of Buchanan, under the
| frown of the Federal administration,
| that the gauge of battle was thrown
down, which resulted so gloriously.
And who of all the Democrats who
knew that dismal era i'm our politics.
does not remember it to this day as IA
very parody on Republican govern
| ment. The negroes were free, only the
whites were slaves, and it was the tell
purpose to keep them so indefinitely.
At the gathering of thousands upon
| thousands in the uass meetings of that
year, the finger of Federal officials
! would point and say, What matters it
how many they are-they have no
votes. In a whole school district with
iinthe sotifd alasosc OF my Fr5t5e 0uUne
| OCCASION only two voters could he found
| to organize it. This very township in
which l stand was entirely disfian-
chised. Aud when the words of def
ance uttered in behalf of the Liberals
of Missouri against President Grant and
his policy of hate and intolerance, rang
out on the memorable night in response
to the removal of Mr.. Pike.
'.And must Trellwoey die.
And shall TrelawDry die!
If :, ten thousand Cornish men
VIII know The reason why"
Who of you all does not recall the cleo |
tric bound with which the Democracy |
of Missouri again took heart and went
to the front? l know not whether you
can forget those stirring times, my
friends, but know never shall, and
can assure you that nothing touches me
more profoundly than to find so wide
spreada disposition amongst those ofour
people restored to their civil rights to
visit it upon me in comforting this high
est honor i'm the gift of our State.
misunderstood. If fsympathy-if what
you may term graiitude-although i
disclaim utterly any such obligation on
your part tor the mere performance of
u duty on Inine-shall commend me to
your favor, rest assured That nothing
would induce me to avail myself of
such kindness but n sincere conviction
that in the era about TO dawn upon our
nation / could perhaps render some
service TO the State better than anolb-
er. It seems TO me that Missouri is i'm
a posi- ion 10 invite 10 her borders the
choicest immigration of all the older
Sra es if only her leaders in Congress
will devote their time somewhat more
closely TO industrial politics and great
Western interests. Central in position,
with a prepondering public thought
that should have great influence in ma
tonal Democratic councils, if tliat par !
ty shall attain TO power, she is likely to
bee me under the next census the al bi- q
ter of the domestic policy of the valley :
Of Mississippi. Representative of the y
great rivers of the continent. she needs '
only 10 will it aud the appropriations I
will be made, aud the genius called '
rorth that shall make them free and I
safe highways for all The grain of the a
TO the Gulf. Your lands c
hen will be trebled i'm value, for the :
short transit to a waterway will take
he place of the long haul by rail to the u
ocean, and you will reap the benefit Of y
his decreased cost of transportation.
Population VII then seek as eagerly 10 j
De within reach of your river as it now o
lasteus TO settle on the praries of the n
Far West. Nature will he permitted .
gain to reassert herself and the rail- q
way, instead of supplanting, will sim G.
,ly supply the connecting links of more p
,ighly favored channels of communica- e.
ion. / say that i'm the near future, If
our platform Is broad enough, and you
those welded to these ideas il
o make them national, there is no rea- G
on why they should not become domi- p
Iant and Missouri take her place as b.
he representative State of the valley te
f the Mississippi. cl
But will not trespass upon you to- d
ay by descanting on other measures, b.
which should fill out such a scheme Of st
nture legislation, all redounding to ell