The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-10-15
WHY 1 AM A REPUBLICAN.


Ladies and Gentlemen.-l hope We
may be able to have quiet and order
here 1t is not important so far as any.
thing that | will have to say to you is
concerned, because l shall not be able
to make many of you hear; but after
me comes speaker whom / know YOU
will all be glad to hear, and you can do
so by keeping quiet and orderly. Not
being accustomed to speaking publicly,
| have drawn off a few words which
will say in advance of the gentleman
who is to follow me.
Taking roll of manuscript from his
pocket, the General read: "In view of
of the known character and ability ofthe
speaker who is to address you to-day,
and his long public career and asso-
citation with leading statesman of this
country for the past twenty years, it
would not be becoming in me to detain
you with many remarks ofmy own, but
it may be proper for me to account to
you on the first occasion of my presid-
ing at political meetings for the faith
that is i'll me. l am Republican, as
the two great political parties are now
divided, because the Republican party
is the national party, seeking the great
est good for the greatest number of its
citizens. There is hot precinct in this
vast nation where Democrat cannot
cast his ballot and have it counted as
cast, no matter what the predominance
of the opposite party. He can proclaim
his political opinions, even if he is one
among thousands, without fear md
without prescription on account of his
opinions. There are fourteen states,
and localities in some others, where
Republicans have not this privilege.
This is one reason why | am Republi.
can. But am Republican for many
reasons. The Republican party assures
protection to life, property, public cred
it and the payment of the debts of the
government, state, county or municip.
al, so far as it can control. The Dem
ocratic party does not promise this. If
it docs it has broken its promise to the
extent of hundreds of millions, as ma
ny northern Democrats can testify tc
their sorrow.
am Republican as between exist.
ing parties, because it fosters the pro.
duciion of the fields and farms, and Of
manufactures and it encourages the
general education of the poor as well
as the rich. The Democratic party
discourages all these when in absolute
power. The Republican party is the
party o. progress and of liberahty TO-
ward its opponents. 1t encourages the
poor to strive to better their condition,
the ignorant to educate their children
to enable them to compete successfully
with their more fortunate associates,
and, in fine, it secures an entire equali-
ty before the law, of every citizen.
No matter what his race, nationality OF
previous condition, it tolerates no priv
LEGGED class; every one has an oppor-
tunity to make himself all he is capable
of. Ladies and gentlemen, do you be-
lieve this can be truthfully said in the
greater part part of fourteen of the
states of this Union to-day, which the
Democrats control absolutely? The
Republican party is party of princi
Piles, the same principles prevailing
wherever it has foothOld.
The Democratic party is united il
but one thing, and that is in getting
control of the government in all its
branches. 1t is for internal improve
ments at the expense of the govern
ment in one section, and against then
in another. 1t favors the Reputation
of solemn obligations in one section
and the honest payment of its debts il
another (where public opinion will no
tolerate any other view.) 1t favor
fiat money in one place and good mon
ey in another. Finally, it favors tn
pooling of all issues not favored by tn
Republicans, to the end that it may Sc
cure the one principle upon which fh
party is most harmonious unit, name
ly, gaining control of the government
in all its breaches. | have been i
some part cfevery state lately in re
bellion within the last year. | wa
Hospitality received at every plac
where | stopped. My receptions wer
by all classes without distinction
had free talk with MANY who wer
against us in the war, and who hav
been against the Republican party eve
since. They were in all instances req
sonable men, judged by what the
said. believed then, and believe now
that they sincerely want breakup /
,, this solid South, in its political cond
ton. They see that it is to their p,
, cuniary interests, as well as TO the
happiness, that there should be harmC
, ny and confidence between all section
: They want to break away from IL
slavery which binds them to part
/ name they want pretext that enoug
of them can unite upon to make it r
spectacle. Once started, the soil
! South will go as Ku-Klnxism did b
y fore, 50 admirably told by Judg
! Tourjee in his "Fool's Grand" WhC
!, the break comes those who start il wi
be astonished TO find how many
= their friends have been in favor of
for long time, and have on
been waiting to see some one take Il
lead. This desirable solution can on
h be attained by the defeat, and contil
), ued defeat ofthe Democratic party,
now constituted.