Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-06-14
SPEECH OF FREDERICK
BILLINGS.

made by Mr.. Billings in nominating
Senator Edmunds at the Chicago Con-
vention:
The state earliest born into the Union
after the old 13, whose people have al
ways been loyal to liberty, enthusiastic
ally urges the name of her most distin-
guished son as the fittest name to be
inscribed on the presidential banner. Her
delegates bring that message with joy
and pride alike supreme, because they
know no state has better right to name
representative republican candidate,
and no state can name a better man.
(Cheers.) For the fest time in her his
tory Vermont, though always in the ad-
vance guard of the republican hosts,
comes to the front in a national conven-
ton. She thus comes not seeking reward
for loyalty which has never faltered in
the years gone by, asking price for 10y
atty never to falter in the years to come.
Her republicanism is not born of selfish
ness, it is bred in her bone, it runs in her
blood. (Applause.) Nor does she thus
come because the man she names for the
presidency sprang from her loins. He is
no longer hers, he is the possession and
pride Of the nation. (Applause.) Still
more Vermont would call on her everlast-
ing mountains to fall and hide her before
she would thrust any local pride or selfish
ambition into the councils of this critical
epoch. (Applause.) Vermont rises to
the height Of the occasion. She looks
backward through the years, she sees the
infinite peril, the ignominy, aye the crime
Of turning over the administration Of this
government to a revolutionary demOcra-
cy. (Applause.) She longs for victory,
victory Of craftsmanship after the polls.
| (Applause.) She implores the convention
to let no unnecessary issues, no discords
born of hot rivalries, no personal ambi-
tiOns, no disunions, no anything put the
victory in peril. (Applause.) She prays
| you to make this victory secure by going
| straight to the conscience and intelligence
of the people, not only by a platform
ringing with honor and honesty, from
money clear up through everything to
human rights; but by putting thereon a
candidate far better than the platform,
because known everywhere throughout
| the length and breadth of the land as it's
very incarnation, long tried and never
found wanting. (Great applause.) A
everywhere, who will consolidate the
party, bring every independent into line
and win recruits from the enemy, that
is victory here and now, victory for years
to come. Such a candidate, healing all
dissensions, of wondrous ability, aggres-
sive integrity, of the largest experience
| in public affairs, of the highest statesman
ship is that brave, clear, vigilant man
upon whom rests no shadow of reproach,
to whom in every crisis in the councils of
the nation we turn with joy and conf
dence, the central figure and leader of
the Senate, the foremost type and defend
er of all that is best in the republican
faith, the ideal candidate, not seeking the
office, worthy of the best days of the re-
public, having the promise and potency
of victory is George F. Edmunds. Gap
plause.) And him Vermont nominates
for the presidency. prolonged applause. }
Welcome, gentlemen of the convention,
this breeze from the Green Mountains.
How quickly it will swell into gale, and
how surely sweep the land. applause