The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-06-11
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
National Republican Convention.

the city OF Chicago, on Wednesday, the I'd day
of June. At precisely 1:O3 O'Clock on that day,
Senator J. Donald Cameron, of Pennsylvania,
Chairman OF the Republican National Commit
tee, stepped to the 'front.' raped the desk with
his gayel, and said
The convention will come to order. The Rev. DR..
Kittredge, of Chicago, will open it with prayer.
After prayer, Secretary Keogh read the call
of the National Committee for the assembling
of the convention.
Chairman Cameron then delivered the fol-
lowing address:
GENTLEMEN THE CONVENTION: ask your at
tention for moment During the canvass Just
ended there has been manifested, in many sections
of the country, considerable bitterness, which, L
trust, will entirely disappear before entering upon
the grave duties devolving upon us. Let there be
but one motive governing action, and let that be
determination to place in nomination the strongest
possible candidates-1nen strong in themselves, men
strong in the confidence and affections of the people,
and men who will command the respect of the civil
lied world. Our country, of which
justly proud, has grown rapidly in population,
wealth and influence during the existence of the Re-
publican party that we have attained a position
one of the leading powers of the world; and
no longer be satisfied with isolation. Recognize
ing the changed condition. must place in position
whose familiarity with other nations will enable
them to direct our affairs that will take the
lead in commerce, as we have in agricult-
Ure and in manufacturing. Do not for
a moment doubt the strength of situa-
tons They have been tried in blood
and came through the contest better, stronger and
purer than the most ardent patriot dared to hope for
No combination of circumstances, coterie OF indi
Viduals, no personal ambition, can ever prevail
against the intelligence and the Unborn love of lib
erty which implanted in the hearts of Americans.
When the nominations are made and the Convention
has completed its work. let there be but one senti-
ment aninating all earnest, sincere and unselfish
Republicans and let that that each shall vie with
the other in carrying our grand old party through
the coming contest to victory
have been instructed by the Republican National
Committee to place in nomination Temporary
Chairman the Hon. George F. Hoar, of Massachusetts,.
All who in favor Of that nomination will say aye;
contrary no. The ayes have it.
The Chair will appoint Gov. Davis, of Texas, the
Hon. viii lam B. Fry, of Maine, and the Hon. Green
ID. Raunl, of Illinois, committee to conduct the
Chairman to his seat.
The Committee returned in few moments
with Mr.. Hoar, who, after being introduced to
the Convention by Mr.. Cameron, spoke as fol-
lows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: Accept my
thanks for this distinguished mark of your conf
denCe.
The trainers of the constitution expected that the
President would be chosen by electors, who to
assemble in their respective States, and consua-
tiOn with each other, cast their ballots for Chief
Magistrate, and in case Of failure by the electors,
the House of Representatives voting by States were
TO make the choice from the four who had the high
est number of voices in the colleges. So far from
direct popular representation did the constitution
remove the choice of the Executive. But the people,
ny Uu0 CUSTOMS Ll6y nave 0SLaDuSQ6Qs nave
bated the expectation Of the trainers Of the consti-
tuition. The elector to-day is but a SCRIBE The
conventions OF the great political parties designate
each man for whom the people vote directly through
their agents, the Presidential Electors, and to a
choice between whom they practically restricted.
The function OF this convention is, therefore, to
name one of the two men from whom the people of
the United States to select their President If
performs its duties wisely fearessy and freely it is
TO name a man whom the people will make their
President. Your term of Office is but brief, but
61Itx jO i1otJ bod fN
citizens OF the republic which, in dignity, in author
1ty, in far-reachng public Importance, equals it.
1t is twenty years since the Republican Convention
met In this city, which, after stormy but friendly
contest put in contest Abraham Lincoln and Hanni-
bal Hamln. Lincoln has gone to his rest. His COM
0non upon the ticket, i'll fresh and vigorous age is
present with us to-day to give counsel from the
stores OF an experience gathered from life of hon
orabe public service. Lincoln has gone to his rest
Douglas and Breckenridge, his two competitors for
the great office of the Presidency, sleep by his side.
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, as now, by the South. The single
purpose of its being to give political supremacy
to the oigarchs of the South and Office, without in
fuence, to their subservient Northern allies.
In the pursuit of that end, every great public in
terest was sacrificed disregarded. Expending
for public improvements, either the
castor inland river lake. in 1860 the credit of
the nation was poor, its treasury empty, and it's
6-per-oent bonds below par. Our unprotected man
ufactures commended at fearful ODDS with the pauper
labor of Europe, on whose workshops we depended
for large portion Of the necessares and comforts of
life. Our little navy was scattered over the four
quarters of the globe 1000, 900 of our countrymen
were in hopeless bondage; to them every State,
it took its place in the great family but added
new dungeon to their gloomy prison-house.
at last, as the Democratic party let 90 it's hold on
power, the national flag itself seemed about to be
folded and laid aside to be regarded thenceforth as
a miserable symbol of the futility and folly of the
last great experiment of self-government. The
Democratic party confronts to-day, I said, I'M
changed in purpose, in temper and in character;
united in nothing else, proposing no other
OF policy it wages it's warfare upon the safeguards
which the nation has thrown around the purity of
its elections. 1t can nothing else of evil except
that the freemen should cast free vote under the
protection of the national authority.
In Louisiana and Mississippi it is the accompiice
of the White League and the Ku-KluX In South
Carolina it takes the honest ballot from the box and
stutfs tissue ballots in it's place In New York it is
sues fraudulent naturalization papers, three score
thousand in number, In Maine its ambitious larceny
tries to pilfer whole State Government. In Della
ware it stands compacently by the whipping-post.
AS in war it found in the constitution nothing which
could protect the national life, so in peace it finds
nothing there which protect the national honor.
Can you find i'll the history Of the Democratic party
for sixteen years anything that it has either
fame tried to do, except to break down the legal
safeguards which make free elections possible? Yes
my friends, the Republican party has such mser-
able history. 1t tells you of rebellion subdued of
slaves freed; of great public ways constructed of
rivers and harbors opened to commerce; of home
sead laws for the Settlers of treaties protecting the
nights of naturazed citizens abroad of public
credit re-estabished of sound currency restored;
Of flag floating everywhere, honored and respected,
over peaceful seas and welcomed everywhere in
friendly ports. But not for these things alone
does the Republican party challenge your re-
spect or demand your confidence. Ma
Tonal wealth may exist, manufactures
may flourish, commerce may increase in the nation
whose people are degraded and enslaved. The key
note of every Republican PLATFORM the principle of
every Republican union, is found in its respect for
the dignity of the individual man. Until that be-
the pervading principle of the republic, from
Canada to the Gulf, from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
mission is not ended. The republic lives the
Republican party lives but for this-that every man
within borders may dwell in happy
home, may cast and have counted his equal voe and
may send his child at the public charge to a free
school.
Until these things to pass the mission of our
party is not accomplished, is its conflict with it's
ancient adversary ended.
My friends, thank you again for this distin-
guished mark of your confidence, which will en-
deavor to merit by performing the duties of the chair
during the brief space that shall fill it without re-
spec of persons of desire among the delegates of
this convention. 1 now await the pleasure of the
convention.