Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-10-28
MEETING AT ROCHESTER,
Speech by Hon. M. j. Severance Tuesday
Evening, Oct. rs.

man who has lived in Minnesota for twenty
six years. He never was a politician and per-
haps I can adduce no better evidence of that
than the fact that during the entire twenty-six
years until this year he has made no stump
speeches. and during that entire twenty-six
years, being professional and business man,
has from the time he was in the service of the
United States. in the army during the war,
been one of our prominent citizens, and vet
has never been before Rochester audience.
am glad that he signals his first appearance
before you in the cause of Hancock. English
and Wells. (Applause) / now have the
pleasure of introducing to you Mr.. Severance,
of Mankato. (Applause.)
NIB. sEyERANCE's SPEECH.
MIR. Severance on rising said: For the first
time in my life it has fallen TOT me to have the
pleasure of addressing an audience in the city
of Rochester. Although an old resident of the
State of Minnesota. came here for one single
purpose, not relying on my own abilities to
regale you beyond other men or to instruct
you more thai others could do; but l have
come to talk plainly and in homely manner,
upon some of the issues OF this campaign,
viii Oh is one of interest and Importance to the
country. have prepared no dedactic Grafton,
composed of generalites to your emotions; but
only for the purpose of making candid state
ment of the issues on the part of the Demo-
cratic party as they are now presented.
For several thousand years past our race has
been striving to learn what was the proper
limit, and what would conduce to the happi.
ness of the greatest number; what would give
the highest hope to liberty, not only to this
country, but all over the world. The people
of this country more than 100 years ago cheese
for themselves self government as the means
most likely to conduce to the prosperity of
this country, and the most consistent with
every aspiration of human liberty. The
speaker went on at some length, reciting the
early history of the government and continu-
ing, said: That the formula of the govern
msnt was that of republic and
that of self-government. 1t was
not necessarily munifcent government
nor government of liberty, government
that will protect human rights, for no govern
ment Of itself will do this. 1t all depends
upon the propriety of its original construc-
ton; upon the division of powers among de-
partments; upon the liberty and power retained
by the people and the way that these powers
are executed. A self. government may be as
tyranlcal as any government on earth; it may
be as despotic as that of Turkey or Russia. He
referred to the three departments of the gov
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. judicial, executive.
Tlese he said were the only departments that
can exercise any government outside of the
people who have certain powers retained in
themselves. It is our duty to see that all these
work in harmony with each other, and if they
to sound the cry of peril to the republic.
know that the Republicans tell us that
Democrats are sticklers for the constitution.
Well, they ought to be and must be so; or there
Is no faith in this republic; they tell us Demo.
Gratis care everything for the constitution,
but nothing for the country; that is begging
the question. tell you the constitution is
the country; it is nothing more and nothing
less. The constitution is, of course, the great
and sacred compact of the country, and it
should be adhered to upon all occasions. We
may sometimes differ as to its legal construc-
ton, but there is no difficulty in constituting
the constitutional compact, if we will only lay
aside party seifishness, party ambition.
lust for power, hope for sggrandizement, and
look to the veal of the country. One violation
of its provision is precedent which jnstifes
another, until it becomes weaker and less CO.
hesive than rope of sand. It is a very slight
circumstance that will make an inroad into q
constitutional compact and destroy it. Cicero,
the greatest orator of antiquity said that one
single violation of the constitution OF Rome
led to its decline, its destruction, and its
going down en- masse in the whirl-
pool of unutterable ruin, and
he said that the mere fact that the Roman
Senate exceeded their powers was the first
savage blow that was struck at the Roman
constitution.
The occasion of this canvass is one of the
highest importance to this country. Both of
the great parties have selected their candidates
and the issue is, which of them shall be elect
ed. Each OF these two men were entitled to
fair and impartial hearing, and each party is
being tried before the tribunal of this coun-
try. These two great parties in the outset
laid down two political formulas; these are
torches held out ostensibly for the purpose of
leading the people to victory, but so far as has
appeared on the face of these political plat
forms, there was no visible difference between
them. Both parties were in favor of an honest
administration. of sound currency
and the ultimate success and eternity
of duration of this great republic.
There must necessarily be two political PARTIES
in the country. 1t has always been so and al
ways will be; government which had only one
party, generation after generation, was moth
ing but despotisp. He argued at some
length to show that political parties be-
came corrupt by long continuance in power,
and the best interests of the people demanded
change.
In closing, the speaker paid a glowing tri-
butte to Gen. Hancock. He said that he had
been nominated for President, believing that
country deeply indicated to its heroes could
not possibly reject him. He had no time-se;y-
ing political record. Drawing in with his
frat breath the principles of pure Democracy.
he cherished them as he would great and sue
cessful name. a patriot by instinct and a pa
triot by education, he ever moved with a natu
raj dignity in the graceful circle that bounded
the hemisphere of his duty. He always stood
on the outer watson the ramparts of his
country-defying every enemy and hurling
back every foe, with a stalwart patriotism,
born of an innate devotion to liberty and a true
conception OF the spirit of a government organ.
lied for the protection and not for the destruc
ton of human rights. Wherever we have seen
him we have found him the same great, grand
man. In that contest beyond
the Rio Grande, the very exaltation of human
bravery, he was one of the Tuscans that
transfxed the degenerate Castillian tribe and
wrote an exultant page in the annals of Ameri-
can contests. When the long roll that died
away in the corridors of Mexican palace. was
heard, resounding in our midst land summon
ing US to fraternal slaughter, he remembered
the great oath he had taken on the altar of his
country. He again drew his sword to assist the
integrity OF this great republic. He drew a
vivid picture of the horrors of Gettysburg and
the gallant part taken by Gen. Hancock in
that decisive struggle, and continuing, said:
When the war was over it had no victims with
him; he led no bling captives along the
Appian Way. When the war was over Gen.
Hancock with his own right arm shut ont of
sight the instruments of human slaughter.
and invited the whole world to follow
him into the temple of concord
and peace. Let us 60 with him and sacrifice
on its sacred affairs to that principle of univer-
Il ho.r x<,ED D.