Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-06-16

natl, Just before me. Laughter. We
are here in state of bOundless re-
sources. Although the great body OF
our population are farmers, engaged IN
that highest employment of human life,
the cultivation of the soil, yet we have
coal and iron, the best foundations for
tie most extensive manufacturing estab-
| lishmentS. In temperance, Sobrlety, love
of order, in religious observances, al
ways. accompanied by toleration-in all
the blessings which Providence has
given to mankind, we have at least our
equal share. This State Of Ohio repre-
sents the whole United States in one
sense, for all of the United States. bad
their colonies in this soil, and this West
ern Reserve is nothing but Connecticut
over again, slightly improved. Our pop
ulation is gathered from every land and
from every cline. Every nation of the
world contributes to the wealth of our
cities. Therefore it is that Ohio is al
ways cosmopolitan, and always fair
representative of the vigor and energy,
intelligence and morals of the American
people.
And now, fellow-citizens, something
may be expected of me to say of the
principles and platform, but not much.
The platform of the Republican party is
what it has done. Cheers.l For twen-
ty-fve years the party to which we claim
to belong has been in the vanguard Of
liberty and human progress. We COM
meneed at a Convention like this, over
which had the honor to preside, in Co
lumbus. We commenced in 1855 the
work that has been going on ever since.
We grappled with the institution or
slavery and stayed its progress. APP
plauSe. We marshaled in protection OF
the Union millions of men and spent
billions of treasury freely contributed
by patriotic people to put down IA most
unholy rebellion. We reconstructed the,
revolving States. We emancipated five.
millions of slaves, and we have agreed
to and will give to them all equal civil
and political rights. We lifted our
country from the woes of war and de-
struction, and the waste of war, into the.
most prosperous country in the world
Our credit is untarnished-as good as
that of any nation. Our notes are now
better than gold or silver in or out of
the mines of any land [applausel, and
float everywhere where the sun Shines,
as the promise of an honorable Nation
always faithful to its public obligations.
All these and many more things that /
might mention is lthe work of the Re-
publican party, of which we are mem
bers; and it is this work that is our plat
form. | do not care what platform is
made for u.s. We know what we believe
in, and that which we have done is the
best assurance of that which we intend
to do. We intend to still further adj
vance the public credit, still more rapid
ly tO.pay off the public debt. We intend
to see. God helping us, that every citizen
of this broad land of ours is protected in
the rights which our Constitution gives
to him. cost what it will.
General Garfield-has told us in his in
augural address that all the power which
he commands shall be used for this pur-
pose, and believe him and | believe it
will be DONE This great object of Res
publican policy is now more likely to be
pursued than ever before. The times
are auspiciOus for it. The bitter feel
ings of the war in the South are going
down. The freedmen are gradually get
ting lands, homes and properties. Friends
are springing up around them, and they
are now strong. independent men who,
while they may not agree upon some
things | do say they will stand by the
flag and the cause of human rights.
They have given us their guarantee that
the constitutional amendments shall be
obeyed, and they will be obeyed. Ap-
plause. Within our country, broad and
beautiful in extent and power, contain
ing over fifty millions-of people, expand
ing to a. degree never before occurring
in the history of human kind-our coun-
try will then be Republic of freemen,
all equal before the law and of equal
rights.
There are some other things, my coun-
trymen, about Ohio politics. We haYe
no room in this country for leader who
commands and dictates. Great ap-
plause.l We have great people. Our
conventions are gathered from all parts
of our broad State, brought here as free
men. There never has been and there
never will be room for a primate or
boss. The man who attempts it had
better make his will beforehand. [Ap-
plause.
Fellow citizens. congratulate you
upon the auspicious opening of the ad
ministration of James A. Garfield. We
know that olficeseeking is undoubtedly |
the proper pursuit of mankind. laugh |
teri There may be some disappoint- |
ments, because there are fewer places to
fill than men willing to ill them, but in |
the main, the general principles and
policy of this Administration are in |
harmony with the aspirations of the Re
publican party. The financial policy of |
the last Administration has been sup |
plemented by the reduction of the rate |
of interest on five hundred millions of |
the public securities from five and six |
per cent. to three and one-half per cent. |
This wise measure has been carefully |
and most skillfully managed by Secre-
tary Window, ali Ohio boy. (Applause.) |
They are saving fifteen million dollars
year, and now the debt which frighten-
ed brave men fifteen years ago, has melt |
ed away like snow before summer sun,
no longer frightening the timid, and
now the tax on whisky will pay the in
terest on the public debt. daughter and
applause)
Now, my fellow citizens, l have al.
ready said perhaps all that was necessa-
ry-that the people of Ohio are satisfied
with the Administration as it now
stands. believe car say in advance
of the resolution that has been, or that
will be offered, that General Garfield has
the emphatic approval of the Republi-
cans of Ohio in the course he has pur-
sued thus far. IApplause.l Let him
further advance the public credit; let
him give US an Administration pure,
simple and republican, worthy of Ma
tion like ours, and we will send him our
approval twice over again. Applause.
But, my countrymen, we have something
to do in this task. We have got to en-
phasize our approval by indorsing this
Administration in the election of the
Republican ticket this fall, as we know
of the good effects of the Republican
party, that it has powerful advocacy be-
hind it, so that we dare not do anything