The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-09-01


Again we come together TO consent to feel
each others pulses, to create sentiment and
to be influenced by it, to make one step for
ward If practicable. No party can live on
its record any more than thoroughbred
can live on his pedigree, a family on
its traditions, or a country on its history.
Not to advance is to retrograde. There is
no middle ground. The Republican party is
the conscience of the 10th century. Zap
plause.] 1t is party of convictions. 1t
lives, moves and has its being in the moral
sentiment of 100000 people. When
it ceases to represent that sentiment
to greater degree than any other
party, then its mission is ended. Because
it embodied a great moral principle, men
have toiled for it, women have prayed for
it, martyrs have suffered for it and heroes
have died for it.
For nearly thirty years its onward march
has been the history of the progress OF the
race [Applause.] Before its birth our
boosted freedom was a myth. 1t meant
freedom for one race and chains for
another 1t meant free speech in
one section and sealed lips in another. The
race has been emancipated, but free speech
has not been secured. Equal and exact JUS
tice has not yet been established Until it
has been the mission of the Republican par
ty it is not ended. Until equal and exact
justice is photographed on the hearts
OF great majority of our people,
until new statutes have engrafted themselves
on the lives of our people, until their spirit
prevades communities like an atmosphere,
the mission of the Republican party is not
ended. [Applause]
TWO YEARS AGO
we marched to victory under the leader
ship of man who was a fine examplar of
what the Republican party would do for
every man. He was the fairest product
nf AmariRan conditions ManU nf
us heard that magnificent exordium
of his at the Chicago convention when he
nominated John Sherman. He said: al
have witnessed the ocean in a storm and
have been swept by its grandeur, but know
that all measurements are taken when its
face is placid and peaceful l have seen this
assembly stirred to its very depths
by its emotions and by its sympa-
thies, and / have been awed
by its tumultuous upheavals; but
know the questions we are now con-
sdering are not to be settled here, but by
the quiet of a million firesides."
1t was decided by the quiet of a million
firesides. We followed him through the long
campaign and noted his temper, his tact, his
courage, the confidence with which he met
all new and perplexing questions, and the
tact with which he met all corners
singly or in delegations We remember
his election his Inauguration and the kiss he
gave Ills oiu INQUIRER alIer CaklnR his oatn Oh
office, and then the deep damnation of
his taking off. We followed him
through the long weeks of sickness
and then to his home. No Roman
consul from the east or from remotest Gaul
coming home in triumph, wendell his way
up the Capitoline hill leading such a pageant
as his, as we laid him away among the hills
of his native state.
In the days of the old French monarchy
when a king died a lord of the household APP
peared upon the balcony of the palace and
breaking a uruncheon which he held in his
hand cried, ''The king is dead, long live the
king" So with u.s. The President is dead,
long live the President. Garfield is gone but
Arthur remains.
THE EXPERIENCE OF THE COUNTRY
had been such with Vice Presidents that it
was not surprising that we looked with fear
at the initial acts of our new President
Many of us forgot that he was infused with
the spirit of those principles for
which the Republican party has al
ways commended; that years ago, VIXEN
it required courage to avow those
principles, he had avowed them and stood
between the oppressed and the oppressor
But time has justified the choice of the Chi
cago convention for Vice President. He has
been loyal to his friends, as any man should
be, but he has been the President of no fac
ton. He has recognized what we all should
recognize, that the harmony of our great
party, where it can be achieved without sac
rifice of principle, is of the first Importance
He has shown wisdom and generosity in rec
ommending measures for the good of the
whole people, and courage in using
unwise and improvident. Applause.
He hath borne himself so well in
his high Office that we may all consider
him worthy of the confidence and support of
all loyal men.
STATE AFFAIRS.
Now, my neutrality-suspicious.. we come to
our biennial election. There is to be no
blow Of trumpets or beating of drums. 1t is
going to be domestic affair. In it, appar-
great principle involved. 1t is time when
our blood is not reused and our best energies
put FORTH and therein lies our danger. You
will remember how near we came to losing the
state in 1874. Our contemplated" majority
was so large that the Republicans became
apathetic and the state came near going by
default. As it was we lost two or three con
gressmen. This came of apathy and of bolt
ing Now, while l believe in the divine
right of boiling believe it should be
REPUBLICANS LAST RESORT,
believe revolution is the last resort of
the patriot. Remember that our party is
emphasis and vitality to our political ideas
and that to be effective it should not be inn
paired by defections or disaffections. Jap
plause.]
IL we have any grievances let us right
them in the party, and bear the ills we have,
rather than fly to others that we know not
of, and which we may be sure will be worse
than those we have. What con5ti-
tutes the strength of the Republican
party is the strength of the individual con-
victions of its members. When the issues
are vital and national, then the party, ami
mated by one spirit, comes together and
moves forward resistless as the Macedonian
phalanx of Alexander or the tenth legion
of Caesar [Applause1
But again, this very individualism is the
party's great weakness. When the emer-
gency is not apparently so great, Republicans
exercise their preference for men and meas
ures regardless of their party, ignoring the
fact that such detection may prove disas-
trous to its organization and to its
discipline. It is not for me
to say how far individual preferences
or conscientious scruples upon measures
of secondary Importance should be permitted
to lead any of us off in devious way; but
do say that it is well that every Re-
publican should weigh carefully the