The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-09-28
Hon. Robert M. MCLanGs Speech.
THE POLITICAL SITUATION DIS.
CUSSED.
He Defines His Position.
Democratic Administration Needs no
Apology.
The Republican Party Must do.

Mr. McLan@, upon being informed of his
nomination for Governor by the Democratic
Convention, upon invitation came into the
convention and addressed the asscmblaee.
His speech, says the Sun, was delivered with
out notes, and with ease, tluency and DELHI
erateness, Mr.. McLane, with his prominent
features, smooth.shavcn face, high choker
collar and digniaed bearing, looks like one
of the statesmen of the old Wing and Demo-
cratic times. His style of speaking is charac.
tcrizel by clcarncss and argumcntative force
without attempt at rhetorical display. He
spoke as follows;
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Con-
vcntion: Naturally the first thing have to
say is to make to you my grateful thanks for
the honor your nomination coniers upon me-
Although appreciate it fully had no aspi-
ration, | had no inclination which impelled
me to desire it or to seek it-nonc whatever
Whatever political ambition | may have had
has been in another direction, and has been
more than fully satisfied by the sutfrages of
the people of this State. Nevertheless | am
fully sensible of the obligation imposed upon
me by my past life in the Democratic party,
and there is no service, none whatever, that
the party could call upon me to perform that
! would not cheerfully perform at any sacri-
flee Applause. | do not think it to be in
good taste in accepting your nomination to
qualify my acceptance in the least degree by
reference to any personal inconvenience that
it may occasion me, and only refer to it that
may be at liberty to say that | accept the
call rs n duty, and as a duty | mean to per
iormit. Applause
Of course cannot fail to note certain in
cidents-let me call them, if you please, in
cidents-of discomfort or of disturbance in
the Democratic party. | cannot fail to note
them because they have been presented to
my attention in every conceivable form, in
private current life, in the most formal man.
rcr that public men could select to make
known to the Democracy of the State the eX-
istence of disagrecable incidents calculated to
weaken the party if not to secure its defeat :;
but in noting them | wish you, Mr. Presi-
dent, to understand that note them only as
considerations to excite me to the fullest pos
sble performance of my duty. In so far as
these incidents have reference to riyalries
between public men of the State they ought
not, and, as far as am concerned, they do
not excite my regret. What ought to be the
effect ofrivalry and contest between public
men? If they be honorable rivalres, they
ought to stimulate them to greater eXerton
if they be selfish and passionate rivalry, per
sonal in their character, they are discredita-
BILE to the rivals, and cannot do injury to the
Democratic party
| refer to them again only for the purpose
of bringing to your attention the fact that
am not unmindful of the difficulties suggest
ed to me by my political brethren, nor am
unmindiul of the use that is made fthem by
my political opponents. They are the ammu-
milton given to charge the weapons of the
enemy, and it is because they constitute am
munition given TO charge the weapons of the
enemy that feel at liberty to refer to them,
and to invoke you, rs my political brethren,
to exert your influences with the brethren
themselves to cease this wrangling, and to
take the word of an honorable gentleman
who becomes your candidate that he has no
other interest in the world in the candidature
than the welfare of the State of Maryland and
of the Democratic party. Applause What
higher motive could have in accepting your
nomination than TO contribute in my best de-
gree, and according to the ability which may
have to the welfare of the State and OF tn
Democratic party? More than forty years
ago, side 10y side with the honorable pres-
| dent of this convention enlisted in the SER
vice of that pai ty, and there has never been a
| day in those forty years that | have eXpe-
rienccd anything but satisfaction and success,
As n candidate, cannot recall defeat in
| the ranks of the Democracy. Ii has been my
| good fortune TO bC associated with that party
| in its day oflriumph and victory, when Mary
| land and the entire country felt their obiga-
tions to the party which secured their wei
fare. Applause. Therefore accept this
nomination with no misgiving, because if de.
| feat and disaster should come feel that IN
the company OF that party can bear disaster
| and defeat, il carry its banner hOnorably to
| the front and vlnaicatG its policy
But although nm thus ready to cncoun-
ter the full measure of responsibility which
| belongs To the nomination, | beseech you,
Democrats, not To linger on the way, but to
press forward and to give me all the support
in your power in planting that banner on the
outer walls; and above all things, and for
your own sak,s, do not commit the vet
| greater fault ot wandering away and taking
| service in the ranks IF the enemy, because
| there you add 10 the first crime Il greater
one; and yet that is the natural result of a
resolution to lingcr by the way
Why should not deal us frankly with this
as the occasion requires? These griefs
these difficulties that have been spoken of
with what do they associate themselves? Not
with the policy of the party, because upon
that we are all agreed; it must necessarily be
upon details Well now, in all frankness
fellow. Democrats, what matters the differ
ence of dctaiIsY
| Who is so prcsumpt,ious ms to suppose him
self right and all the rest wrong? If i'm good
faith we mean To have II government poicy
progress and reform, if in good faith VIZ
apply ourselves to that, what matters it thai
| we should differ upon isolated pOints her,