Omaha daily bee., 1883-02-13

anu tried Republicans nau already ~
were about to sever connection with
the party they had loved for years
and still loved. Many of then
declared that it had outllved it
usefulness; that The leaders o
the party were not representative o.
the party, but Of factions; that the,
had not been the voluntary and fire.,
choice of the majority of the party
but had been fois,ed into power BY
corrupt and factional msaps, ana tina
so long as tti, condition of thingr
prevailed the party was powerless tc
grapple successfully with the prob.
lens of the day, involving the highest
and most vital interests of tho masses
of the people. This was the condition
OF republican sentiment, and it was
enc ruraged and stimulated by men of
other political organizations who said
thu same thing # their parties. 1t
was mot by an appeal to give the re.
publican party another trial and
promises they should no. be disap
pointed, The majority # the repuo-
Leans in the legisla' ure wanted TO do
the right thing, aud they did do il.
IL wa the Only act Of the Legislature
for which the republican party could
be hald entirely responsible, and that
they acted wisely and well ia attes.ed
by th~epliudits OF republicans through.
out the entire state. No such unity
of sentiment has ever been manifested
by the republicans of the stsre re-
the election Of a United
States senator.
The people of the state, without re-
gard to party, may congratulate them.
selves that, In the election of the gen.
tlemsn, whom we honor this evening,
to the position of United States sena.
tor, they have a representative of high
scholarship, a lawyer who has proved
himself in practice clear headed and
an orator Of power and
finish, a constitution-maker of great
foresight, a citizen whose Loyalty to
republican institutions and the union
of our fathers was proved upon the
field of battle, q statesman who holds
pre-. eminently broad and practical
views of the right and duty of the
government to regulate corporate
power, and to protect its citizens IN.
der any and all circumstances, a gen.
tleman of pure life, and whoss whole
public history is absolutely untainted
by iactional politics.
GEN. CHAS. f.. MABDERSoN,
Senator elect next responded as fol-.
Iowa:
Nix ToAsTMAsTER AND GENTLEMEN:
1t is cifficnit for inc to fiud fitting
words to express my hearty apprecia.
ton of the compliment that is tender.
ed me this evening. I appreciate il
that 1t comes from the citizens q
Omaha; that 1t comes from those, who,
with me. are doubly interested In the
prosperity Of this young city.
Fourteen years ago l landed on THE
side of the Missouri river, desiring tc
make Omaha my home. All that ]
have in the world Is here. The dear,
eat and the warmsst friends are here,
and 1t goes with nut saying, that, com
Ing as this tribute does from
those who have with me this CONNER
interest, I apprec ate it most hearth
ly. I appreciate it, too, that 1t comes
T., me from representatives Ct ths
Grand Army Of the Republic. I be
lieve in this organization; 1 believe
that it exists for good and not fol
harm. I believe that 1t is accom-
plishing much of good, and that il
it's future 1t will accom- lish still
more, and the man who says 1t has 6
limited mission does not understand
the objects for which it was organized
The man who charges that 1t Is in any
sense a political machine does not un,
derstand the objects of Its existence
Applause.
The time has gone by in this state
the time has gone by In this nation
when this organization of discharged
soldiers canbe sneered at or rldiculeC
out of existence. 1t marches to-day
two hundred thousand strong, urdeI
the banner that has e~mblazoned upor
lit the badges of every army corp
that existed during the war of rebel
lion. Its history in this state is ont
that is glorious. Under the control
ing hand of the gentleman who pre-
sides here to night Its posts increased
until they were nearly one hundred IL
number. Under the fostering care o
tho present department commander
Gen. Alexander, 1t has increased t,
nearly one hundred and fifty In mum
Der, and I have this to say (if you vii
excuse a personal reference) that dur
ing the late contest that resulted II
the election of q senator from thi
state no Grand Army man debase,
himself or lowered this order by dom
anything to accomplish the election O
myself Applause. Aud the ma
who says It is either ignorant of tn
existing facts or willfully f%alsifes
knowing the facts of the matter.
As l look about me to.night a foo
of recollections m over me / SO
here those with whom L have been al
ISOLATED for the last Ia years. I rec
ognize at the head of this table q gen
tlemsn with whom I was formerly az
ISOLATED in the profession of law
thank him for the graceful tribute ths
he paid me tonight, but 1 wish ths
when he is to give birth to othe
statesmen he will have them com
upon the fell of existence about 3
years ftom now. Applause. An
whom l look st my old partner and m
much esteemed friend-my comrade {
the Grand Army, I feel that l am lei
ting go, tonight, of my hold upon tn
profession to which l have always bee
proud to belong. I do IL with muc
of regret, and yet I recognize the ia,
that l take upon me new duties, som'
what professional In their cha,
scter, and that instead of man
clients, all there Is
me of strength, of ability such as
may be; Of earnestness, of heart
work, of study and Of thought is to
Av-A,I a. ~ 49, .t-r,L ,nI IL,