Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-06-13
A NOBLE SPEECH.
That of George william Cnrtis, at Chi
cagO, Placing senator Edmunds in
Nomination.

Mr.. President and gentlemen, | shall not
repeat 10 you the splendid story of the Re-
publican rarty,-a story that We never tire
of telling and that our children will never
tire of hcaring-a story whicl ia written
upon the hearts If all American citizens,
because 1t recounts greater services for
liberty, for the country, for mankind, than
those of any party in any other nation and
at any other period of time. And what is
the secret of this unparalleled history? It is
simply that the Republican party has been
always the party of the best instincts of the
highest desires of the American people, This
| is its special glory. 1t has represented the
| American instinct Of nationality, American
patriotism and Christian devotion to liberty.
Now, fellow citizens, we approach new
contest, and we shall be tried by the cand-
dates whom we submit to the people. The
American people moves in lis progress from
the ocean bound Atlantic coast across the
continent to the bOundless and the heaven.
arched prairies Upon the eye of that
country are fixed a. this moment | say we
shall be tried by the candidates that we
present. Do not forget that upon the man
of our choice the eyes Of the country will
turn to see what it IS that the Republican
party honors and respects. 1t will turn to
see what are the objects, what is the sDilit
shown to secure a continued Republican adj
ministratiOn ard, therefore, our candidate
must be in himself II rcsplcndent manifesto
of Republican principles, Republican char
actcr and Republican purposes candidate
who is in himself a triumphant victory
Applause. We, gentlemen, have Ecen
long in power, and prolonged p over breeds,
as we have learned to oar cost in the state Of
New York, aud as Won have lrarn"i there
fore t. your cost. -prulOnccd power breeds
discussion in parry. The times ere hard
and every man who feels poor nj o"ce
blam the administration of the govern
mcut The old Issues are largely settled
and new men with new views are arising
all around us, AMI fresh questions, to
which no men can be blind, solicit your pres
cnt attention and sympathy. This is the
state of the country, this is the state of the
party, ard we are confronted with the Dem
ocratic party, very hungry and as you may
well believe very thirsty daughter and aD-
plause); party without single definite
principle. party without any distinct
national policy which it dares to present to
the country, a party which fey from powe:
as conspirator against human rights, and
which now attempts to sneak hack to power
rs a conspirator for plumber and spells.
Nevertheless neutrality-suspicious., we have
learned upon fields less peaceful than this
that our foe is not few to be depiscd he
will feel our lines to find our weakest point,
he will search the work of this convention
with electric light he will try us by our
candidate, and therefore the man to whom
we commit the banner the banner that
Abraham Lincoln bore, must be like
Abraham Lincoln knight indeed,
aud like the old knight without fear
and without reproach (aHplluse) he must
be a statesman identified with every meas
ure of the great Republican past. and
pioneer in every measure of its future re-
forms,-in himself pledge that the party
will not only put It's face forward, but that
II will SCI its foot forward Z; and pledge also
that that mighty foot will tranplc and crush
and utterly destroy Whatever disgraces pub.
lie service, whatever ictilcs the Republican
name, whatever defeats tn inst expectation
of the county and Of the Republican party.
lie must be also, to ecno the words of the
distinguished orator VIII, rcarded me. he
must be also an answering Republican, u
man and a statesman not strong in an un-
recorded obscuritv, but waking for many
year conspicuous, cOminanfnE, upon the
highs of eminent places, III the full sun
light Of unques'iln-l and unauestionable
purity of personal ani of public conduct, "a
statesman, as all our hearts assure u.s. the
most eminent, thu one pre- enin mt Repuhli-
can about whom Republicans nave never
differed, an for whom every Republican,
every Democrat, every Independent voter
and every America" citizen, who under any
circumstances whatever wolll support tn :;
Republican ticket, would gladly and proudly
vote. This is the man, fellow Republicans,
who from the situation Of the country, VINO
from the condition of the party, who from
our knowledge of the combat upon which
we enter, is the man, the fitting man, in
my Judgment the most flung man, tie be our
leader.
Mr.. President 10 the beginning of the
Revolution a Green Mountain boy crossed
comrades climbed the sheer nrecimce and
in the name OF the great Jehovah and of the