The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-05-09
OPENING ADDRESS
OF Chairman Wilbur T. Sand,rS 10 the
Republican Terri orial Convention,
At BOHEMIAN, NJ. t., MAY 2, 1884.

At BOHEMIAN, NJ. T., MAY 2, 1884.
Gentlemen Of the Conreation:
In . presence SO august as this, perish
every selfish consideration; perish also here,
the coarse and personal considerations Of in
dividual ambition.
Thirty years ago was the close OF an era
that may be itly termed "the dark ages of
President Of the United States, and the elec-
ton and administration of James Buchanan
were to follow. Massachusetts, by her
greatest orator and statesman, had been sd-
vised TO "conquer her prejudicies," and IN.
other political leader Of equal following, II
not of equal renown, had commended himself
to his countrymen by avowing his indifer.
ence whether slsv Try was "voted up or voted
down."
Thirty years ago next February, In the
city of Pittsburg, an attempt was made to
raise politics to the level Of higher morality,
and to give expression and unity and power
to better political principles, and there was
then there organized political party declar-
ing Liberty its chief cornerstone, and 1t was
chrstened Republican.
Twenty. eight years ago that political or
ganization, by its delegates assembled In the
City of Brotherly Love, nominated Its first
candidate and conducted its first great battle.
If it did not succeed in placing its candidate
In the Presidential chair, II arrested public
attention TO the infidelity of the times, more
clearly comprehended the struggle, corrected
the errors inseparable from new organZa-
lions, and armed itself "with kings To strive"
Young men who are here before me eau
scarcely recall the discussions of those years
or comprehend the enthusiasm, the courage
tah cha nj nj hat
Twenty four years ago, In the city of Chi.
| cago, then being lifted as BY magic by the
ingenuity Of man out of the mud of Fort
Dearborn, and even then prophesying some.
thing of its present greatness miracle OF
energy and nerve, and q typical American
city, while the entire northern portion OF the
United States was waiting in breathless
| suspense, 1t nomina' ed its first President and
gave the name of Abraham Lincoln to an
| Immortality of fame.
In this high debate the economic questions
were crowded to the background, for 1t In
| VOWED a discussion Of the primal, essential
and universal rights Of man. How nobly our
great leader bore himself in all these striv.
ings. What inspiration we gathered from
| his words and example. How he lifted us
| from our "dead selves to higher things" will
remain nursery tale until the last syllable
| of recorded time.
| The result of the struggle Of the Republi'
can party thus far was worthy Of the inspir
| ing name that directed 1t, and the American
Republic stood in the presence Of the Nations
redeemed, regenerated and disenthralled.
Sixteen years ago we again assembled In
| the city of Chicago, and, to vindicate Repub
lies from the charge of ingratitude, surround
ed by the bent and broken forms Of soldier
inspired by the same lofty purpose, gathering
into our ranks warriors, poets and orators
whose names are the most precious heritage
of the generation, and nominated as our can
didate for President him on whose patient
persistent and lofty courage and skill We hat
relied In the dark days Of the rebellion, who
imaged and typifed the power that had pre-
served the banner of the Republic that nov
floats over us, and crowned Gen. Grant will
the last felicity to which human ambition
NAV aspire, and that name is mentioned will
reverent admiration in every corner OF tn
babitable globe. With these brief years tn,
struggle that was conducted recalls the de
scriptIon OF the poet:
"a kingdom for q stage!
| Princes to act,
And monarchs to behold
The swelling scene"
Twenty years ago, in the Territory o
Montana, the plane of political morality wa
low, and the impulse Of patriotism was dead
Worse than that the lurid light Of war re
Elected over our mountains and valleys th
fell shadows of treason, and faction and pas
sion ruled with an undisputed sway. Th
situation presented was of
THAT hue when some great painter
Dips his pencil in the gloom Of earthquake
And eclipse"
A few of our citizens, lamenting this con
dition of things, in that year organized her
the Republican party and planted within GU
borders the ineradicable footsteps Of patriot
ism.
With what courage they fought the goo
fight; how nobly they kept the faith Of lib
erty; how inspiring their words and deeds
what vicissitudes of fortune and nisfortun
befell them; with what q coherent unity the
10 arshaled their forces and marched 10 bsttl
Is q story which would draw old men fror
the chimney corner and children from thei
play. In this presence 1t certainly needs n
! recital. Whatever may be said Of the cond
, ton nun ericslly, considered In . wider an
:. more philosophical aspect 1t has been fraugh
with beneicsnce and It is rich with uncounI
ed good.
i At the Chicago convention In 1868, whic
! nominated General Grant, another event oe
!. CURED worthy of the impulse Of the hour, TO
there for the first time 1t was resolved tbs
} they who had taken banners of the Republi
and marching beyond the confines of civil
. cation to conquer for better things the abode
of the savage; who weraa part and parcel Q
the American people, interested In the chal
} acter of its rulers and obedient to its law
should be entitled TO voice In the politics
, | conventions TO name candidates for PresideT
and Vice President of the United States, al
they then resolved that each Territory G
i I'M TAD tot hn Mt nd In n
votes ia their National Conventions and ths
they would not stigmatize with disfranchiss
7 ment and ostracism-bone Of their bone al
flesh Of their flesh-the founders Of empir,
/, II Is to avail ourselves Of that high priv
| lege which we cannot belittle and for Whic
we are profoundly grateful, that we have q.
D sembled to-dsy-delegates representing 8
area of one hundred aud fifty thousan
square miles, Inhabited by more than .
hundred thousand freemen. The past Il
indeed, secure, and now prophesy is require
: to open before us what the expanding visio
4 of the future will reveal. A Commonwealth
. of thoughtful, industrious, and independer
citizens, discourxging faction, resenting di'
tation, welcoming with hospitabie generos
| ty every new and useful accretion, absorbin
j. into coherent mass the widely diverse IL
fiuences that come, and molding them q
into the model Commonwealth of the Worl,
I In the poverty and stagnation which chara
: tsrized the past we often drew courage
q Imagining what Is here and now. Let I
, then set high example, worthy not only
: what has been and what Is, but Of all tn
the illimitable future will bring when MOI
/ tana shall be q great State, contributing fro
' her material, moral and intellectual resou
ces leaves for the healing Of the Nations.
"Hers shall the Press the Peoples RICH
maintain,
I'll Unewed by Infiuencs and unbribed
Gain.
: Here Patriot Truth her sacred precepts dray
J, Pledged to Religion, Liberty, and Law"
r. A Thrust at Lincoln.