St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-06-19
George William Curtis at
Chicago.

George William Curtis at
Chicago.
Mr.. President and gentlemen, | shal
not repeat to you the splendid story o.
the republican party,-a story that W,
never tire of telling and that our chill.
dTen will never tire of hearing, "a story
which is written upon the hearts of al
American citizens, because it recount,
greater services for liberty, for the
country, for mankind, than those OF
any party in any other nation and al
any other period of time. And what
is the secret of this unparalleled history
| 1t is simply that the republican party
has always been the party of the best
instincts, of the highest desires of the
American people. This is its special
glory. 1t has represented the Ameri-
can instinct of nationality, American
patriotism and Christian devotion tC
liberty. Now, fellow citizens, we ap-
proach a new contest, and we shall be
tried by the candidates whom we sub
nit to the people. The American peo
pie moves in its progress from tho
ocean, bound Atlantic coast across the
continent to the boundless and heaven
arched prairies. Upon us the eyes OF
that country are fixed at this moment
| say we shall be tried by the candi-
dates 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
IL f,, Z,
publican administration and, there
fore, our candidate must be in himself
resplendent manifesto of republican
principles, republican, character and
republican purpOses,-a candidate who
is in himself II triumphant victory.
(applause.) We, gentlemen, have
been long in power, and prolonged
power breeds disSenson in party. The
times are hard aud every man who
feels poor at once blames the admins
tratiOu of the government. The old
issues are largely settled and new men
with new views are rising all around
us, and fresh questions, to which no
men can he blind, solicit your present
attention and sympathy. This is the
state of the country, this is the state OF
the party, and we are confronted with
the democratic party, very hungry and
as you may well believe very thirsty
Daughter and applause); IL party with
out single definite principal, party
without any distinct national policy
which it dares to present to the coun-
try, party which fell from power as a
cOnspirator against human rights, and
which now attempts to sneak back to
power rs II conspirator for plumber and
spoils. Nevertheless, fellow -republi-
cans, we have learned upon fields less
peaceful than this that our foe is not Il
foe to he despised 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 OuI
candidate, and therefore the man to
whom we commit the banner, the ban
ncr that Abraham Lincoln bore, must
he like Abraham Lincoln "A knight in
deed, and like the old knight without
fear and without reprOach (applause);
he must be II statesman identified
with every measure of the great re-
publican past, and Il pioneer in every
measure of its future refOrm,-in him
self pledge that the party will not
only put it's face forward, but that ii
will set its foot forward and pledge
also that the mighty foot will trample
and crush and utterly destroy what
ever disgraces public service, whatever
defiles the republican name, whatever
defeats the just expectation of the
country and of the republican party.
He must be also, to echo the words OF
the distinguished orator who proceed
ed me. he must be an answering re-
publican,-a man and Il statesman not
strong in an unrecOrded Obscurity, but
walking for many Il year conspicuous
commanding, upon the nights Oi
eminent places, in the full sunlight ol
unquestioned and unquestionablc
purity of personal and public conduct
"a statesman, as all our hearts assure
us, the most eminent, the one pre-
eminent republican about whom re.
| puhlicans have never differed, and fol
whom every republican, every demo
crat, every Independent voter and
every American citizen who under any
! circumstances whatever would suppor
the republican ticket, would gladly
and proudly vote. This is the man
fellOw-republicans, who from the situa
ton of the country, who from the con
ditiOn of the party, who from oui
knowledge of the combat upon whicl
we enter, is the man, the fitting man
in my Judgment the most fitting MAJ
to be our leader.
Mr.. President: In the beginning o
the Revolution Green Mountain bO,
crossed Lake Champlain and, fOllowe,
by his brave comrades, climbed rh
sheer Precipice and in the name of th
great Jehovah and of the COntinenta
Congress demanded and received tin
surrender of the British at TicOn
deroga. There is another Green noun
tain boy. Let us make him our cap
tain in the great contest upon whicI
we enter. Make him our captain o
the host, the vast host of loyal follow
crs, as indeed followers we shall doubt
less be of any man who bears the ban
ner of the republican party. Gap
plause.) In the name of the great Je
, hoyah and in the name of the repub
lican party, he will demand and receiv
the surrender of the democratic party
+ (Applause.) His name is in your heart
before it leaves my lips, uncoTruptiblt
: unassailable, a republican whom ever
! republican trusts to the utmost, whOI