Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-06-27
MIR. BLAINE NOTIFIED
Ofhts Nomination for the Presidency
His Response.

The committee appointed at Chicago to
notify Hon, James G.. Blaine of his nomination
performed their duty on Saturday, at Angus
ia. Promptly at II o'clock the committee
rroccede in body to Mr.. Blaine's resi-
dence, where they were received by Mrs.
Blaine. AS the day was oppressively hot
and the rooms of the mansion were crowded
almost TO surocation, it was suggested that
the presentation of the addresses be made
upon the lawn. Accordingly the committee
and guests proceeded to a well shaded portion
of the grounds where scmi.circe was
formed, and all present stood with uncovered
heads, making an impressive scerc. When
all was in readiness, Mr.. Blaine was escort
cd to the lawn we're he stood within the arc
of the semi-circlc.
General Henderson then stepped forward
and presented the address of the committee.
Reading from manuscript, ne spoke as fol.
lows
Mr.. Blaine, your nomination for the Of
flee of the President of the United States by
the National Republican convention recently
assembled at Chicago is already known to
lyou. The gentlemen before you, constitut-
ing the committee composed of one mem
Der from each State and Territory of the
country aud from the District of Columbia,
now come as the accredited organ of that
convention to give you formal notice of the
nomination and to request your acceptance
thereof. 1t is, of course, known to YOU that
beside yonr own, several others names
among the most honored in the councils of
the Republican party were presented BY
their friends as candidates for this nomina-
nntyt F,;a IL, =
gentlemen so justly entitled to the respect
and confidence of their political associates
the contest was one of generous rivalry, free
from any faint of bitterness, and equally
free from the reproach of injustice. At an
early stage of the proceedings of the con-
vention it became manifest that the Re-
publican States whose aid must be in
voked at last to insure success to
the ticket earnestly desired your nomi-
nation. 1t was equally manifest that the de-
sire SO earnestly expressed by delegates from
those States were but a truthful reflection
of an irresistible popular demand 1t was
not thought nor pretended that this demand
had Its origin in any ambitious desires of
your own or In organized work of your
friends, but it was recognized to be what it
truthfully is-a spontaneous expression by
=, the free people of love and admiration Of a
chosen leader. No nomination would have
given satisfaction to every member of the
party. This is not to be expected in coun-
Try so extended in area and so varied in in
terests. The nomination Of Mr.. Lincoln IN
1850 disappointed so many hopes and over
threw so many cherished ambitions that for q
, short time disaffection threatened to ripen
into open revolt. In 1872 the discomfort
was so pronounced as to impel large masses
of the party to and organized opposition to
its nominees. For many weeks after the
, nomination OF General Garfield in 1880, de.
, feat seemed almost inevitable. In each case
the shock Of disappointment was followed
by sober second thought Individual
preferences gradually yielded to convictions
of public duty. Promptings of patriotism
finally rose superior to the irritatons and
animoslies of the hour. The party in every
trial has grown stronger in the face of
threatening danger.
''lu rendering you the nomination, it gives
us pleasure to remember that those great
measures which furnished the causes Tor
party congratulations by the late convention
at Chicago, and which are now crystalized
into the legislation OF the country-meas-
ures which have strengthened and Dig
nihed the nation while they have ele.
waited and advanced the people, have at
all times and on all proper occasions
received your earnest and valuable support.
1t was your good fortune to aid in protecting
the nation against the assaults of armed
treason. You were present and helped to
lunloosc the shackles of the slave you assist
cd IN placing new guarantee of freedom in
] the Federal Constitution, your voice was po-
tent in preserving national faith when false
| theories OF finance would have blasted ma
tional and individual prosperity. We kindly
remember you as the fast friend of honest
money and commercial integrity. In ally
, that pertains to security and repose of CAPT
, tai, dignity of labor, manhood, elevation,
land freedom OF the people, right of the OPP
pressed to demand, and duty of Government
to afford, protection, your public acts have
received the unqualified endorsement of pop
ular approval,
| But we are not unmlndful of the fact that
parties like individuals cannot live entirely
on the past, however splendid The record.
The present is ever charged with its immcd-
ate cares, and the future passes ON with its
new duties, its perplexing responsibilities.
| Parties like individuals, however that are
| free from stain of violated faith in past are
| fairly entitled to the presumption of sincerity
| in their promises for the future. Among the
promises made by the party In its late con-
ventlon at Chicago are; economy and purity
| OF administration, of protection to the citizen,
native and naturaliZed, at home and abroad
ton of surplus revenues, relieving the tax
payer without lnjurng the laborer, preserva-
| ton OF public lands for actual Settlers i'm.
port duties when necessary at all to be levied
not Tor revenue only, but for the double pur-
pose OF revenue and protection, regulation |
OF internal commerce, settlement Of intcrna- |
t.onal differences by peaceful arbitration, |
but coupled with reassertion and mainten- |
ance of the Monroe doctrine as interpreted by |
the fathers of the Republic, perseverance, in |
the good work of civi-servce reform to the |
END that the dangers to free institutions |
which Turk IN the row9SCf official patronage
may be wisely and etE1sdvc.y avoided ; an
honest currency based on coin of intrinsic
value, adding strength to the public credit
and giving renewed vitality to every new
branch OF American industry.
Mr. Blaine, during the last tweuty-three
years the Republican party has builded
new Republic, IL Republic far more splendid
than that originally designedby our fathers
as its proportions are already grand they may
yet be enlarged its foundations may yet be
strengthened and its columns may be adorn-
ed with beauty more RESP lendent still. To
you, as its architect-inchief, will soon he
assigned this grateful work."
Mr. Blaine listened to General Henderson's
address standing under an elm tree with his
arms folded, and his eyes usually cast down,
but at times wandering about and scanning
the faces of the audience When General
Henderson had concluded speaking, Walker
Blaine, the candidates son, stepped forward
and handed his father the manuscript of an
address in reply to that of the committee
MIR. Blaine then read as follows
''Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the /,
National Committee receive not without (
deep sensbllity your official notice of the +,
action Of the National Convention already i
brought to my knowledge through the public .
press. | appreciate more profoundly than n
can express the honor which is implied in
Lhn nomination for the presilrncY by lhnl