Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-06-06

remain silent when it does iniustic,
to his conduct. / know him as a citi
zen and | have known him as sol
der. | want to say to this conven
ton, gentlemen, be careful how
you stigmatize men placed before you
by the national committee"
Mr.. Roosevelt. of New York.
hope that the motion made by the
gentleman from Massachusetts, will bt
adopted, suggesting as chairman oi
this convention that representative
republican Mr.. Lynch, of Mississippi.
Mr.. chairman, it has been said bv the
distinguished gentleman from Penn
sylvania, tnat it is without precedent
to reverse the action of the national
convention. He has not known of an
instance where, in state matters, the
action of state committee has been
reversed by a state coyention-noi
one of US but has known such in.
stances. Now, there are, as | under,
stand it, but two delegates in this con
veatlon who have seats on the ma
tlonal committee and | hold it to be
derogatory to our honor, to our ca
pacity for self government to say that
we must accept the nomination of the
national committee and that our
hands are tied and we dare not reverse
their action. (Applause.) Now, one
word more, trust that the vote will
be taken by individual members, not
by states. Cries of no, no. Let
each man stand accountable to those
whom he represents for his vots. ZAP
plause)
Let no man be able to shelter him
self behind the shield of his state.
What we say is that one of the car
dlnal doctrines of the American sys-
tenn of government is accountability.
That each man should be accountable
to the people, and let each man stand
up here and cast his vote, and then go
home TO abide by what he has done.
1t is now, Mr.. Chairman, less than a
quarter of century since, in this
city, the great republican party for
the first time organized itself for vic
tory. 1t is but little over one score
years that Abraham Lincoln, of Hi
nois, smote upon the fetters of the
slaves and they sprang asunder for
ever (applause). 1t is fittlng thing
for us to put TO preside over this con
yention one Of the race that through
the action of the founders of the re
publican party we claim as brothers,
and that have so nobly vindicated the
wisdom we showed when we spilled
our blood for them (applause) l
trust that the Hon. Mr. Lynch will be
elected tenn 1orary chairman of this
(Applause)
The chair here recognized Mr.. Carr,
Of Illinois, who said: Mr.. Chair
seems to some gentlemen
speaking IN the neighborLood of
where | am that the question to be
at this tine is whether or
not the action of the national com
mittee has been wise, prudent and for
The best interests of the republican
party; whether or not the national
in selecting a fit, proper
and wise man to be the temporary
chairman of this convention, and ia
50 doing have failed, it is proper that
It's action should be overruled, and
hat another be put in his place. Gap
plause.) If the national committee
has succeeded in this, it is
proper that the action of
he national committee should
De sustained by this convention.
Loud applause. The question that
comes to us for consideration here is
Gen Powell Clayton is or is
1ot fit man to preside here. Some
If us have known him for many
years. We have known his devotion
% the principles for which we fought.
Some of US have known how much
le himself has done IN fighting the
battles of the freedmen of this coun-
ry. Cheers. Some of us are un-
Wiling that stigma should be placed
lpon his great and grand name. We
mo that there are 500 men in this
who would be fit and
proper presiding officers; but having
oeen selected by this convention
We are unwilling that we should place
stigma upon Powell Clayton at this
ime by voting against the action of
he national committee. Tnere are
ome gentlemen here from Illinois
Who do not feel that it would be pro
,er and right for them to go before
he world with a candidate from
whose action the first of
I'll had been to put down a man who
:arries an empty sleeve. (Cheers)
Mr.. w. II, Taft, of South Carolina:
Had not the gentleman in behalf
If the national republican committee
,ut his argument upon new grounds
han | would not have risen from my
seat or have said one word. The first
heory that he said was that the ma
ional committee did this out of re-
pect to southern rspublicauism;
hen upon the other hand
hey say that we should
conform to the action of the national
In the first place, Mr..
Chairman, il the action of the ma
Ional convention be not in accord
With the wishes of this convention, it
s not only oar right but our duty to
ourselves that we reverse e action;
md again it has been said, Mr.. Chair
nan, and / regard 1t as being rather
nterjected into this debate that we
must elect Powell Clay ton because he
s an old soldier | am an old soldier
or the Union army, and we have
more of them among the southern del
,gates. We favor Mr.. Lynch, and
We do it because majority and vast
majority of southern delegates on this
1oor believe that he most truly repre-
seats the republican party of the
south, that spirit of the republican
party that will go the poll to vote
against shot guns or not
This question has been
before the country for a long
lime, and it is for this reason
hat we stand by him and vote for
aim, do not think it will be any
stain upon the national committee.
That committee is not composed en-
.irely of delegates upon the floor and
Il they were they would know more
Of the opinion of the delegates than
they seem TO have done. They say
that they want to recognize southern
but we say if you
want to honor southern repubiicanism
vote for Mr. Lynch. (Applause.l
Mr.. Winston, of North Carolina:
IF | understand the action Of this
it has no more force than
a mere recommendation to this body.
As such, and appreciating that rec
as southern repabllc-
an, / have the right to say
with all courtesy TO the committee
that l prefer somebody else zap
- IL L L