Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-09-11
SPEECH OF HON. Z. L. KIDD
Accepting His Nomination for State Senator. BY
the Convention Of September 2.


Mr.. Chairman, Gentlemen Of Conuen-
tion:-By your action / am placed in
nomination for the highest office within
the gift of the people of Grant county.
To be so placed by representative as
semblage of the Republican party, the
party with which | have always been
identified, so placed in the county where
| was born; where have lived since my
birth; would seem to be sufficient honor
TO be source of qualification to any
man.
In placing me in this position you
have right to ask that | place the pub
lie good above personal aggrandize-
ment; you have right to expect that
any ability possess, be that little or
much; any influence l may be able to
command, be that small or great; be
employed for the furtherance of the
best interests of the people of this Sem
atorial district and the people of the
State. You have right TO demand
that any power or privilege which the
Office to which you nominate me may
bring with tiff am elected-be used
for the sole and only purpose of secur-
ing, as far as may be the enactment of
wholesome laws, and the efficient and
economical administration of the af-
fairs of the state.
If | have any political enemies with
in the party, feel thankful that have
no desire, no disposition; best of all no
power, to prostitute official place, by
welding the party lash in way of pun
ishment. My friends, ask nothing OF
me but the faithful performance of Off
cial duty.
am Republican because | believe
that, IN the future rs in the past, the
welfare and prosperity of the Nation,
our only hope of good government. and
the success of any and all needed re-
forms, are indissolubly linked with the
success of the Republican party. !
learned to revere that party at time
when republicanism was synonym for
loyalty and national life; when all else
meant treason and disunion. Ny first
vote was cast with it, and at that time
the standard of republicanism was
planted in my affections but little low
er than the flag of my country. The
years have glided swiftly in between
that time and the present, but have
never had occasion to lower that stan
standard. | have never had occasion
to relinquish my devotion to it. l have
no apology to offer for that action to-
day. cannot forget that when that
standard first waved in victory, it found
slavery, it gave freedom; it found trea-
son, it gave loyalty; it found secession,
it gave a redeemed and regenerated
Union; it found the American name =
byword and reproach throughout the
earth. to-day the name American citi-
zen is the brightest passport that man
can carry in any cline. Our Nations
! rapid progress, its present uneXampled
| prosperity is due to the wise counselS
and just enactments of the patriots and
statesmen of the Republican party, and
Notwithstanding the grandeur of oul
| Nations past, its immediate future un.
! der the administration of our chosen
leader, brilliant in oratory, wise in
| craftsmanship, grand IN his Americans
ism, James &. Blaine will place these
United States, this first great republic
far above all the nations of the earth il
all that constitutes the true grandeur o
a nation; place it upon the highest pin
nacle of national greatness.
Believing thus | would be lacking il
patriotism, false to you and false to my
self, should knowingly do ought tina
would bring reproach upon the part,
which nominated me, upon the people
of Grant coanty, or of the people of thu
State.
Out of the sincerity of my heart
gentlemen, thank you for this mark o
your confidence.