The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1884-05-08

The following ringing speech was
delivered BY Capt. J. B. johnson, on
being chosen permanent chairman Of
the late State Convention:
Gentlemen Of Gbe Convention.
I thank you for the honor you have
conferred upon me by choosing me 10
preside over the deliberations of q
convention Of so many representative
men.
Permit me 20 suggest before taking
my seat, that there was never in the
history Of the Republican party, q
time when wise and harmonious
action was 90 necessary as now The
Republican party has, for quarter Of
q century, and does now. represent
the principles and forces that have
brought 20 the country an era Of pros
perity unparalleled in the history Of
the civilized world. It has organized
into potential force in this nation the
principles that have made this great
republic absolutely q nation Of free
men and placed it on the highway Of
moral and financial greatness. It has
elevated manhood and lifted the serf
20 the condition Of the sovereign.
The underlying motive OF every ac-
tiOn Of the party In the past has been
the eleTating Of the masses of our
people, the honest administration Of
government affairs and the promotion
Of every enterprise that tends TO make
this the greatest and freest govern
.ment on the face Of the globe.
Its career Ia the past is the surest
guarantee for its course ia the future.
A. hUNr~rrrru rran - fhrr Nrfu A 81
free men, free schools, free ballots,
honest government and the highest
good Of the race to lay aside the dis
ssnsions and differences that have in
the past divided our councils, and led
ne 20 defeat. This Il the first official
gathering Of the party since In Kansas
It met It's first defeat. The humilia-
ting spectacle Of Democratic Cover
nor IN 9 State dedicated at its birth
by the martyr blood Of freemen stares
Us In the face.
The men who In the early days of
Kansas sought to blight its future
with the eurse Of human slavery are
to-day administering its affairs.
The party that during the bloody
years that have gone applied the
torch 10 the homes Of free men, car
ried rapine and murder upon our fair
plains and sought by all appliances OF
civilized and uncivllized warfare to
link the destiny Of the young COM
mOnwealth with barbarism and blight,
degradation and shame, and is today
controlling a State made great by
triumph Of Republican principles.
BY dissensions and internal feuds
the splendid Republican majority Of
sixty thousand vanished as the morn
ing mist and we saw the achievement
Of years Of toll polluted by the vandal
hands Of the enemies Of freedom and
progress.
And this state Of affairs is wholly
due 10 the fact that we allowed dis
senslons 10 divide our forces, the
leaders ef our party stood for the form
rather than the substance Of things.
But no matter who Is 10 be blamed
for the condition of affairs that arose
one thing is certain Il is the part of
wisdom now to close up our ranks, to
sink for the time being, at least,
our personal preferences, unite upon
q platform that emb0dies the pFinci-
pies that have brought to as in the
past 30 many victories as q party and
so much prosperity and greatness as q
nation, and whether the Chicago con-
vention shall choose Is our national
bearer, the plumed knight, James g.
Blaine, or the grim ehieftain, John A.
Logan, or the statesman, Mr.. Ed
munds, or the hero Of the matchless
march 70 the sea, William Tecumseh
Sherman, or some other Of the great
men Of the party our victory win be
assured. And with the gallant sol
dieF, John A. Martin, or the scholarly
SOlon o. Thatcher ct the head Of our
State ticket, Kansas will send back
again her 90, 900 majority for freedom,
liberty and law. And now gentle
men await your further pleasure.