The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-11-27
ELOQUENCE AND TRUTH.

Inc MduudJteu L lduDedu SluD
rendered Col John A. Martin a recep-
ton on Friday night of last week, that
was as largely attended and as enthu-
siastic as any meeting during the
campaign. The governor-elect made
most touching aad eloquent speech.
After referring to the magnificent vic
tory that had been achieved in Kan
sas, and expressing his gratitude to
those who had been instrumental in
securing it, he said:
But grateful as am to the republic
cans of Kansas for the signal honor
they have conferred upon mean hon.
or which fills the full measure of my
ambition-and proud as 1 am of the
magnificent victory won in Kansas
1 cannot forget that the repub-
lican banner of the nation is, for the
first time in twenty-four years, trail
ing in defeat. If / had loved the par
ty merely for its gifts of honor or of Of
flee; if 1 cared nothing for its princi-
pies, and had no faith in their power
to benefit and bless the people of
America; if 1 regarded the contest be-
tween the democratic and republican
parties as a mere scramble for the
spOils of Office, would be content
with my own personal victory, and ac-
cept it as all that 1 was interested in.
But am a republican, not only in
name, but in fact. 1 am republican
because l sincerely believe that the
republican party is the purest, the
most intelligent, the most progressive
the most benificent political organiza-
ton the world has ever known. am
a republican because the republican
party saved the Union; because it
abolished slavery; because it enfran-
chised the slaves; because it has made
this nation great, free, prosperous and
self-sustaining. am republican be-
cause the republican party advocates
the protection of American industries
and labor; because it is the party Of
school houses, of education, social or
der, of liberty regulated by law, and
because it is a party that has never
feared to attack vice, however strong
ly intrenched it might be. am re-
publican because the republican party
would be ashamed to prefer northern
copperhead to Union soldier. am a
republican because that party
does not, for expediency's sake, ignore
its greatest and bravest advocates and
statesmen, while it sets upon a pedes-
tai, like Gesler's hat in the market
place, a preposterous political accident,
who had lived, throughout the ire
mendous events of the past quarter of
a century. utterly unknown outside Of
the small place where he resided. The
republican party has enriched the his
tory of the age with long list of inn
perishable names, and among them
all no one shines with a more brilliant
luster than that of its brave and glori-
GUS leader in the late campaign, James
q. Blaine.
Is it strange then, that even in the
midst of our rejoicing over our victory
in Kansas, my heart turns to the man
that should have been the central
thought and figure of this jubilee-to
the defeated leader, but still the leader
of the republican hosts, as much to-
day as month ago; to the great heart
of the party, who never sulked In his
tent when others were preferred, and
who never treacherously stabbed his
party in order to defeat political ri
val.
There are to-day snes AL over the
land who proudly boast that they y9t-
ed for Henry Clay, who, in bis day
and generation, was the greatest,
bravest and noblest of Ame:rican
statesmen, and who will be remember /
I'd and revered thousand years after
The eleventh president of the United |
States is forgotten. And 80, a auarteri
If century hence, the young Amer
cans who this year cast their first
vote for James G. Blaine and John A.
Logan-the greatest statesman and the
greatest volunteer soldier of this age
will boast of it as the proudest act of
heir lives.
The republican party has
ost a battle. 1t lost some during the
ivil war. But it is neither disheart-
ned. dismayed, nor panic stricken.
t will rally its forces, form its lines
nd prepare for the contest Of lSSS. 1t
mbraces within it's ranks the bestt
leart and brain of the American peo-
lie. 1t is the party of proud memo
les and glorious aspirations. 1t has
ever done anything that it has to
pOlOgize for, or lie about, or feel
shamed of. 1t has governed the coun-
~ wisely, honestly, bravely. 1t 10 asI
reat party to-day as it was when
abraham Lincoln led it to victory, or
vhen Ulysses 3. Grant was its COM
ndop Iovr.oo "a. I