Wichita eagle., 1888-06-24
ROSCOE CONKLING
Speech In the National Republican Con-
vention at Chicago. June, 1880. Nomi-
mating Ulysses s. Grant for the Presi-
dency.

mating Ulysses s. Grant for the Presi-
dency.
And when asked what state he halls from,
Our sole reply shall be,
He halls from Appomattox
And the famous Apple Tree.
Obeying instructions l should never
dare to disregard, rise IN behalf of the
state of New York to propose a nomina-
ton with which the country and the Re
publican party can grandly win The
election before us will be the Austerlitz
Of American politics. It will decide
whether for years to como the country
will be Republican or Cossack" The
need of the hour is a candidate who can
carry doubtful states, north and south;
and believing that he, more surely than
any other, can carry New York against
any opponent and carry not only the
north, but several states of the south. New
York is for Ulysses S Grant He alone
of living Republicans has carried New
York as presidential candidate Once
he carried it even according to Demo
cratic count. and twice he carried it By
the peoples vote. and he is stronger now
The Republican party. with its standard
in his hand, Is stronger now than in 1868
II
peace. his name is the most ulustrious
borne by any living man; his services at
test his greatness, and his country knows
them by heart His fame was born bot
alone of things written and said but Of
the arduous greatness of things done,
and dangers and emergencies will search
in vain in the future. as they have
searched ia vain in the past. for any
,+l = 4. Il,
confidence and trust. Standing on the
highest eminence of human distinction,
and having filed all lands with his re-
nown, modest, firm, simple and self
poised. he has seen not only the titled but
the poor and lowly in the utmost ends of
the world. rise and uncover before him.
He has studied the needs and defects of
many systems Of government, and he
comes back better American than aver,
with a wealth of knowledge and expert
ence added to the hard common sense
which so conspicuously distinguished him
in all the fierce light that beat upon him
throughout the most eventful. trying and
perilc US sixteen years Of the nations his
tory.
Never had a policy to enforce against
the viii of the people, he never betrayed
q cause or friend. and the people will
never betray or desert him Vilifed and
reviled. ruthlessly aspersed by number
less presses, not in other lands. but in his
own. the assaults upon him have strength
ened and seasoned his hold upon the pub
lie heart. The ammunition of calumny
has all been exploded: the powder has all
been burned once. It's force is spent. and
Gen Grants name will glitter as bright
and imperishable star IN the diadem Of
the Republic when those who have tried
to tarnish it viii have moldered in for
gotten graves and their memories and
epitaphs have vanished utterly
Never elated by success, never de-
pressed by adversely. he has ever in peace.
as in war, shown the very genius of com
mon sense The terms he prescribed for
Lees surrender foreshadowed the wisest
principles and prophecies of true recon
struction.
Victor in the greatest of modern wars,
he quickly siglalized his aversion to
war and his love Of peace by an arbitra
ton of international disputes which
stands as the wisest and most majestic
example of its kind in the worlds diplo-
macy When imitation. at the height of
its popularity and frenzy, had swept both
houses Of congress, it was the veto of
Grant which. single and alone. overthrew
expansion and cleared the way for specie
resumption ohm, UNNECESSARILY more
than to any other man, is due the fact
that every paper dollar is rs good rs gold.
With him rs orr leader we shall have no
defensive campaign, no apologies OF ex-
plantations TO make. The shafts and ar
rows have all been aimed ct. him aud lie
broken and harmless nj his feet. Life,
liberty and property will find safeguard
In MIN. When he said Of the black
msn in Florida, Wherever | am they
may come also, he meant that, had he the
power to help it. the poor jewellers in the
cabins of the south should not be driven
in terror from the homes of their child
hood and the graves of their murdered
dead When he refused to receive Denis
kearney he meant that lawlessness and
communism. although they should die
tate laws to q whole city. would every
where meet foe in him, and. popular or
unpopular, he will hew to the line of
right, let the chips fly where they may
His integrity, his common sense, his
courage and his unequaled experience are
the qualities offered TO his country
The only argument against accept
ing them would amaze Solomon He
thought there could be nothing new
under the sun. Having tried Grant twice
and found him faithful, we are told we
must not. even after en- interval of years,
trust him again What qualification
does not such a fallacy involve! The
American republic exclude jefferson Davis
from public trust Why? Because be
was the arch traitor and would be the
DESTROYER And now the same people
are asked to ostracize Grant and not
'-lst him WhvS Because be vas .hs
arcn preseryer or MS country Urr1u-7,
not only in war. but afterward, twice as q
civic magistrate, he gave his highest,
noblest efforts to the republic Is such
aosurdity an electioneering jugglery or
masquerade
There is no field OF human activity,
or reason IN which rational
beings object to Grant because he has
been weighed In the balance and not
found wanting and because he has had
1nequaled experience, making him excep-
tionally competent and fl From the
man who Shoes your horse TO the man
who pleads your case, the officers who
manage your railway, the doctor into
whose hands you give your life. or the
minister who seeks to save your soul,
what now do you reject because you have
.ried hin and By his works have known
him! What makes the presidential Office
In exception to all things else in the com
non sense to be applied to selecting its
ncumbeut' Who dares to put letters on
he free choice and Judgment which is the |
,i-thright of the American people. Can
I be said that Grant has used official |
,ower TO perpetuate his planG Ee has
10 place No official power has been
,sed for him Militant r,ata,nrar ga /