Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-06-22

NJ to 8 O'Clock.
WALTER q. GRESHAM.
speech of Hon. n. SWEET, Nominat.
ing Him for the Presidency.
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
CONVENTION: This presence recalls scene
enacted in this city twenty-eight years
ago. That was the second National Re-
publican Convention, and the first noni-
nation of Abraham Lincoln. At his in
auguration the Republican party first as
sumed the reins of governmental control.
With unimportant interruptions, the
Democratic party had controlled our Ma
tional policy for thirty-two years. The
country in 1861 stood upon the verge Of
political and financial ruin, and the sharp
known succeeded. We have had OF Re-
and twenty years Of peace. The four
years of war produced heroes, sacrifice
and suffering without parallel, and re-
united the country. The twenty years of
peace increased the population, internal
Improvements, manufactures, useful in
ventions, comfort in homes, and a general
development of all classes, with
rapidity unequalled in the his
tory of the world. In the language
OF Daniel Webster we may say OF this
Republican rule, with its suffering and
fruits OF the war, and the unparalleled
prosperity of this peace: "The past is
at least secure"
We have assembled again to select a
President for 10000, 900 free people.
Who most in character is the very es-
sence of these people? Who Of all the
names suggested will draw support most
largely from all classes? Who can best
bring together and unite the broken
fragments of our own partyP Who, by
his personal courage and sublime conf
dence in his own convictions, is an ideal
leader Of the American people? Who
most strikingly stands for cosmopolitan
American character? These are the
questions of the hour and lesson to
us all.
| suggest the name OF Walter Q.
Gresham, Of Indiana and Illinois, and
invite your thoughtful consideration of
some OF the reasons why he should be
nominated.
He was born Of sturdy and rugged
parents in Harrison county Indiana,
fifty-five years ago and spent one-third
OF his life upon the farm. He acquired
by nature and education profound be-
lief in the fundamental doctrines OF the
Government and the union OF the States,
zone and inseparable," as taught by the
lives of Washington, Hamilton, Clay and
Webster, Lincoln, Thaddeus Stevens;
and disbelief in and for the political
heresies of John G. Calhoun, Brecken-
ridge, Jefferson Davis and Lamar; of
the property in man, and the right Of Sc
cession. He always has been an un-
wavering and infexible Republican.
One-third of century ago he organized
the party of Fremont and Dayton in his
native county, which consisted all told
of four people. In 1860, then at the age
OF 30, he was elected to the State Legis-
lature, at the same time Lincoln was
elected President, from a strong Demo-
cratic county, and by the aid OF German
votes. There he originated and passed
the law, which authorized Oliver p.
Morton, our greatest war Governor,
to organize and arm at the ex-
pense Of the State, any regiment
anywhere in the State. We owe the
peace and loyalty OF Indiana at this
critical moment to the admirable work.
ing OF this law, and the fact that she was
not beyond the call OF the President one
moment in furnishing her quota Of men.
After performing this service of great
value to his State, he selected one thou
sand young neighbors and friends and
marched into Kentucky with General
Sherman at the very beginning of the
war. Their forces aided the loyal ele-
ment there, holding true to the Union
the northern part Of that State, while the
southern part broke off and went with
the rebellion. But for the presence of
"a nr,t<x ~tx
been the dividing line, and
southern Ohio. Indiana and illinois
would have been the first battle-ground.
He served with Grant at Shiloh and
Vicksburg, and was a distinguished
figure with Sherman in his march upon
Atlanta in 1864. He was frequently
promoted for gallant conduct on the
battlefield, and was called upon when
sharp work was to be done, and finally
fell pierced by a minie-ball when lead
ing his division into the shot and shell
Of the enemy at the bloody fight at Leg
gets Hill, in the suburbs Of Atlanta.
Carried to the rear, he met Colonel
s. Tutthill, whose presence now
adorns the judicial bench Of this State,
and who was then commander of the
batteries of artillery, making their way
70 the front. The scene was one of con-
usion, Of the tramping OF horses hoofs
md the rattling Of artillery, and caissons
iashing into battle. Colonel Tutthill
iurned aside moment to General
Gresham, then bleeding on a stretcher,
Ind said inquiringly: "Are you hurt
,adly?" The fight was not all out of him
yet, and turning his pale face to see who
made the inquiry, he replied: "You had
,etter hurry your battery to the front;
hey are needed there" He was placed
n a freight car and hurried to the
North. Next day he awoke from a NOR
,hine sleep in dazed condition,
md said to a soldier in attend
nee, "Whose body is that?" pointing to
coffin in the same car with him. THAT
the dead body OF .your. commander,
nander Of the army and the division