The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-04-05

I
While waiting for the report of the
committee on platform Gen. McCul-
Tough made an able and eloquent speech
which was heartily applauded, declar-
ing that the great issues are the temper
ance issue, civil service reform, fret
ballot and fair count, but the great issut
is the tariff.
GEN. HcCULLOUGH'S SPEECH.
He said President Cleveland ha'
made the issue definitely, andhe IS to
be met in like spirit by the Republican
party, which stands Tor protection t
American industry as a continuous pol
icy. He then spoke of Alexander Ham
ilton's services in the cause of protection
and compared the country at his time
with the United states of today.
The imagination staggers over the pos.
sibilities of our country, yet the Demo
Gratis are willing to imperil our future
for the benefit of foreign trade and the
products of starvation wages. The
speaker then compared our home mar
ket with the foreign markets for our
goods, showing that while $l4 900, 900,
900 worth of our products and manu-
features were marketed at home only
one and one.half billions went abroad.
Gen. Mccullough then said this being
the issue and with proper delegates and
proper convention composed of repre-
sentative delegates at Chicago, candi
dates for president and vice president
must be selected from tried and true
Republicans, of proved and recog-
nized ability, of national reputation and
of qualifications in every way eminently
fitted to fill the positions to which they
will be called and to which they will be
elected, Then the contest will begin,
for we know even as well as we shall
know after the Chicago convention shall
have met and adjourned who will be the
commander of the opposing force, The
decree is already issued. The battle
will be opened and the old Democratic
ship will swing into line manned by the
same old sailors. We shall recognize
them by the wells they have received
upon their backs in many presidential
campaign. The old ship. filled with
rats that are sleeker and fatter from the
pickings of four years of NAL admins
tration, the old hulk crazy and creaking
and covered all over with barnacles of
pledges broken and promises unfultilled,
with flag flying at its mast head with
the inscription not free trade and sailors
rights, but free trade and starvation
prices. Who can doubt the result of
the contest The enthusiasm that fills
your ranks as exhibited here to day, the
feeling that makes the old young and
the young younger are the certain and
sure harbingers of victory in the coming
fall. Who that has been present at the
organization of any of the 1000 league
clubs throughout the United States and
has witnessed the fire and zeal that stir
red it's members and has heard their
shouts can doubt that triumph will
perch on our banners the coming No
vember,
While listening to the cheers of the
Republican leaders of 1888 at some of
these meetings l fancied / could catch
the echoes of the shouts OF the wide
awakes' of 1860, and while these echoes
serve to revive the glorious recollections
of the past and to pass in review the
grand memory of the deeds of our party
from 1860 to 1884, they nerve us anew
and inspire us with renewed energy to
meet the issues of the present and rescue
and restore the government to the con-
troll of the party which preserved it in
the war and purified it in peace. This
being the issue in this contest who shall
be our standard bearer. after thorough
and earnest review of the situation, after
a careful and patriotic review of the
qualifications of the different aspirants
and candidates, after weighing every
deserving consideration, let the choice
of the national convention fall upon
that man who will be fit In every way
eminently to fill the high position toI
which he is called, worthy to be the
successor of Lincoln and of Grant and
shall at the same time be such one as
shall lead us to certain and assured vic
tory. We want ability and availability
both. Who shall our standard bearer
be? Shall the choice of the convention
fall upon the favorite son of our neigh
Dor of the South-that able and ready
debater that staunch and true and
steady Fighting Joe EawleyT Or there
may be those who think that his answer
ls not final and they would still follow
once again. like the soldiers of King
Henry OF Navarro, the white plumed
knight of Maine. Or it may be that the
choice will fall upon the modest soldier,
he whose birthplace today Is claimed
and contended for by as many localities
as was that of the bard of Scio's isle in
ancient days. 1t may be that he in face
Of his objections, will be called once
again, though this time in friendly civic
contest, to lead our forces and chase the
gray up the valley of
the Shenandoah-gallant Phil Sheridan,
Or perhaps that other gray and grizzled
old Tecumseh himself, in whose
old veins dances young blood, ID destin-
ed to sweep this country as he once
swept from Atlanta to the sea. Or.
turning to the doubtful State of Indiana
the convention may there find their
choice in the man who is as just in
peace as he was brave in war. The up
right judge. whose ermine Is as unspot !
ted and whose fame is unsulled, the Ger
tain and sure and solid Gresham. Or
better still, that other favorite
son of Indiana, whose name carries vic
tory with it-aye, whose very name in
herlts victory, and which would be but
the precursor of another log cabin cam
paign of 1870, glorious Ben Harrison,
will be selected. Or, if your hearts be
set upon it, there is Ohio with her vet
eran statesman who is every inch Re-
publican. whose services ale coextensive
with the life OF the Republican party
whose funding operations for two years
while secretary of the treasury place
the name of the great finance minister
in history beside or above that of Albert
Gallatin, John Sherman Of Ohio. or go
ing further to the Northwest. its delega
tions will present us a name than which
there is none purer, stronger or better
to conjure victory, Senator Allison of
Iowa, or returning to the East if you
think that the contest rests upon the
Empire State, if the pivotal State of
New York is to be secured beyond a
peradventurs then your eyes will not be
long in fastening themselves upon that
genial popular gentleman, that brilliant