The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-05-09
JUDGE PAYSON.
An Able Speech by the Chairman Of
the Illinois Republican
Convention.
ArraIgnlng the Democratic Party and
Reviewing Republican
Achievements.

Hon. Louis II. Payson upon taking the chair
Convention at Springfield. delivered a telling
tract:
Il congratulate you. fellow Republicans, that
tor the first time since 1861 we face an enemy
who Is In possession OF the Government. We
IN eet In an open held and the Democratic
party must stand up for inspection we All
rcmember how they succeeded four years ago
appealing co the fears OF an all too credulous
people. by emphatic and repeated assertions
of corruption In ofiico aud the squandering OF
the public funds and gross extravaganza ana
mismanagement OF an excessive Army OF OF
nceholders. and the piling up OF an immense rs'
trenchment and REFORM They. by this ana
series OF accidents. any one Of which not hap
pening. the re-ult would have been different
we turned the Government over TO them.
and how different from its condition when we
took it from them in 1861 They gave US con
fusion we gave them order. They gave US the
clouds of war; we gave them the blessings and
result OF peace, They gave us bankrupt
with one overlooking. They gave us an i'm
paired credit; we gave 1t to them with the best
In the world. They gave us an embarrassment
as to funds they took it with only anxiety as
TO its excess. They gave US an experiment. as
TO administrative methods we gave them the
best ciyil-seryice in the world. we TOOK IL IN IN
the whole machinery OF the Government work
Ing like clockwork. Taking it thus, what do
they show? What improvements on Repub-
serve notice on the Democratic party now and
here that silly babbling about Republican in
efficiency will not work this year. The people
want the proof OF performance for the luxuri-
ant promises which were made TO them four
years ago, and the record OF the administra-
tion Is as barren as the Desert OF Sahara.
Until they came in the Presidents messages
were bright with hope or Joyous as to results,
based on belief aud confidence in the country.
Mr.. Cleveland can only wall over prospects OF
impending disaster and to-day only sees the
clouds and gloom in the future OF the country.
That has boon the fault OF the Democratic par
'ty. It possesses the conservatism which has
always been q decaying inactivity. Its funda-
mental ideas OF construction have always been
imoecility. This administration shows not
only an inability to manage affairs, but a total
want OF governing capacity. The difference be-
tween its Republican predecessors and it is tho
distinguishing difference between the two par
ties which have always existed-the difference
between progress and inertness. between
growth and decay, between vigor aud Incidence,
between activity and stagnation.
1T should be our pride to-day, fellow Repub-
iicans. that our party has always been n radi-
cal party; in ether words one OF progress and
growth, and il has always had opportunities
equal to it's distress. IL found tho country
without cash and credit. both needed for its
success and continued existence IL was con-
fronte with a situation that demanded dauut
less courage and infinite capacity. and it
demonstrated to the country that ii had both
It's life has covered the most momentous rerlod
OF the countrys history, and it made more his
tory worth recording than had ever been writ
ten in any period OF the history OF the world
for any continuous hundred years. When we
took control not only were we without
cash OF credit, but the war was upon
us. The Republican party was not
content to deal with single subject: national
ity and progress we're its moving SIP rts, loyalty
and intelligence were yoked together. Military
Skill and inventive genius were both kept busy :
saving the Union and promoting the general
operations and industrial enterprises on equally
stupendous scales were carried on, and while
one hand throttled the reb lion and crushed
other IN Naat
for empire and we conquered with both Politi-
cal and economical Legislation was initiated
citizenship and it's rights were defined, financial
theories solved and materialized into law till
the system we now have as matured adapted
as well to peace as war.
"The years went On and new questions
crowded IN upon us only to be grasped and
answered. Reconstruction and the great amend
ments to the constitution which will live and
shine so long "a civilization has "A name; n
system OF hnance; paper money for the con-
venience Of the people and to be as good as
coin; sustaining the national credit in It's great
strain ana paying the national debt All these
a. estions were repeatedly before us and salts
factorily answered Later came the question
OF national education, which remains before us
now. And during all these years under the
Immense strain OF the Government OF the ex-
pense OF carrying on these vast operations, the
laying OF Federal taxes so adjusted as to pro-
tect American labor, diversity American indus
try, and supply and preserve the home mar
ket. was arranged so that the hand OF the
Federal tax-gatherer was mover felt by the
people. In doing these things we were conf
dent in spirit, snatching success from the brow
of defeat. stimulated by the grandeur OF the
results obtained. Thus stood the Republican
party.
where was the Democratic party In these
triumphant years? What was il doing while
the Nation was making these grand strides in
ats progress? Was IL putting its shoulders tc
the wheel and assisting in the onward march
Not at all. But. acting on their conservatism
and cursing the radicals, growing about al
legged violations of the Constitution, somewhat
in doubt during all these years as to whether
President Lincoln or JEFF Davis was the most to
blame opposing every amendment which was
proposed TO the Constitution they have opposed
us always. The test of Democratic feal ty FOL
all those years was opposition to Republican
policy. The record shows how they stood
upon tho local questions that were agi
Eating the PEG pie. Beginning with the homo
stead law, that great loon which gave free
homes 10 free men, its first passage by Re
publican influence vetoed by the last
Democratic President preceding President
Cleveland. Upon the question Of national
citizenship. where its rights we're defined
and secured by constitutional provisions the
Democratic party was most conspicuous and
earnest in its opposition To the constitutional
amendment which recognized this principle
Upon the great questions of reconstruction
growing out Of the favorable solution OF the
Republican party, and which has been sus
tanned by the people of this country wal
earnestly opposed and resisted by them
All necessary legislation. tho enforcement o
these constitutional provisions and which
they now accept and approve. met with the
sturdy opposition. Tho legality OF the pape
currency of the Union always earnestly
denied by them. There was no time unit
after resumption became n fixed fact
and all the blessings to the coun
try resulting from its Accomplishment
were made apparent, that the united Demo
cratic Iarty was not opposed TO the system ant
posed the bitterness with which it was resist
cd, both I'm and out,of Congress. Substantialll
every Democratic member OF Congress- voted il
favor OF resolution as against resumption o
specie payments. Every Democratic orator IL
this country predicted the absolute failure o
the attempted measure. Upon the question o
the decrease Of the national debt aud the os
Establishment firmly Of the credit of the Nation
upon the principleg OF the extension OF interna
Improvement by aid from the Federal Treasury
and the great quest on OF national education
supported by Federal aid upon the cues
tion OF International arbitration, AID ever
question connected with tho obligations of th
country to the Union soldiers they have beef
conspicuous opponents Of the Republican par
ty. But the people I'm ali these questions hav
stood by us and approved cur position All th
propositions come cted with the great quee
tons have entered into and become part OF tn
legislation OF the country and we look rae
with satisfaction overtime entire field n. d 40
that which they oppose during all these yea
thev now earnestly indorse and tie stronges
claim for popular support which is made b
the present administration IL the fact that IL 1
fairly administer Dg Republican legislation
Suppose they had succeeded In all thcs
years Suppose the Republican party hat a
wavs been in the minority, ask you, fello
citizens. what would have been tho cOnditio
of the country today need not 20 over th