The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-13

| Collins to the chair"
This announcement produced uproar-
ious applause throughout the convention
which was continued, especially by the
Massachusetts delegation whose members
arose and stood on their chairs and gave
three times three for their favorite. The
gentlemen appointed to escort Mr.. Collins
to the chair proceeded to his seat and
| brought him forward. When Mr.. Collins
had mounted the platform he was greeted
| by shake of the hand by Mr.. White,
| the temporary chairman, after which the
chairman said:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: Thanking
| you for the favor which has been accorded me-
and for the great consideration which has been
extended to me during the time l have pre-
chairman, take pleasure in introducing to you
your permanent chairman, the Hon. Patrick
| A. Collins of Massachusetts,.
This moment was the occasion of an
outburst of applause which lasted so long
that cries OF "Sit down" "Sit down." were
heard from different parts of the hall
| When order had been measurably re-
stored, Mr.. Collins began his remarks,
which are reported in full, as follows
To stand by your favor in this place so often
| filled by the foremost men in our great party,
is distinction of the highest character and an
honor for which am profoundly grateful.
| In performing the delicate and difficult SER
vice TO which you have assigned me | can
scarcely hope to justify the wisdom of your
choice. | shall at all times need a continuance
| OF your indulgence and courtesy as well as
| your full cooperation TO promote order, deco
rum and good will, until these proceedings are
brought to happy close. We represent, in
| this convention, more than thirty millions of
the American people. We bear their commits
sion to act for them, and their injunction to act
with all the wisdom that God has given us to
protect and safeguard the institutions of the
republic as their fathers founded them.
In time when the world was king-ridden, and
pauperiZed by the privileged few, when men
scarcely dared to breath the word ''liberty"-
even If they understood its meaning-the peo-
pie scattered along our eastern coast, with a
sublime herolsm never equaled, broke from all
traditions, rejected all known systems, and es-
tablished, to the amazement of the world the
political wonder of the ages, the American re-
public, the child of revolution, nursed by
philosophy. The hand that framed the immor-
tai declaration of independence is the hand that
guided the emancipated country to progress
and glory. Ii is the hand that guides us still
in our onward march as a free and progressive
people. The principles upon which our gov
eminent can securely rest, upon which the
peace, prosperity and liberty OF the people de-
pend, are the principles of the founder of our
party, the apostle OF democracy, Thomas JEFF
fersOn.
Our young men under thirty have heard
more in their time OF the clash of arms and the
echoes of war than the principles of govern
ment. IL has been period of passion, force
impulse and emotional policies. So that we
need not wonder that now and then we hear
the question asked and scarcely answered.
| What difference is there between the two
/ partesY Every DEMOCRAT knows the differ
ence. The democratic creed was not penned
by Jefferson for section or class OF people,
but for all; not for day or a generation but
for all time. These principles conserved and
expanded the repdbhc in allits better days. A
strict adherence TO them willpreserve it TO the
end. So the democracy Of to-day, in the
past, believe with Jefferson in
l. Equal and exact justice to all men of
| teal. 70
9. Peace, commerce and honest friendship
with all nations: entangling alliances with
none. tR d
T. Support of the state governments in all
their rights as the NEST competent admins
traitors of our domestic concerns and the
surest bulwarks against arti-republican tend
encies.
4. The preservation Of the general govern
ment in its whole constitutional vigor as the
sheet anchor OF our peace and safety abroad.
D. A jealous care of the rights of election by
the people, a mild and safe corrective of
abuses, which are Topped off by the sword of
revolution where peaceable means are unpro-
vided.
| the majority, the vital principle OF republics,
| from which is no appeal but to force, the vital
| principle and immediate parent Of despotiSm.
Z. \ well disciplined militia, our best reli-
ance in peace and foremost in war.
s. The supremacy of the civil over military
authority.
9. Economy in the public expenses, that
labor may be lightly burdeued.
10. The honest payment of our debts and
the preservation of our public faith.
mo atraF1nf Of nfrr fftrn
merce as its handmade
II. The diffusion of public opinion, and
arraignment OF all abuses at the bar of public
reason. 500
Is. Freedom of rlgon.
H. Freedom of the press.
To- Freedom OF the person under the pro-
lection of the habegs corpus.
10. Trial by jurieS ilnpartially selected.
Add to these the golden economic rule that no
more taxes shall be levied hpon the people in
any way than are necessary TO meet the honest
expenses of the government, and you have a
body of principles 10 sin against which has
been political death TO every party hitherto, to
sin against which in the future Will be political
suicide. True to these principles the democratic
party fought successfully our foreign wars
protected our citizens in every cline, COM
PEELED the respect of all nations for our flag
added imperial domain TO our territory and in
sured peace, prosperity and happiness 10 all
our people False to these principles the great
]
down never TO rise again. And we are here to-
day representatives OF the party that has sur
vlved all others, the united, triumphant, irwin
chile democracy, prepared to strike down for
ever the last surviving foe in November
Our standard must be the rallying point
now and in the future for all good citizens who
/ love and cherish republican institutions, who
/ love liberty regulated by the constitution and
/ law, who believe in a government not for a
class or for few, but government of all
! the people, by all the people and for all the
| people. This has been the asylum for all good
men from over the earth who flee from want
| and oppression, and mean to become Ameri-
cans. But we invite and welcome only friends
| to this ground and liegemen" to the republic.
| Our institutions cannot change to meet hostile
/ wishes, nor be much as sensibly modified
i save by the peaceful and deliberate action of
the mass OF our people in accordance with the
| constitution and laws Of the land. Whatever
| problems the present has, or the future may
| present as far US political action can effect
them, will be dealt with by the American pe0-
| pie within the law. And in the future rs in
the past the people will find security for their
liberty and property, encouragement and pro-
| lection for their industries, peace and prosper
| ity IN following the party of the American
masses which will ever shield them against the
aggressions OF power and monopoly on one side
and on the other the surgings of chaos
While almost all the rest of the civilized
world is darkened by armies, crushed by kings
or nightmared by conspiracies, we alone enjoy
a healthy peace a rational liberty, a progress
sive prosperity. We owe il 10 our political in
stitutions, 10 democratic teachings, az least as
much as to the exuberant soil The man is not
good American who, knowing what we are,
by act or word, experiment or thought in any