Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-09-08
GENERAL MERWINsS SPEECH

GENERAL MERwIN,s SPEECH
In Acceptance of the Nomination for
Governor at Yesterdays Convention
"A Brief and Clear Review of tho
Contest and Compilations of the
Last Two Years In Our Little State.
The speech of General 8. E. Merwin
the nomination for governor
was as follows:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Con-
vention:
Two years ago the republicans of Con-
necticut, through their representatives as
sembled in convention in this hall, nomi- |
mated me as their candidate for governor. |
Your committee have advised me that this
convention has seen fit to again honor me
with the nomination, and am here to &C.
cept the same, and to return my sincere
thanks for this renewed expression of con-
fdence.
We have been witnessing strange CON-
dition of affairs in Connecticut. Twenty
months have passed since the general as
sembly should have elected some one gov
ernor of this commonwealth. Every in
telligent citizen knows that our constitu-
ton requires that majority of all the
votes cast are requisite to the election of
state officer, and if no candidate receives
majority, it devolves upon the legislature
to elect one of the two receiving the
highest number of votes. At the last
election no candidate for governor
received majority of the legal
votes cast, and under all the presidents
the people had a right to expect the gene
constitution and make its choice. The
body being republican on joint ballot, no
fair-minded man can doubt for one mo.
ment that would have been its choice.
If any citizen ever doubted the loyalty of
the majority of that legislature to me that
doubt must long since have been dispelled.
It was not only loyalty to me that kept
them in one solid phalanx, but there was
principle involved that was far above the
question Of the governorship-a principle
which the constitution guarantees and
which every citizen of Connecticut should
hold dear-to wit, the right to cast one
vote and to have that vote counted as cast.
| The importance of this principle has been
for one I am glad that our party stands
pledged by its platform to secure the
rights guaranteed by the constitution of
the United States to every voter through
out the land.
The members of the general assembly,
before taking their seats, took oath to de-
fend the constitution. 1t is hard for me
to understand how the democratic mem
bers of the senate, with this oath staring
them in the face, could have ever taken
the position that the acts of moderators,
DISTINGUISHING honest voters by hundreds
and bringing dishonor upon the fair name
even inquired into. That they could as
| II,
body that created them; yea, even superior
to the constitution itself, is beyond com.
prehension. I cannot believe it possible
that an honest people will uphold the posi-
ton taken by the senate, for if upheld it
will lead to most dangerous state of affairs
If 100 votes can be thrown out in ward
without remedy or correction, 1000 may
be, or even the vote of who'd city, if ar
unprincipled moderator is presiding. II
: such wrong is to be condoned, then vot
ing becomes a farce and republican gov
eminent failure. Our opponents will
try to divert public attention from thes,
points by claiming that plurality should
elect, but let the people bear in mind tn,
fact that we have lived under our presen
constitution for three quarters of cen
, tury, and until they vote to change i
they must continue to elect governors a.
that instrument prescribed. Had the sen
} ate this pear followed the unbroken prece
} dents of the past, and appointed join
! committee on canvass of votes, I believ
} this unpleasant controversy would hav
been settled the first week of the session.
Knowing that I have been criticised TO
not going to the senate to preside, shal
3 be pardoned for taking this occasion to in
, form the people of Connecticut why di
, | not do SO. The duty of organizing tn
r senate falls upon the secretary of state
, When he calls that body to order, and til
oath of Office is administered. presiden
, pro TEN. is elected who has all the powe
of the lieutenant governor during his at
: sence. Being a candidate for governor
! and knowing there was no election by tn
3 people, had right to expect the geners
assembly would go into joint conventio
? This the senate refused to do. 1t furthe
n said it would do no business unit
: the gubernatorial question was go
3 tied. Being a party in interest, undo
Q parliamentary usage and law, it would hav
9 been very unbecoming in me to hay
f forced myself upon that body as presidin
: officer. While had a legal right to tax
t the chair, self-respect forbade my dom
8 80. When it was announced that nv Ii
9 mented friend, who I believe was pc
y suaded against his better judgment to tai
d the oath of Office, before being duly quail
l. fed, would assume the chair, 1 felt it m
l. duty to go to the senate and assert m
Q right as lieutenant governor. Having dor
y this, it appeared to me to be my duty
/ withdraw and turn over the senate to tt
IL president pro tenn, and patiently await Il
r time when the gubernatorial questic
,. should be settled. In the event of tn
q not being settled, had hoped the sena
J. would take up and proceed with IL
i business of the state, when under the Col
# stitution and the laws and my oath of O
J. fee should have assumed the chair; n,
that it would have been my wish to do &c
but because it would have been my dut
This I have always been ready to do, an
q am ready to do now. It has been nv 9,
deavor to SO conduct myself that my &C
"a would commend themselves to the goo
~ judgment of all fair minded men when r
: moved from the partisan bias of the hou
, To bring no stain upon the fair name
= Connecticut, no dishonor upon the repul
l. lican party, and to preserve my own sell
!. respect in this unpleasant position, hs
J. been my earnest effort. God grant tn,
y no man may again be placed in like sitr
!, alton.
n Now just a word as to the issues of IL
O national campaign. The two leading pa
10 ties have placed in nomination men we
D. known to the voters. The people of tn
;; country want an honest administration {
n the government. The great difference b
70 tween the two parties is in their PLATFORM
/, or declaration of principles. The republ
,, can party stands for protection to Amer
can labor and American capital alike. tt
democratic party, though its platform say
protection is fraud, and unblushingly d,
clares that the American people have n
Il power under the constitution to enact tart
:, legislation for the protection of their IL
Il dustrial interests. am glad our demo
70 cratic friends have at last had the coura9
# of their convictions and have made the il
ia sues straight. believe large majority {
" the voters of Connecticut are protectioniat
q and if they vote as they believe, there wi
n be no question as to the result. I am ne
one of those who believe that this countr
would 60 to absolute ruin under fire
: trade, but I am positive that the abolitio
1t of our protective policy would seriousl
h imperil the prosperity of our people
v Protection may not have made us a
:. We are, but it has been an importar
factor in our prosperity. But, my friends
% it does not become me to talk tariff at thi
J. time. You will be ably instructed upo
l. this question during the canvass. trus
4 you will have the opportunity to listen
" the man who, in his wisdom, has don
: much for the manufacturers, the mechar
les and the farmers of Connecticut, g
much that they, with one accord, all pre-
= claim, Honor to Governor Mckinley"
Perhaps the most surprising plank i
j. the democratic platform is that which
=, If 1t were carried into effect, would rui
!, | the hest hQnkiDo avotap, &bio oo,nf,v he