The times., 1892-06-24
DEPEW NOMlNATES HARRISON.
His Speech Being Prefaced by Remarks
f.nn EnInnaI Thnnnaon

His Speech Being Prefaced by Remarks
from Colonel Thompson.
When Indiana was reached Colonel r.
W. Thompson, the S3-year-old veteran, in
a brief speech, named "the warrior-states-
man--Benja Harrison"-as sort Of
preface to Depew's speech, and then De.
pew arose amid whirlwind of enthusi-
asm. He said:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
CoNvENTIoN-It is the peculiarity of Re-
publican national conventions that each one
of them had "A distinct and interesting history.
We are here to meet conditions and solvo prob
lens which make this gathering not only no
exception to the rule but substantially new
departure. That there should be strong con-
victions and their earnest expressions as
TO preferences and policies is char.
acteristic of the rights of individual
Judgment which is the fundamental
principle of Republicanism. There have been
occasions when the result was SO sure that the
delegates could freely indulge In the charm
ing privilege OF favoritism and Of friendship.
But the situation which now confronts us de-
mands the exercise of dispassionate judgment
and our best thought and experience. We
cannot venture on uncertain ground or en-.
counter obstacles placed In the pathway of
success by ourselves.
The Democratic party Is now divided but
the hope of the possession of power once more
will make II In the final battle more aggres-
sve, determined and INSCRIPTIONS than ever
II starts with fifteen states secure without an
effort, by processes which are n travesty upon
popular government, and If continued long
enough will paralyze institutions founded upon
popular suffrage. 1t has to win four moro
states in fair fight, states, which in the
vocabulary Of politics, are denominated doubt
full. The Republican party must appeal to the
14xvt1
voter In every state in the union This Is In
accordance with the principles upon " hich it
was founded, and the objects for which IL con-
tends. 1t has accepted this issue before and
fought 1t out with an extraordinary continl-
ance of success. The conditions of Republican
victory from 1860 to 1880 were created by
Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant.
They were, that the saved republic should
be run by its savors; they were the emanci-
patton of the slaves, the reconstruction of the
states the reception of those who had fought
to destroy the republic back into the fold,
without penalties or punishments, and to an
equal share with those who had fought for and
saved the nstion, in the solemn obligations
and inestimable privileges of American cid
zenship. They were the embodiment into the
constitution of the principles for which 1000 :
600 of men had fought and 100000 had died.
They were the restoration of public credit, the
resumption of specie payments and the pros
For twenty-five years there were names with
which to conjure, and events fresh in the pub
lie mind which were eloquent with popular
enthusiasm. II needed little else than a re-
cital of the glorious story Of its heroes and q
statement of the achievements of the Repub-
lcan party to retain the confidence of the peo-
pie. But from the desire for change which is
characteristic Of free governments, there came
a reversal, there came check to the progress
of the Republican, party and four years Of
Democratic cd d.ninstration, These four years
largely relegated to the realms of history past
issues, and brought us face to face with what
Democracy, its professions and its practices
mean today.
The great names which adorned the roll of
Republican statesmen and soldiers are still
potent and popular. The great measures of
the Republican party are still the best of the
history OF the century. The uneQualed and
unexampled story Of Republicanism in its
promises and in its achievements stands
unique in the record of parties in governments
which are free. But we live In practical
times, facing practical issues which affect the
business, the wages, the labor, and the pros
perity of today. The campaign will be won or
lost, not upon the bad record Of James X: Polk.
or of Franklin Pierce, or of James Buchanan;
not upon the good record of Lincoln, or of
Grant, or of Arthur, or of Hayes, or of Gar
field.
It will be won or lost upon the policy, foreign
and domestic, the industrial measures and the
administrative acts of the administration OF
Benjamin Harrison. Whoever receives the
nomination of this convention will run upon
the Judgment of the people as TO whether they
have been more prosperous and happy, wheth-
er the country has been In a better condition
at home, and stood more honorable abroad
under these last four years of Harrison and
Republican administration, than during the
preceding four years of Cleveland and Demo-
cratic government.
Not since Thomas jefferson has any admin
istration been called upon to face and solve so
many or such difficult problems as those
which have been exigent In our conditions.
No administration since the organization of
the government has met difficulties better or
more to the satisfaction of the American
people. Chill has been taught that, no matter
how small the antagonist, no community can
with safety insult the flag or murder American
sailors. Germany and England have learned
In Samoa that the United States has become
one of the powers of the world, and no matter
how mighty the adversary, at every sacrifice,
American honor will be maintained. The
Behring sea question, which was the insur-
mountable obstacle in the diplomacy Of Cleve-
land and Bayard, has been settled upon basis
which sustains the American position until
arbitration shall have determined our right
The dollar of the country has been placed
and kept In tho standard of commercial ma
tions, and conference has been agreed upon
With foreign governmsnts which by making