Arizona weekly citizen., 1896-08-29
WHY HE REMAINS REPUBLICAN
A Speech by Tom Fitch That VIII
Bear Reading Again.
From the ST. Louis G1ooe-Democrat

At the late republican convention OF
Arizona, held to elect delegates to the
st. Louis convention, Tom Fitch, one Of
the most noted free silver advocates in
the territory, was called upon to speak.
"Mr. Fitch said: "Tbis morning a
friend, who is q member of this conven-
ton, and who now honors me with his
audience, SAID to me: 'Mr. Fitch, you
have always been pronounced advocate
of the free coinage Of eilver; what will
you dosf the..St. Louis convention adopts
a plank IN their platform fsvoring q
single gold standard and denouncing the
free coinage of silver? did not answer
this question then, but with your per-
mission | will do SO now.
81 belong to the republican party be.
c8uee its history is the history of the
growth, the greatness and the freedom
of the nation; because its purposes are
patriotic; because it is the friend of labor
without being the foe Of thrift; because
it is wise, because it is just. because it's
restoration to complete power will re-
kindle the furnace and start the turbines.
aDd fill the land with the music of CON.
tented and well-paid toll, and put bread
into mems mouths and hope into their
hearts.
81 belong to the republican party be-
cause it is the grandest political organic
alton OF freemen that the world has
ever known; because under it's wise
guidance star after star has been added
to our flag. shIp after ship has been add
ed to our fleet, factory after factory has
been added to our resources, millions
upon millions have been added to our
wealth, city after city has been develop
ed from our will ,ges, and the land has
aud furnace fires have illuminated the
night. and the grand diapason Of lsber
has been made to sound throughout the
continent.
81 belong to the republican party be-
cause under it's inspiration these United
States. once a wrangling and discordant
commonwealth, these United States,
once sh8med with slavery and decrepit
with the disease of secession-these
United States have become a county
where no slaves presence dishonors
labor, where no freeman's utterances are
choked by the hand Of power, where no
man doffs his hat to another. except
through the courtesy of equals, where
education is free, where manhood is re-
spected, and where labor is protected.
Under the patriotic rule of the repub-
lican party these United States have be-
come a nation whose credit reigns at the |
head OF the worlds fnsuces-whose flag |
floats proudly upon the sea, and whose |
armies would come at the drumbeat out |
of the hives OF industry to swarm in |
defense OF the country on every shore.
"Under the rule OF the repu blicsn |
party these United States have bsco me |
the greatest, freest and most prosperous
nation under the light OF the sun.
81 belong to the repu blican party be-
cause it gave land to the landless, be-
cause it gave work to the industrious.
because it gave freedom to the slave,
because, when the nation was in peril, |
it gave armies and treasure for her pre-
eervation.
Forty years ago, when lad Of Is, L
Joined the republican ranks, and, too
young to vote, l flung my blazing
banner 8loft for Fremont and Jessie. / |
was present es newspaper reporter at
the Chicago convention in 1860. when
all Illinois shouted Abraham Lincoln
into the presidency. l heard the cong
of John Browns soul sung in bated
breath and IN secret gatherings of his
sympathizers, and, four years later, ON
these distant shores, l almost caught
the echo OF it's refrain when armies
chanted it for their battle anthem. I
enjoyed the eloquencs and friendship of
Baker and OF Starr King, and Butler
and Bingham, and Garfield and Oonk.
ling, and that noblest Roman of them
all. James q. Blaine.
"Who shsll dare to tell me it is nv duty:
who ehall dare to ask me to betrey tbess
memories because OF a difference of
opinion concerning the conditions under
which silver dollars shall be coined?
who shall dare to tell me il ia NV
duty to leave the path along which NV
youth and manhood, and where. when
the evening bugle shall sound the snal