The Monmouth inquirer., 1896-07-02
Mr.. FORTS NOMINATING SPEECH

Nh. rum y NOHsNHtaN0 ~ AINt
The name of Garret A. Hobart, of
PatersoG, was placed in nomination
for the Vice-Presidency by ex-Judge
J. Frank Fort. Mr.. Forts nominal
ing speech was as follows:
"Mr. President and Gentlemen of
the Conventions:
u rise to present to this conven-
ton the claims of New Jersey to the
Vice Presidency.
We cone because we feel that we
can for the first time in our history
bring to you q promise that our elec-
toral vote will be cast for your nomi-
nees. If you comply with our request
this promise will surely be redeemed.
For forty years through the black
ness of darkness of u universally tri-
unphant Democracy, the Republi-
cans of New Jersey have maintain
ed their organization, and fought as
yaliantly as if the outcome were to
be assured victory. Only twice
this long period has the
sun shone in upon us. Yet, through
all these weary years, we nave ike
"Goldsmith's Captive felt that
Hope, like the cleaning tapers light,
Adorns and cheers our way;
And still, as darker grows the night,
Ennits a brighter ray.
s'The fulfillment of this hope cams in
1894. In that year, for the first time
since the Republican party came into
existance, we sent to Congress solid
delegation of eight Republicans, and
elected a Republican to the United
States Senate. We followed this in
1895 by electing Republican Govern
or by majority of $4,000, and in
this year of grace, we expect to give
the Republican electors a majority OF
not less than 10000.
Il come to you, then, to-day i'll De-
half Of New Jersey, a politically re
deemed and regenerated State. Old
things have passed away, and behold
all things have become new. 1t is
many long years since New Jersey has
received recognition by national
convention.
When Henry Clay stood for protec-
tion, in 1874, New Jersey furnished
Theodore Frelinghuyson as his as
sociate. The issue then was the res
toration of the tariff, and was more
nearly like that of today than at
any other period which / can recall
in the nations political history. In
1856, when the freedom of man
brought the Republican party in ex-
istance and the great Pathfinder was
called to lead, New Jersey furnished
for that unequal contest Vim. l..
Dayton as the Vice Presidential can
didate. Since then, counting for moth
ing, we have asked for nothing.
During this period Maine has had a
candidate for President and a Vice
President; Massachusetts a Vice
President; New York four Vice-Presi-
dents, one of whom became Presi-
dent for almost full term; Indiana
a President, q candidate for Presi-
dent and Vice President; Illinois a
President twice and q Vice -Presiden-
tial candidate; Ohio two Presidents
and now candidate for the third
time; Tennessee a Vice-President,
who became President for almost a
full term.
I'VE believe that the Vice-Presi-
dency of 1896 should be given to New
Jersey: we have reasons for our
opinion. We have ten electoral votes
We have carried the State in the
elections OF 1898, '94 and '95. We hope
and believe we can keep the State in
the Republican column for all time.
By your action to-day you can great
ly aid us. Do you believe you could
place the Vice Presidency in State
more Justly entitled to recognition.
or one which it would be of more
public advantage to hold in the Re
publican ranks?
''If the party in any State is de-
serving Of approval for the sacrifice
of its members to maintain its organ
ization, then the Republicans of New
Jersey, this the hour of ascendency,
after long years of bitter defeat, feel
that they cannot come to this con
yention in vain.
I'VE appeal to our brethren in the
South, who know, with us what it is
to be over ridden by fraud on the
ballot box; to be counted out by cor
rupt election officers; TO be doninat-
ed by an arrogant, unrelenting De-
mocracy. y
1--WE should have carried our State
at every election for the past ten
Yeas, if the count had been an
honest one. We succeeded in throt-
Ting the ballot box suffers and inn
the corrupt election officers
only to have the whole raft of them
pardoned in a day, to work again
their nefarious practices upon an
honest people, but to-day. under
ballot reform laws, with an honest
count, we know we can win. 1t has
been long, terrible strife to the
goal, but we have reached it unaided
and unassisted from without, and we
come to-day promising to the ticket
here selected, the, vote of New Jer-
sey, whether you give us the Vice
candidate or not. We
make it no test of our Republicanism
that we have candidate We have
been too long used to fighting for