The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-08-07

Freedom of This Nation"
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, and responded in a speech which
for simple eloquence and beauty of die
ton deserves preservation. His reasons
why he should remain in the Republican
party are unanswerable and should be
read by all Republicans. The reading
will in no way dwarf their enthusiasm
for the grand old party. The full text
of Mr.. Fitch's speech is as follows:
"GENTLEMEN OF THE Conventional
thought that the seclusion that the up
per gallery grants, combined with other
circumstances, would exempt me from
any invitation to speak before this con-
vention, but your repeated calls leave
me no alternative consistent with cour-
tesy but to answer them.
"The speakers who have addressed
you have spoken Of the free coinage Of
silver as cardinal principle Of the Re-
publican party. fear that the st. Louis
convention may compel US to retrace
some OF our steps in this matter, and.
as the statesmen who control this con-
vention have not included me among
those deemed most fit to represent Ari-
IONA at ST. Louis, feel quite at liberty
to tell the truth.
81 suppose no one will question my
long devotion to the cause of free silver
coinage. Years ago. at the inception of
the movement, l, us vice president of
the national executive committee Of the
silver convention, i'll connection with
A. j. Warner, the president of the
committee, travelled through the south
and west preaching the doctrine of BIZ
metallism, and l have never since had
occasion to change my views with re-
spect to the great benefits that might
result to this nation from the complete
restoration of silver as money metal !;
and yet there are other circumstances
quite as influential which must be po-
tent in determining my future action
and the future action of many Repub-
licans in this matter.
"This morning q friend, who is a
member of this convention, and who
now honors me with his audience, said
to me: Mr.. Fitch, you have always
been pronounced advocate Of the free
coinage of silver. What will you do if
the st. Louis convention adopt a plank
in their platform favoring u single gold
standard and denouncing the free coin
age of silver?' / did not answer this
question then, but with your permission
will do so now.
81 belong to the Republican party be-
cause its history is the history of the
growth, the greatness, and the freedom
of this nation; because its purposes are
patriotic; because it is the friend OF Ia
Dor without being the foe CT thrift; be-
cause it is wise, because it is just be-
cause its restoration to complete power
will rekindle tho furnace and start the
| turbines and fill the land with the mu-
sic of contented and well paid toll, and
| put bread into mems mouths and hope
into their hearts.
IT belong to the Republican party be-
cause it is the grandest political organ
| ization Of freemen that the world has
| ever known; because under its wise
guidance star after star has been added
to. our flag, ship after ship has been
| added to our fleets, factory after factory
has been added to our resources, mil
lions upon millions have been added to
our wealth, city after city has been de-
| veloped from our villages, and the land
has been laced with network of iron
rails, and furnace fires have Illuminated
the night, and the grand diapason OF
labor has been made to sound through
| out the continent
IT belong to the Republican party be-
cause under its inspiration these United
States, once wrangling and discordant
| commonwealth; these United states
once shamcd with slavery and docrepit
with the disease of scccsSion-these
| United States have become country
where no slaves presence dishonors la
Dor, where no freeman's utterances are
choked by the hand of power, where nc
man doffs his hat to another except
through tho courtesy Of equals, where
| education is free, where manhood is re-
spected, and where labor is protected.
"Under the patriotic rule Of the Re-
publican party these United States have
become nation whose credit reigns at
the head of the worlds finances, whose
flag floats proudly upon every sea, and
whose armies would como at the drum.
beat out of the hives of industry to
swarm in defense of the country on CIV.
cry shore.
"Under the rule of the Republican
party these United States have become
the greatest, freest, and most prosperous
nation under the light of the sun.
IT belong to tho Republican party be-
cause it gave land to the landless, because
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 preserva'
ton.
Forty years ago, then lad OF Is,
Joined the Republican ranks, and. toe
young to vote. flung my blazing ban
ner aloft for Fremont and Jessie. / wa,
present as a newspaper reporter at the
Chicago convention in 1860, when al
| Tyl;ro;s abouted Ahraham lincoln into