San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-03-08
MAI. PECK'S SPEECH,
Delivered at Houston. on the Fortieth An
niversary of the G. 0.P.
(From the Houston Post.)


From the Houston Post.)
Major ChaIles B. Peck, president OF
the club, presided aud introduced the
speakers. Major Peck made the intro
ductory address as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: We meet to-
night to renew our allegiance, revive our
memories and sing the glories OF the re-
publican party. In all ages people, par
ties and sects take pride In referring to
some distinguished ancestor-Charle-
magne or William the ConQueror, Luther,
Calvin or John Wesley, and so we, as
republicans. may point to most glorious
ancestor, The first and greatest of re
publicans was George Washington. The
republicans OF today are the successors
Of the free soilers, they OF the wigs, and
the latter OF the federalists, the first and
foremost Of whom was the illuStrious
father OF his country.
In like manner we can trace the descent
Of our friends, the enemy. The democratic
party of today are the children of the Sc
cessionists of $780," they of the nullifers
CT Calhoun's time, and they of the anti
federalists, whose greatest exponent and
present patron saint of democracy was
Thomas jefferson. And, ladies and gem
tlemen, il republican Bob Ingersoll had
hot done away with personal devil, we
could trace the ancestry Of the wicked
democratic party back to its very genesis.
The beacon lights Of republican history
are Washington, Adams Hamilton, Clay.
Abraham Lincoln. U. =. Grant, and
James &. Blaine, and the great policies of
the party have been centralized govern
ment, a protective tariff, national banks,
antt-slayery, internal improvements and
reciprocity.
On the other side the beacon lights OF
Dan 10 IAtFA G.1g
son, John c. Calhoun, Andrew jackson,
JEFF Davis and Grover Cleveland, and
their great policies have been state
sovereignty, state banks, notification.
pro-slavery, rebellion and financial
policy eliminating In Belmont Roth
schids loan. During the last year OF
Buchanan's administration treasury
notes bearing 10 per cert interest sold at a
discount With the last year of Harri-
sons administration we had an over
flowing treasury, and the United States
bond bearing 2 per cent interest sold at a
premium. With the return Of democratic
rule the Cleveland administration has al
ready borrowed sec, zoo, 900, and IL its
financial policy be much longer continued
IL will end In national bankruptcy and the
destruction of many American industries.
Ten days ago, February %, was the for
tieth birthday of the present generation
OF the republican party, during which
time 1t has managed the affairs of this
nation TWEEN ty- eight years-through vi
cissitudes and perils that will forever be
the sorrow and the glory Of the American
people.
Tomorrow begins the last year of dem
ocratic rule, and we are marshaling our
forces so that the greatest of centuries,
with all its triumphs of fcience and of
arts may be added to the cycles of time
under an administration befitting the
most enlightened nation on this earth.
Among the distinguished gentlemen
mentioned for our highest honor it is diff
ticult to choose. Whether it shall be the
great statesman from Maine, the car of
parliamentary reform; the honored gov
ernor OF New York. who has already held
second place in our affections, or to that
matchless man from Ohio, whose very
name is a synonym for protection of
American industry wherever our flag
floats, or shall we look to the calm beacon
| light that shines from the prairies OF
Iowa, or turn to that bright north star OF
Minnesota, the great exponent OF the
Monroe doctrine and the soldiers friend.
Whomsoever we nay select he will be
triumphantly eleesd and his admins
tration add new lush to the glories of
the republican partly