Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-18
MIR. RANDOLpH.s SPEECH.
How Henry Giny Evnns' Name Was
Presented. -..-.-.s s.~------

MIR. President and Gentlemen of the Con-
vention: 1t has been more than thirty
years since any citizen Of the state organ
lied as confederate states has been pre-
sented 10y either of the great national par
ties for the Office of President or Vice
President. When the great conflict for The
nations life was entered upon the repul,-
lican party had but just assumed control
1t became champion of the Union of the
states, and for the preservation of the
government under the Constitution. At the
close of the contest the success of the ma
tlonal arms was regarded the special
triumph OF the party. The people of the
states OF the south had been in revolt, and
1t was natural that for time after hos
tlties lad ceased that the republican
Tarty and those people should listrust each
other The one found the great majority
of its voters in the states which adhered
TO the MON. and therefore selected dele
gates for President and Vice President
from these states
Tennessee. the gateway of the south. the
great battlefield of the civil war, the state
which voted against secession when the
question was submitted to it's people by a
large majority. the last state to join itself
to the confederate states and the first
state to return TO its loyalty to the Union.
now presents You enc of it's distinguished
citizens for the second place on its ticket.
1t is true, he is not native born, but he
is more-he is a citizen by choice. and ne
comes from the portion of state whose
Union and the Constitution. and who fur
Eished more soldiers for the armies of the
Unfoh in proportion to their population
than any other territory in the United
States.
"Our nominee was born in the great
state OF Pennsylvania; he was raised in
the great state of Wisconsin. When the
President, in the beginning of the nation $
danger. called the citizens to arms to pre-
serve the Union and perpetuate the Con-
stitution, though a mere boy. he enlisted as
private soldier, and after going through
all the perils of the war at the end he
was honorably discharged from service.
He then became a citizen of the state and
has devoted his industry and abilities to
developing the resources Of the state. He
has won the friendship, respect and con-
fdence of the people among whom he
lives. They have put him in various Off
cal positions: he has been alderman and
mayor; member of Congress from his dis
trict. and first assistant postmaster gen
eral in the last republican administration.
In every position he has discharged tis
duties honestly and faithfully. and to the
satisfaction of the people.
After he had thus established himself
|, the people OF tennessee nominated him for
governor, and the people at the November
election of 1894 gave him a majority of
several hundred votes ever his opponent,
as shown by the returrs made by the Off
GERS holding the election. After the cleo
ton, democratic legislature enacted a
law for the purpose Of conteSting it. 1t
Is NOT 100 much to say that the law as
designed to deprive him of the Office to
which the people had elected him, and the
same men who. legislature, passed
the law, assumed under the law to pass
upon MS right to the office. A pretended
Judicial inquiry was instituted. As a mat
ter OF fact, 1t was neither judicial nor fair
The issues were false and the testimony
was garbled. Redecision changed the face
Of the returns Enough votes were taken
from what he had received to give his op-
ponent a majority and to change his cleo
ton into defeat
THE ground of the rejection of the vote
was not that they had not been cast. nor
that the voters were not legal voters, nor
that the judges OF the election had not
been fully satisfied of their right to vote
by receiving their vote. All of these facts
were admitted; but the decision was put
on the grounds that though the voters had
pald their pon tax, and had receipts show
ing the payment, as required by law, such
receipts mad not been produced before the
omcers holdlng the election and those off:
GERS Tor that reason had no right to report
their votes, and man never elected gov
ernor Is now holding Office in The state of
tennessee. The people Of Tennessee feel
that great wrong has been done them
ana tney want an opportunity of express
Ing their public condemnation of the act.
They want ar opportunity Of showing the
confidence they have In the citizen who
has thus been defrauded Of the office to
which they elected him.
Ihey believe he is worthy Of any Office
within the gift of the American people.
Representing them here 1 nominate for
Vice President Of the United States. Henry
Clay Evans"