Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-08-22
TOM FITCH. or ARIZONA.


auA uIduly OF die
''on deserves preservation. His rea-
sons why he should remain in the Re.
publican party are unanswerable and |
should be read by all Republicans
omitting his introduction. Mr. Fitch |
said
ms morning friend, who IS /
member of this convention. and who
now honors me with his audience
SAID to me; Mr.. Fitch. you have
always been.a pronounced advocate of
the free coinage Of silver; what will
you do if the St. Louis convention
adopt plank in their platform favor |
ing single gold standard and de-
nouneing the free coinage of silver?'
did not answer this question then
but with your permission will do SO
now
Il belong to the Republican party
because 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 its restoration to complete
power will rekindle the furnace and
start the turbines, and fill the land
with the music of coutented and we'll
paid toll, and put bread into men |
mouths and hope into their hearts.
/ Il belong to the Republican party
because it is the grandest political or
ganization of freemen that the world
has ever known; because derits 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
developed from our villages, and the
land has been laced with a network of
iron rails, and furnace fires have il.
Illuminated the night, aud the grand
diapason OF labor has been made to
sound throughout the continent.
81 belong to the Republican party
because under its inspiration these
United States, once wrangling and
discordant Commonwealth these
United States, once shamed with slav-
cry and decrepit with the disease of
secession-these United States have
become country where no slaves
presence dishonors labor, where no
freeman's utterances are,schoked by
the hand of power. where no man
doffs his hat toanother, except through
the courtesy Of equals, where educa-
ton is free, where manhood is respe ct
ed, and where labor is protected.
Under the patriotic rule of the Re.
publican party these United States
have become a nation whose credit
reigns at the head of the world finan-
ces-whose flag floats proudly upon
every sea, and whose armies would
COME at the drumbeat out Of the hives
Oh industry to swarm in defense of the
Rcountry on every shore.
4 Under the rule of the Republican
party these United States have become
the greatest, freest and most prosper
Gus nation under the light of the sun.
Il belong to the Republican party
because it gave land to the landless,
because it gave work to the indus.
trious, because it gave freedom to the
slave, because, when the nation was
in peril, it gave armies and treasure
for her preservation.
Forty years ago, then lad ofeigh-
teen, joined the Republican ranks,
and too young to vote, I flung my
blazing banner aloft for Fremont and
Jessie. was present as newspaper
reporter at the Chicago convention in
1860, when all Illinois shouted Abra-
ham Lincoln into the Presidency.
heard the song of John Browns soul
sung in bated breath and in secret
gatherings OF his sympathizers, and,
four years later, on these distant
shores, | almost caught the echo of its
refrain when armies chanted it for
their battle anthem. enjoyed the
eloquence and friendship of Baker and
of Starr King, and Butler and Bing-
ham, and Garfield and Conkling, aud
that noblest Roman of them all, James
G. Blaine.
who, then, is there in all this land
that shall dare to ask me to betray
these memories because of a difference
of opinion concerning the conditions
under which silver dollars shall be
coined?
"Who shall dare to tell me it is nv
duty to leave the path along which my
youth and manhood, and where, when
the evening bugle shall sound the final
reveille, my age shall be found still
marching? Rather will turn to the
Republican goddess the same steadfast
face that bore when my locks, now
whitening, were as black asthe ravens
wing, and say to her. as Ruth said to
Naomi: Whittier thou goest, l will
go; and where thou lodgest, l shall
lodge; thy people shall be my people,
and thy God my God where thy diest,
! will die, and there will be buried. -
GENERAL 6. 6. WATTS