Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-01-21

in 1892, were due only to the changing
fortunes Of political battle, and not in
any wise to Il withdrawal from me of
party confidence.
Permit me to repeat in this presence,
with all the sincerity of my heart, what
[ had occasion once under verv differ
ent circumstances, 10 address to a re-
publican legislative caucus, that the
confidence and respect of the republi-
cans of Wisconsin are dearer to me
than any office within their gift.
And so, gentlemen of the caucus, am
inexpressibly grateful to you, and to
the constituencies whose sentiment [
have right TO assume your actions cor
rectly represents, for the great honor Of
which you have in such fattering
manner made me the recipient.
No man, 1 think, understands better
than | do that the people are not to be
satisfied by mere expressions of graft
tude, and that they will demand that I
prove my appreciation Of their conf
dence, by honest, laborious, fearless
and faithful service in the senate, to
Wisconsin and to the country, from
which service alone can any man Win
real honor through seat in that great
body. If my health is spared me it will
be the ambition of my life to afford
that proof,
[ cannot promise, if l am chosen
senator, to bring to the discharge of
senatorial duty any higher or better
purpose to serve the people we'll than
[ brought to it twelve years ago, or than
gave to it during my term of office.
But [ ought not to accept the trust if I
did not feel that can bring, because of
the lapse of years since my former SER
vice, to the discharge of its duties a bet
ter and maturer judgment, a broader
and fairer view of men and things, and
probably fuller measure of independ-
ence Of thought and sction
You will not of course on this occasion
expect from me discussion of public
policies, or any elaborate declaration of
my party creed, for you know that I am
republican. Otherwise l should not
be your nominee.
| permit no one 10 go beyond me in
admiration and respect for the indie
pendenCe and patriotism which led
great band Of old-time stalwart demo-
Gratis to Indignantly repudiate the Chi
cago platform and the Chicago ticket,
and to strive, directly and indirectly,
for the success of the republican party.
By their action they greatly helped TO
bring the country through an awful
crisis, and to avert indescrlbable disas-
ter. That they are we'll entitled TO the
gratitude Of the people, and to the re-
.spect and consideration of the repub-
lican party, no right-mindPd man will
deny. | have not. however, been able,
as some republicans seem to have been,
to find in the patriotism and service of
the sound money democracy reason for
abandonment by the republican party
of principles in which it believes, or of
policies to which it has been during
many years in good faith committed.
We have good right to indulge the hope
that, while not agreeing with Us in all
or even in many things, they will con-
tinue to the end to cooperate with the
republican party upon those vital ques-
tions involving the integrity of the gov
ernment and the honesty of our none
tarv standard.
If elected to the senate intend to do
everything in my power, within the