The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-07
SEMI-CENTENNIAL.
Address of Vice Presidential Candi-
date Fairbanks.

Jackson. Mich, July Following
Secretary Hays address here at the
Republican semi-centennial celebra-
ton, Charles w. Fairbanks. candidate
for vice president on the Republican
ticket, spoke as follows:
Senator Burrows and fellow citi-
zens: We are met to commemorate
century ago, American patriots SOL
EMMY pledged themselves to vindf-
cate the first principles of Republican
government to challenge the agrees
sions of the slave power. Here was
issued the second declaration of free
dom. Here. was taken the initial step
which led to the overthrow of slavery
and the establishment of the govern
ment upon truly national lines. We
freely pay the tribute of our grateful
appreciation to the memory of those
who raised here the standard of Re-
publicanism.
1.-THE Republican party was born to
the conscience of the people, and it
was here dedicated to as high and holy
a service as ever summoned men to
heroic duty.
.'The appeal to the people of Michi-
gan, which was issued by Zacariah
Chandler, that stalwart among stall
warts, and his associates was like a
clarion call to exalted service. 1t was
conceived in the same spirit which in
spired our fathers in the morning of
the American Revolution.
THE resolutions here adopted were
put upon a high plane. Differences
of individual opinion upon all other
subjects of states or domestic policy
were subordinated to the one over
mastering question of the hour 1t
was solemnly resolved that, postpon-
ing and suspending all differences with
regard to political economy or admin
istrative policy, in view of the i'm
minent danger that Kansas and Ne
braska will be grasped by slavery .
& we will act cordially and faithfully
in unison to avert and repeal this
gigantic wrong.
THUS consecrated the Republican
party was here christened. and sent
forth to accomplish a more vital mis-
sion than ever challenged the consid-
Grafton of the people since the foun-
dation of the government.
ITO the Republican party was com
mitted, in Gods providence, the stu
pendous responsibility of preserving
the integrity of the nation itself. We
would not here kindle anew the fires
of past hates. or reopen the debate
of long buried differences which di-
vided section against section, for we
stand reunited under the acknowl-
edged supremacy of one flag and one
constitution. But we may appropri-
ately recall the history of a past gen
Grafton in which American contested
opposing theories. In that contest the
Republican party stood for national
solidarity. It stood for the nation
above state, and the victory it achieved
blessed both the victor and the van
pushed. American opposed to Ameri-
can with titanic power. American met
American upon the field of glory and
the God of battles was with the cause
espoused by the Republican party The
hates and the enmities which igno-
rance and false teaching engendered
have happily persisted and persisted
forever. The memory of the valor of
those who fought for conscience sake
beneath opposing flags remains as a
rich national inheritance. The impair
tial verdict of history is that the Re-
publican party was everlastingly right.
and its further verdict is that no Amer