Year: 1860

the balance of power, and whose Office Il
seems to have been, for years, to demoral-
ize with their treachcrous promise of sup
port; Applause;l of those heartless men
who, while whole continent is on fire,
calculate with bloodless GOODNESS from
what side they can draw the greatest ad-
vantage. Ia


They may feel big with the vain boast
that they will be strong enough to defeat
us-we have shown them unequivocally
enough, that they will never be strong
enough to corrupt us. Enthusiastic
cheers. We have, indeed, invited the
support of all citizens, whatever their par
ty affiliations may have been. But We
will not gain it by false prctences. We
will speak to them the language of great
principles, we will appeal to their sense of
right and justice, we will assault their un-
derstanding with irrefntable arguments,
we will assault their hearts with solemn in
vocations, but we have disdained to de-
scend to ambiguous tricks, which would
make us unworthy of being supported
by others. Loud cheers and applause.


Such is the Republican party to-day
1t is strong. for it seeks and finds its
strength in the greatness of the cause it de-
fends. 1t will be victorious, for it de-
serves success. Its success will be deci.
sive triumph Of our cause. and if the worst
should come. even defeat would be .
mere delay of certain victory. And SO
we are ready to give battle, armed with
that scrupulous jealousy of principle, that
will make us rather perish than comprotn-
Use the right; with that honest pride of
conviction which springs from deep con-
sciousness of good faith and true devo-
tion to just cause. Great applause. =
And the signs of the times show that even
a political honesty is the best policy, for
all those honest men who mean to do
right. although they formerly stood against
us, are fast focking around our banner


Cheers. Listen to me single moment.
Standing as we do on the threshold of
great decisions, | cannot suffer my mind
to be ENGAGED in the walls of this house.
or In the narrow lines of party interest
and party policy, not even in the bounda-
ries of this country. There is a wide
world around us with its manifold races
and nations of men all of them for thous-
ands of years engaged in the arduous
struggle for happiness and freedom. now
advancing with spasmodic force and ra-
pidity,.no falling back again exhausted
and discouraged; always struggling to
disentangle their feet from the treacherous
coils of despotic rule, and always baffled
in their efforts; so much noble blood spill.
ed. so many noble hearts broken, so
many noble aspirations turned into des.
pair!


And in this world of strife and anguish
there arose this Republic, world of prom
Use. 1t was the gospel of liberty transla-
ted into fact. 1t was the beacon of hu.
manity. [Cheers. But alas! the obliv-
ion of despotic rule did not work the abo.
lition OF the bascr passions of human ma
ture. But half century elapsed, and
this free government is ruled by despotic
interest, the Republic sinks into the miro
of Slavery and corruption, sinks deeper
and deeper, and the hope of humanity
sinks with it. The advocates of despot-
ism predict its downfall from day to day.
and proclaim with exultation that the
great experiment of human self-govern-
ment has failed. 1t is in vain that the
best men of the nation, like the prophets
of old. rise up against the growing demor-
alization. They are sneered at or persecu-
ted, or, at best their efforts remain isola-
ted and apparently fruitless. Suddenly .
great startling outrage is perpetrated; the
slave power with its train of corruption
and demoralizatiou. shows itself in its ma
ked deformity, and threatens to swallow
down the whole future of the country In
one gulp. Now the popular conscience
wakes up. The people of the North rise to
last effort. The first attempt to rescue
the development of the Republic fails. but
the movement grows in dimension and in
tensity. We press on and on. and the day
of deliverance is at hand. Oh, it comes 1t
lastl How we counted every minute by
the impatient throbbings of our hearts
We rally in formidable array; every fiber
of our being trembling with eagerness for
the greatest of struggles; every pulsation
of our blood beats the charge! We place
one of the purest. noblest and ablest men
of the nation at the head of our army
victory is within our grasp!


No man in whose soul glows spark of
sympathy for struggling humanity. can
now stand idle. No heart that was ever
fred by the divine breath of liberty. can
now remain cold. [Great applause.


Let Wisconsin stretch her hand across
the lake and grasp that of New York
Let it be known that New York and Wis
consin, who stood together to the last for
So,vard IN tho Convention will ho tho fret
and foremost in the battle for Lincoln and
Liberty! Enthusiastic and loud cheer.
ing.