Year: 1868

lection over the humblest and weak
est of its people, and vindicates the
rights of the poor aud the powerless
"a faithfully as those Of the mighty
and the powerful.


l rejoice. too, in this connection.
to 6nd in your platform the frank and
fearless avowal that naluralscd oili
tizens must be protected abroad at
every hazard as though they we're
native born. Our whole people are
foreigners or descendants Of foreign.
ers. Our fathers established BY
arms their right to be called a nation.
IL remains for us to establish the
right, aud welcome to our shores all
who desire, by oaths Of allegiance, to
become American citizens. Porpetu
al allegiance, as claimed abroad, j.
only another name for perpetual
bondage, and would make all slaves
to the soil where first they saw the
light. Our national cemeteries prove
how faithfully these oaths Of fidelity
to the adopted land have been sealed
in the life blood of thousands upon
thousands. Should we not then be
faithless to the dead if we did not
protect their living brethren in full
enjoyment Of that nationality for
foe which, side by side with the native
born, our soldiers OF foreign birth
laid down their lives2


1t was fitting, too, that the repre-
seutatives of party which had
proved so true TO national duty il
time Of war, should speak so clearly
in time of peace Of the maintenance
untnrnishod Of the national honor
and the national credit and good
faith as regards its debt, tho cost OF
our national existence.


l do not need to extend this reply
by further comment on a platform
which has ELECTED such hearty ap.
| proval throughout the land; the debt
Of gratitude it acknowledges to the
brave men who saved the Union from
destruction; the frank approval of
amnes y based on repentance and 10y
atty; the demand for the most rigid
economy and honesty in The govern
ment; the sympathy of the party OF
liberty with all throughout the
world who long for the liberty we
here enjoy, aud the recognition OF
the sublime principles of the Declar.
alton of Independence are worthy OF
the organization on whose banner
they are to be written in the coming
contest. It's past record can not be
blo'ted out or forgotten. If there
had been no Republican rarty
slavery would to-day cast its balefuI
shadow over the Republic. If there
bad been no Republican party, free
press and free speech would be as un.
known, from the Potomac to the Ric
Grande as ten years ago. If the Re-
publican party could have been
stricken from existence when the
banner Of rebellion was unlurled, and
when the response of "no coercion
was heard at the North, We would
have hcd no nation to-day. But fol
the Republican party daring to risk


the od.um of tax aud draft laws
our Aag could not have been kcp
flying in the field until the lone
hoped for victory came. Without q
Republican party the Civil Rights
bills, the guarantee of equality under
the law to the humble and the de-
fenseless, as well as to the strong
would not be to day upon oui
national statute book.


! With such inspiration from tn,
past, and following the example o
the founders of tho Republic whC
called the victorious General o
the Revolution to preside ovei IT,,
land his triumphs had saved from it,
enemies, | cannot doubt that oul
harbors will be crowded with success
and it will he success that shal
bring restored hope, confidence, pros
perity, and progress South as well al
North, West as we'll as East, anC
above all, the blessings under Provi
dence, of national concord aud peace


Very truly, yours,


SCHUYLER CoLFAX.