Year: 1868

that condition that 1t cannot carry ONT :
wise and peaceful policy, whatever its mo
tives may be.


1t is misfortune not Oily to the countrv
but to q governing party itself, when its ac'
ton is unchecked by any form Of oppos;
ton. 1t has been the misfortune of tbo
republican party that the events of the noSt
few years have given it so much power tb~t
it has been able to shackle the Execptiva
to trammel the judiciary, and to carry ont
the views of the most unwise and violent 80
Its members. When this state of thine
exists in any party, it has ever been fonp5
that the sober judgments of its abIeSt
leaders do not control. There is hardly o.,
able man who helped build up the repThT
can organization, who has not within tLo
past three years warned it against ;tS
excesses who has not been borne dowm
and forced 10 give up his convictions 81
what the interests of the country called fo,.
or, if too patriotic to do this, who has nntt
been driven from its ranks. If this hoe
been the case heretofore, what will he ;to
action now, with this new infusion of men
who, without decent respect for the yiewa
of those who had just given them their DO.
sitions, begin their legislative career with
calls for arms demands that their States
shall be regarded rs in condition of civil
war, and with declaration that thew ara
ready and anxious to degrade The President
OF the United States whenever they can
persuade or force Congress to bring for.
ward new articles Of impeachment


The republican party, as we'll as we, are
interested in putting some check upon this
violence. 1t must be clear to every think
ing man that division of political power
tends to check the violence of party action
and to assure the peace and good order of
society. The election of democratic Exec
utive and majority of democratic mem
bers to the House of Representatives would
not give to that party organization the
power to make sudden or violent changes.
but it would serve to check those extreme
measures which have been deplored by {,
best men of both political organizations.-
The result would most certainly lead to that
peaceful restoration of the Union and re.
establishment Of fraternal relationship
which the country desires.


[ am sure the best men Of the repubh-
can party deplore rs deeply as l do the
spirit of violence shown by those recently
admitted to seats in Congress from the
South. The condition of civil war which
they contemplate must be abhorrent to
every right thinking man. l have no mere
personal wishes which mislead my judg-
ment in regard to the pending election
No man who has weighed and measured
the duties of the Office of President of the
United States can fail to be impressed with
the cares and tolls of him who is to meet
its demands


1t is not merely to float with popular
currents without policy or a purpose
On the contrary, while our constitution
gives just weight to the public will, its dis
tinguishing feature is that it seeks to pro-
tect the rights of minorities. Its greatest
glory is that it puts restraints upon power.
1t gives force and form to those maxims
and principles of civil liberty for which the
martyrs of freedom have struggled through
ages It declares the right of the people
to be secure in their persons, houses and
papers against unwarrantable searches and
seizure, that Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, or
the free exercise thereof, or abridging the
freedom of speech or of the press, or the
right of the people to petition for redress
of grievances. 1t secures the right of a
speedy and public trial by an impartial
jury.


No man can rightful!y enter upon the
duties of the Presidential office unless he
is not only willing to carry out the wishes
of the people, expressed in constitutional
way, but is also prepared to stand up for
the rights of minorities. He must he ready
to uphold the free exercise of religion
He must denounce measures which would
wrong personal or home rights or the re-
igious conscience of the humblest citizen
of the land. He must maintain, without
distinction Of creed or nationality, all the
privileges of American citizenship.


The experience of every p1blic man who
has been faithful to his trust teaches him
that no one can do the duties of the Office
of President unless he is ready not only to
undergo the falsehoods and abuse of the
bad, but to suffer from the censure of the
good, who are misled by prejudices and
Misrepresentation. There are no attrac-
tions in such positions which DECEIVE my
Judgment when L say that great change
is going on in the public mind.


The mass of the Republican party are
more thoughtful, temperate and just than
they were during the excitement which at
tended the progress and close of the civil
war.


AS the energy of the Democrtic party
springs from their devotion to their cause,
and not to their candidates, may with
propriety speak the fact, that never in the
political history of our country has the
action of like body been hailed with such
uAANoIod1 huu WAuS-SpTeuu eAGuuSlhSu as
that which has been shown in relation to
the position of the National Democratic
Convention. With this the candidates
had nothing to do. Had any others of
those named been selected, this spirit
would have been perhaps more marked.


The zeal and energy of conservative
masses spring from a desire to make a
change in the political policy, and from
confidence that they can carry out their
purpose. In this faith they are strength
ened by the cooperation of the great body
of those who served in the Union army
and navy during the war.


Having given nearly 10000 commissions
to officers in the army. know their views
and wishes. They demand Union, for
which they fought. The largest meeting
of these gallant soldiers which ever assem-
bled was held in New York, and endorsed
the action of the convention in words ip-
stinct with meaning. They called on the
government to stop in its policy of hate,
discord and disunion. and in terms of fer
vid eloquence demanded restoration Of
the rights and liberties of the American
people.