Year: 1868

From Fort Wayne 20 Chicago the Journey OF
every 1 Town % and village the % people greeted him
with the greatest enthusiasm, and flags we're
displayed at every crossroad. Mr.. Colfax, at
come, and we feel that IL was but an earnest OF
what force they could muster to fight in the
service of Americas great captain. A serenade
was rendered him at his hotel in Chicago, on
the evening of July 30th. In response TO an
address of welcome from Mayor Rice, Mr., Col


did not come before you tonight, even in
response TO your nattering CALL to speak to
you in regaru to the political issues of the day.
l have done so often enongh before in your
principal houses in your halls in Chicago, in
all the places where the people congregate. 1
have spoken on The public measures, on the
policy which you deem best for the prosperity
of this country of ours. l have spoken of these
among you but what knows what my princi.
pies and convictions are. They are part of
my eS Seag Tney have th with y growth
l have stood by them in the past so shall
stand by them, unswervingly, in the future.


have not deemed 1t proper or advisable for
one who has been chosen by the representa-
tives of the American people to take the second
position In their gift, to speak upon the poliUi-
cal Issues OF the day-to go upon the political
arena as If his Office were unknown, there TO
express his thoughts to the public My record,
whether for GOOD or for i'll, is before you all. For
fourteen long years IL has been written down in
the record of your country; and l can say, be.
fore my God tonight, there is not q single line
that, dying, would wish to blot out. (Cheers.


Whatever may be the result or this canvass.
and though l am not the one to predict, nave
still faith, however, and confidence In the re-
suit; / believe that God reigns believe that
there Is an overruling Providence, that holds in
His hands the destinies OF nations And when
l have read in letters coming from the South
that its sm ouldering fires are kindling into
flames-thst you have read within the last few
days-I believe that that Providence that
watched over our trials and our armies through
sorrow and gloom, that brought cur soldiers
from gloom to the sunlight OF victory, never
intended to surrender this great country of ours
into their hands,


l have nothing to say of the platform of our
party. My views on that subject have ali eady
unfGlded. l have nothing to say OF the candi-
dates. But there is one subject on which my
lips are not sealed, or that my lips will not
be sealed npon until sealed in death-and that
is the noble party which is part OF the ReRub-
lie to-day. / thank God that there is such a
party to-day. It's deeds are written upon the
brightest pF ges of our history. And
when we shall pass away, your children and
your children's children, shall rise up and call
you blessed, because you shall have stood up in
the perilous hour of our country 1t is among
the most precious of our recollections, that
when the storms of war burst upon us, that
when we spoke with bated breath, only one
party said, "Come veal or woe; to the last man
and to the last dollar, we Will stand by the
country TO the last drop of blood, to the last
beat of our hearts" Through sorrow and
gloom we fought on till our republic was saved
and RebelliOD was crushed.