Year: 1877

be condemned until they and their acts have
been fairly tried, and then only on clear
evidence. For extreme license in criticism of
administrations, and OF everybody connected
with them, broad arguments can no doubt be
found. Many might be found In the files of
the journal made famousby the pencil of Mast.
| But convention may not deem itself char
tered libertine OF oracular and pedantic con-
ceits. 1t may not believe that theories and
antagOnlsms and resentmentS constitute the
duty OF the hour. 1t may believe that men
who are agreed in all the essentials of their
faith and of their work when they are acting
for great organization, should be willing to
form these essentials for the good of the
cause 1t may believe, and | hope this con
ventiOn does believe that no Republican
should seek to wound or wrong another by
compelling him to surrender his conviction In
matters of individual belief. II so, much
liberation could not be accorded. Party ac
| ton would be abortive.


| Surely, no Republican, n this State has made
war on the present Administration to my
knowledge. It cannot be denied that wanton
assaults have been made on Republicans and
spired by advisers and champions of the Pres
ident. It cannot be denied that other assaults
and acts of hostility are constantly occurring
which it is hard to reconcile with wish of
their authors to preserve the Republican
party. It is equally hard to reconcile much
that we witness with consistency and fairness.
] will illustrate this in my own case, though
other cases are not less marked. We hear un-
measured denunciation of men holding office
taking. part in political campaigns. Last
year 1 was an office holder, as | am this
| year, and malarial diseases contracted
in Washington disabled me for months 1t
was out of the question to undertake the la
bors of canvass but contrary to the posi-
tive injunction Of my physician ! attempted
| to address my neighbOrS on the issues of the
day. and the attempt gave sufficient caution
against it's repetition. Because | did not,
and could not, do more, /, as an office holder,
have been bitterly denounced far and wide to
| this day, and by the same men who now in
sist that every man in office, who even signs
a notice OF a convention, shall be degraded
and removed-so fragrant is it deemed, of
sudden, for office holders to take any part in
the work of the Republican party.


| But let me illustrate the apparent determi-
nation to assail and create disturbance among
Republicans. Since the spring session of the
been given by me to the new found party
overseers to administer correction. About
half the time | have been absent from the
country in the hope OF graduating some
country have been always pressingly Occu-
pied by matters of business accumulated
during protracted illness and absences from
| home. Politics have not engaged me; no ut
| terances hostile to men or measures have pro-
ceeded from me; not a strain has been laid in
| the way of any man, or of his ambitions or
schemes But still have been the object of
persistent assaults and Misrepresentation,
|
claiming to speak especially for the Ma
tional Administration. On returning home, a
| few words Of greeting could not be spoken to
neighbOrs and personal friends OF both par
| full denunciations for not making political
speech indorsing the policy. OF the Admins
tration. These anxious and superserviceable
characters seem determined to know nothing
but the President and his policy and them
crucified. To say word of things at home
and abroad has been treated as crime. To
say nothing at all has been to be reproached
and villified constantly. Appeals public and
private have been addressed to my neigh
borS, begging them not to send me to this
convention, and these appeals stated the no
doubt unauthorized pretense that my selec-
tion void not be agreeable to the national
authorities.


The meaning of all this is not obscured by
the fact that the new President has been sur
rounded and courted by men who have long
purred about every new administration,
| some of them for more years than many of
you have lived Some of these disintereSted pa
triots and reformers have been since the days
| of Pierce the friends and sultOrs OF ali ad-
miniStrations, and the betrayers OF all The
assaults they incite are somewhat annoying,
and my nature is one less inclined to meek
ness and long-suffering than it should be- 1t
would have been luxury to unfrock some OF
the nen and the purposes engaged in this
work, but it has seemed to me the duty OF
every sincere Republican, especially OF one





party, to indorse a great deal rather than
say or do anything tending to introduce di-
vision or controversy into the party ranks,
/ For this reason not a word OF reply has
escaped me.


am not for making these things the sub
iect of action. | am for the peace and pros
perity of this country, and of all it's people in
every section and in every State. | am for
everything tending to that end One thing
which does tend to that end is the mainte-
nance and ascendancy of the Republican
party. | am. therefore, for the unity OF Re-
publicans and the integrity Of their princi-
! pies. ] am for one thing more, and that is
the success of the National Administration
its success in everything that is just and
wise and real according to the constitution
and the laws and the common sense and inter
est of the nation. The future will test the
sincerity of all concerned in this respect Mr..
Hayes, when inaugurated, deserved from the
party which supported him just what Mr..
Lincoln and Gen Grant deserved at the out
set of their administrations. What is thatt
Fair friendly and dispassionate consideration
be sustained. Wherever he is misled by I'M
wise or sinister advice at proper time, and
in "a proper spirit, dissent should be ex-
pressed.


Let us agree to put contentious aside and
complete our task. Let us declare the pur-
poses and methods which should guide the
government of our great State. On this plat
form let us place upright, capable men, and
then let us appeal to the people to decide
whether such men shall conduct their affairs
on such principles, or whether they would
rather trust spurious refOrmers, under the
lead and dominion of our political opponents
THE HAYES. .CONkLENG WAR.