Year: 1874

STATE CONVENTION.


The Convention was called to order at IL A. NJ.
by S. d. Bingham Chairman OF the State Cen
trail Committee who nominated b. Nj. Cutcheon
of Manistee as Temporary Chairman, who on
taking the chair spoke as follows:


Republicans OF Michigan I'VE stand to-day
at the threshold OF the third decade OF the Re-
publican party of Michigan. For one-fifth OF
century this party has held the reins OF power
in the Peninsular State. And, standing rs we
do to-day, and looking back over the record of
the past, we need not apologize for the record,
but car proudly invite the criticism OF the
world, and comparison o! the Republican par
ty and its principles and acts with the princi-
Piles and acts OF the opposition.


Springing into existence twenty years ago
this summer, it threw itself like living wall
before the advance OF American slavery. de-
claring that the virgin soil of the Territories
should be forever free. Standing at first upon
that issue, from that hour up to the present
time the Republican party OF the United States
has been the party OF liberty, the party OF prog
ress, the party of reform it has been IN one
word the party of the Republic.


In times past it has devoted itself with entire
and royal devotion to the development and adj
vancement of all the great mental, aterial, in
dustrlal, and political interests OF the republic.
With an eye single to the upbuilding OF the,
present, and laying the foundation of grand
and perpetual future, this Republican party
has gone steadily forward never taking one
step backward. We have written upon our
banner the motto of Hampden, the English
reyolutionist, We take no step backward"


In time OF rebellion, this grand Republican
party, which has arisen with patriotism, mag
nanimity, and determined devotion, absolutely
without peer in ancient or modern times.
actually drove back and crushed the foes of
the Republic and banished treason from the
land.


During the trying and perplexing hours Of
the Reconstruction PERIOD that taxed to the
utmost the resources OF American statesman
ship, it proved itself competent for the task
and led us through this stormy sea until we
rode serenely and securely IN the harbor OF
peace once more.


And we stand here to challenge comparison
beVween the record OF this party during all this
time and the record Of the parties which have
been opposed to us. While we have been the
party OF progress, our opponents have been the
party OF reaction, the party Of destruction tear
ing down nearly as fast as we could build up.
But on every point we have borne our banners
through the thickest of the fight, to victory and
and final success.


We stand here to-day to give to the people an
account OF our stewardship, and we ask no In
diligence. While we admit that in the trying
hours OF the reconstruction period, and in the
more trying opening hours OF the rebellion, we
may have made mistakes, we offer no apollo
gies, ask no pardon, but invita- candid and
fair criticism and comparison.


When we first planted ourselves on the plat
form OF the non-extension OF slavery, and the
Democratic party withstood us face to face and
steel to steel, we met and vanquished them.
Then came on the times Of rebellion, and we
crushed out treason but the Democratic par
ty, through four long years of bloody war loud
ly cried, NO coercion" 1t opposed the Eman-
cipation Proclamation, opposed all legislation
on civil rights, and all liberal amendments to
the Constitution.


Two years ago that great party laid down the
banners it had carried for almost half a century,
and made an unconditional surrender OF all the
principles for which il had contended, by plac-
ing at the head of its column one Of the faith
ers of tue republican party. Thereby 1t is said
to us. i'll all the years past you have been
right ard we have been wrong.


And now, standing here to-day, at the end of
two Decades and looking over the past we ask
by what warrant does the Democratic party re-
quire the Republican party to hand over to
it the affairs of Government? BY its surrender
two years ago it declared it's incompetency, and
acknowledged that the Republican party was
the party OF ideas and progress.


Gentlemen OF the Convention. congratulate
you upon this happy anniversary, and pre-
dict that twenty years more Of power and con-
troll awaits us, il we conduct ourselvs with that
magnificent discresion and wisdom winch has
led and guided us IN the past.