Year: 1872

world and at different periods of its his


tory, and then ask if the general opinion


of the ReDnbllcan party, | describe the


state which it calls Republican.


And first, suppose a state of society as


ir many of the small republics of the an


cient and middle ages, in which we find


a people whose outward circumstances


are easy and agreeable, few taxes, few


hardships, justice fairly administered, in q


word physical existence, taken altogether


is satisfactorily and happily regulated. Bat


with all this the moral and intellectual


energies of the people are studously kept


in state of torpor and inertness. 1t is
| hardly oppression-its tendency is not


of that character-it is rather compress
sion. The people are like f1Ocks of sheep,
carefully tended, physically happy; but
| without intellectual and moral activity.


DO you recognize this as your republic?
Take another example as in the case of


the Hindoors, and some of the other
| theocratic governments of Asia The out


ward circum stances of the people are not
SO agreeable, but supportable. As an off.
set the moral and intellectual cravings are
not neglected, care being taken to stitie
the cravings of liberty simply AS in the
other case the physical well-being is
guarded, here the moral and intellectual
activity is guarded, and a portion of
truth is doled out to each but no one al
lowed to help himself or seek it on his
own account. Do you recognize this as
your republic9


Change the hypothesis, and behold as
In many OF the states of Europe, large
stretch of personal liberty, but people
among whom disorder and inequality
abound The weak are oppressed, affiict-
ed, destroyed Violence is the ruling
character-l pause Such, apprehend, is
not the state arising from the liberty we
seek


One other condition l will notice It
is state in which every individual en-
joys the widest extent of liberty; in
equality is rare, or at least very Slight.
Every one does as he likes and scarcely
differs from his neig hbor in power. Here
scarcely any such thing is known as gen
eral interest, public ideas are few; hardly
any public feeling; but little society.
Men exercise but little influence over
each other. Generations come and go,
leaving society as they found It, Such is
not the civilization this banner represents
Neither one nor all of these united CON
stltutes the mission you have in view for
this country. You have in view rather
nation Of people advancing, a people in
state improvement, the melioration of
the social state. the carrying to higher
perfection the relations between man and
man.


Ii awakens at once in us a notion of an
increase OF national property, of greater
activity and ii better organization of the
social relations. On one hand there is
magnificent increase i'll the power and
well-being OF society at large; and on the
other more equitable distribution of this
power and this we'll being among the in
dlvlduals OF which society is composed.
But this is not ALL We reach forward
to destiny, yet higher. The production
ot the means of life and their equitable
DISTRIBUTION Is not the sole aim recognized
in our organization.


We look for that condition in which
the god-like principle which distinguishes
man from the bruit shall exhibit itself
with peculiar grandeur and power, when
art, literature and science Shall attain
greater perfection and be displayed in
their fnll luStre.


L is complex thought, these two con
ditions reveal themselves in our progress
slve nationality, the progress of society,
the progress of Individuals, the meliora-
u0n OF the social system, and the quick
enlng OF the mind and faculties Of men.


That such Is the mission OF the Repub
lIcan party, | call to witness its achieve
ments III the twelve years of its eXisten e.
need not recount them to you. They
are known and h nOred of all men. The
late elections approve its work and mis-
sion.


L have endeavored to place before YOU
the idea OF our progressive nationality as
we understand it, and in accepting the
banner, we receive it as the emblem of
that idea, and pledge our lives and .abors
To its support.


In behalf of the Republicans of German
township, thank you for this standard,
ana may 1t long remain a reminder of the
pleasant relations existing between us.


This was followed by Henry G. Thayer,
Esq, who occupied an hour in discussing
the political questions of the times in
manner, for one who laws no
claim to large experience in this direc-
ton. After which John S. Bender spoke
some twenty minutes.


o. H. P. Bailey being called said, he
could not make speech, that he never
made but one speech in his life, and the
audience that time went back on him.
That speech he said "was made to his
regiment when on foraging expedition,
when an old Rebel lady desired her grow.
ing crops and provisions protected but re
fused to sell out of her abundant supplies
to feed famished regiment; then said
he to his men pitch imp" daughter
and applause)


j. +. Langenba1gh was the next called
for who said: II am like the unfortunate
cooper who could make good barrel if
he had the material. can make speech.
But Bender stole the head, Thayer the
slaves, johnson the hoops, Macomber the
bottom, and Col. Bailey has even stole
the bung and left me without anything.
| must therefore decline" Uaughter.)


Moses Keyser, in very appropriate
manner addressed the meeting five min
utes. Charles Toan, Jacob Trowbridge,
DR.. Stenge, and VIM. Keneger were each
called, but respectfully declined. The
President, Mr. Wright, then rose and
made some remarks. which could not fail
to produce their desired effect. 1t being
now twelve o'clock, P. NJ, the meeting
with cheers TO the committee,
the band, and for the whole Republican