Year: 1875

are 10 Commemorate the great events " the Revolution
We have been TO Lexington Conc9rf and Charlestown
You know how eagerly and reverently we garnered up
every incident and every example Of vaor and patriotic
efsacrince that could be rescued from the rapidly
cedng past. Nor OF Massachusetts, alone. Men
from the South there Confederate soldiers from
Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina and Union
soldiers from New England New York and Pennsylvania
marched together with every demonstration OF welcome
and stood side by side beneath the shadow of the
ument that commentaries the battle of Bunker HILL
And so II will be when another centennial shall dawn
Not only will our descendants bat the descendants OF
those who fought against us celebrate with grateful
memories the events ana deeds OF tue great ana sue
cessfu struggle the republican party led for national
unity and universal liberty


We gentlemen belong TO and represent those who
belong TO this grand historic party. We, Massachu
sets republicans, have had our full share in these
achievements, and IN making record OF which we are
justly proud. Am ! assuming too much, gentlemen,
when say that we in no mood to forget that
recordY Least of all we likely TO cease our refer
TO II at the solicitation of those who for forty
years have made no history they not willing TO for
get, but who continue to proudly vaunt their inher
itance, the achievements Of the administrations Of
Jefferson and Madison, OF more than two generations


THE DUTIES OF THE FUTURE


But grand as have been the achievements OF the re-
publican party and justly proud may be of its
brilliant record, IL live upon its memories
rest upon its past Grave questions OF administration
and legislation confront us They must be bravely and
wisely met However difficult may be the living issues
of the present and immediate future, there be
shirking them, or shrinking from them, without dsas


Whatever party is ntrusted with the administration
of the government must be watchful quick TO de-





sixty seventy thousand agents These agents scat
tered tins continental empire, intrusted with du
ties not always Of easy performance, and clothed with
powers not always clearly defined will sometimes make
Mistakes If they not guilty of official misconduct
But these officials should feel that the seepess eye
Of the administration is upon them and that detection
and exposure, dismissal and disgrace will surely and
swiftly follow all breaches trust all neglect of public
duty The supporters OF an administration, who are
jealous OF its good name and intent its continued
success will also be watchfu critical quick discover
abuses, unsparing in their denunciaton and nhexibe
in demands for their correction. When any admins
traon ceases TO have such vigant and fearless sup
porters when their voices are senced by the greedy
selfish corrupt II and the party it represents is on
the high road to disaster defeat and death


The experience of the nations teach that wars brng
with them great abuses We have passed through one
of the greatest wars history and Its influences have
been clearly visible in the public and private life OF the
nation Legislators and administrators, municipal,
State and national Of all parties, have fallen into mis-
takes and tolerated abuses But the spirit of reform
in the air The demand for reform is in the heart OF
the people. Conventions resolve it, The press gives it
voice The oil the intelligent patriotic high
toned OF the country-the Mr. Lincoln was
wont TO call the plain people"-the sturdy men who
carried the republican party and the country through
trials and conflicts demand wise legislation and honest
administration everywhere. Inhexibo in ideas and
principles though liberal and generous in pocies they
critical and exactng in matters OF administration
They are the hope of the party and tho hope OF the
country. They echo the recent emphatic declaration
of President Grant-''Let guilty escape ~ and
they demand Its prompt and universal application
While they do not mold accusation to be conviction,
they do hold that the government and not the accused
Official should have "the benefit OF all reasonable
doubts"





During the war anu the years immediately succeed
ing the faith of the nation often pledged 1t
pledged for the Freedom the civil and political nights of
the coored race and thus pledge must be redeemed and
kept in all its ulness 1t was pledged TO the soldiers
the money, of which so much was needed. To both is
the nation indebted for its continued existence To
neither its faith be broken without deep dishonor


In the stress OF the war, when creditors and armies
| were unpaid, the government issued its promises
pay" and made them legal tenders When that enact
made the government in good faith intended
|
erest bearing bonds But ten years have passed and
these promises TO pay' still remain unfulalled. The
greenback has indeed largely appreciated and are
justly proud of the credit OF the nation in the markets
of the world But we do not and we cannot az Ameri-
cans take pride the singular fact that stray
from unknown bank in one of the British provinces
can be sold in State street for premium of more
than twelve per cent OF legal
der notes, with all the wealth OF 40 000 900 OF people
behind IT. The plighted faith of the nation, the honor
of the government the enduring interests of the peo
pie of the rich and of the poor OF capital and labor
all demand that the government, by wise and prudent
Legislation and administration should, the earliest
practicable period, make It's notes equal to and eonver
tble into gold


The republicans Of Massachusetts when war came
demanded and aided IN its vigorous prosecution When
peace they demanded reorgan zatlon reconsruc
ton and reconciliation upon the just basis OF mpara,
liberty But love rather than hatred inspired them
To-day they rejoice that cmancipaed reemen who ut
the close of the had neither possessions
have accumulated millions of wealth and have thou
sands Of their children in the public schools that with
returning prosperity have come fuller acquiescence in
the results OF the and larger manifestation of the
spirit Of reconciliation towards their country and their
countrymen Yielding nothing of their love Of impair
tal liberty nothing OF their purpose ~ maintain the
! equal rights OF all citizens Of the United
States, nothing. OF their just pride in the
welcome this progress and hail these manifesta-
tons WITH then the unity Of the States assured the
| authority of the government indicated the freedom
and the rights, CIVIL and political, of the coored
made certain, IL seems 90 me that the republicans
of Massachusetts, should demand the removal of the
| remaining disabilities imposed by the fourteenth
amendment so that, when ON the Fourth Of July next
the Republic enters upon It's second centennial, none
..n fntaut .lnri Ffnlar fhacaI nl,tIf


APPEAL FOR HARMONY


You gentlemen of the Convention are republicans,
republicans all in sentiment and feeling, by convic-
tons and by associations You believe, and believe,
that the enduring interests of the country mpera-
tvey require the continued ascendancy of the repuD
| lican party until It's just aud generous ideas
! fully accepted and completely ncorporated-beyond
any possible reaction-into the lie OF the nation.
So believing, let rise to the heghth of the
son place the republicans OF Massachusetts, and aid
placing the republicans of the coontry, in positions
TO recover and retain power With our banners
! high advanced, blazoned with the glorious deeds
of the past, and bearing the inspiring pledges of
reform and publication for the future let 60 the
people with all the confidence and all the courage Of
other days Trust not gentlemen to mere party dsci
pine for IL has failed you trust TO official patron
| age Tor it has weighted you down in the race But
trust rather to that higher purer nobler sentiment
which ever seeking TO realize its own lofty ideals OF
what political party should be, and what admins
/ tration should do.


In the Presidential election of 1872 many republicans
who had stood and struggled together separated Last
year thousands of republicans in Massachusetts and
hundreds of thousands in other States withheld their
votes entirely voted against the party with which, IN
spirit and purpose they have claimed and still claim TO
be identified Let us, gentlemen, appeal with all sim
certify and earnestness to these republicans Massa
chusetts and elsewhere 10 act again with their old
associates to aid in correcting the errors and mistakes
! of which they haye complained, in vindicating
! the claims of the party TO public conf
! dcnce and in solving the practical prob.
lens not yet fully wrought out Lot appeal to the
veteran anti slavery Of the commonwealth who
toed long and YEARLY to make the republican party
possibility; to the tried who helped form IL to
the faithful men who stood by Sumner and Andrew, to
help to reunite reorganIze and rcinvlgorate Let
appeal TO the young men, inspired by high hopes and
noble ambitions TO serve their country, to take their
places this great historic party that gave to them
free and united nation TO live in and labor for and
nfuse into it something of their Cwn generous spirit
daring courage and youthful enthusiasm. Let us ap
peal to republicans everywhere to aid in placing the
party whose name they bear, whose principles they
chersh whose achievements they proudly remember