Year: 1870

ScrcI,adc to IL. Grntz Brown.


SPEECH or THE GOVERNOR ELECT.


In reply to Il congratulatory speech
by Col. ID. II. Armstrong, Mr.. Brown
responded:


Fellow citizens, Democrats of the
state of Missouri-for l presume l can
include representatives of all our num-
bcr in my addrcss-l wish to say to you
that l thank you from the bottom OF
my heart for the support which you
have given me in this canvass that has
ended, in such Il magnificent triumph
TChcers. assure you, moreover, that
do not take that triumph to myself per-
sonally, but only to the principles that
have been so cmphatically endorsed
those of equal freedom for every man in
this nation by right Of his birth-right.
We have gone through this contest, we
have made no appeal to party, we have
made no discrimination against men,
and yet we have made distinctive ap-
peal to the common sentiment OF the
common country, in behalf Of the right
OF every man to exercise the franchise
of Il free man, and we have won upon
that principle. CCheers.] Now have
to say to you without any hesitation
that l have to thank the Democratic
party of the state of Missouri-[cheers]
for the cordial support that they have
given me in that position, and I say
furthermore that no party has ever shown
more perfect command of itself, more
perfect disregard Of past traditions, more
perfect devotion to the patriotic welfare
of the common country than has the
Democratic party in the last election in
| this state of Missouri. TCheers. l can
say to you frankly, my fellow-citiZe1ls,
that am the last man in this nation to
disregard the obligations under which
I stand, and that in this election I re-
cognise that my obligations are in the
largest measure due to the Democratic
party OF the State of Missouri [cheerSl.
Now, my friends, let me tell you an
other thing. 1 recognise the fact that
the Democratic party of the State of
Missouri has done this thing-it has
elevated itself upon Il higher platform
than it ever occupied before; it has
gone for the rights of all men, and in
so doing, it has made an initiative Of
the future that will go through all the
States Of this Union. 1t has cut itself
| loose from formulas and the distractions
Of the past and it has made a platform
upon which the young men of this ma
tion can stand. TCheers] Ia platform
where they can stand disembarrassed
Of all the ;,ntccedcntS they have gone
before cm-disembarrasSed of all that
retinue Of party machinery that has
kept them down heretofore, and where
| they can move forward in the spirit and
in the light of a pure Democracy, advan-
cling to the conquest ofthe future. cheers]
Fcllow-citiZens, SO far as this question
concerns our own State, I desire to say
| to you that | recognize this as the tri-
umph Of new ideas that recognize it
as the initiation of a reconstruction of
our State from its bottom upwards.
{ Cheers. That 1 recognize it as the
| initiative of Il new convention to reOr-
ganize our fundamental law. Pro-
longed cheering. And accepting it in
that light, l wish you all good cheer in
the future, hoping and trusting only,
in addition to that, that the lesson
which has been taught by this election
to the nation at large will be received
and accepted, and that the national
representatives who have been sent
from the western country, when they
understand the force and significance of
all of your votes, will understand that
it is proper for them to coalesce, and
combine and consort with anybody and
everybody that will reduce to the near
approximation of justice and truth that
immense tax which is now levied upon
us under the false and fraudulent guise
Of a revenue tariff. Cries of stthat's
Democracy and "that is what we
want" and chcers.] Now, my fellow
citizens, I have only to say to you in
conclusion that have the honor to be
your governor elect for the State of
Missouri. I will promise you an hon
est and faithful administration of that
Office. I will promise you, furthermore,
that l will permit no rings around the
Statc-house or out of it, as far as I can
help it, to sap the life and wealth out of
the community; and l willsay further
more, gentlemen, that in making that
administration, 1 will endeavor to pre-
dicate it upon live issues, and will en-
dcavor to call young mon to the support
of it. Great chccring.1


The assembly We're then Hospitality
entertained by Mr.. Brown in his resi-
dcncc.


The Eastern Question.