Year: 1871

Speech Of Col. G. C. Carpenter be-


fore the Republican Convention, at


Des Moines, after his nomination for


Governor:


MR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN II


have been informed by your commit
tee of the action of this Convention
which has resulted in my nomination


as candidate for the Goyernorship.


/ thank you from the bottom of my
heart for the honor which you have
conferred upon me. l have been
somewhat conversant with the prin-
ciples and history Of the Republican
party since its organization, and I am
happy to be able to report that there
is nothing in those principles or that
history that now or hereafter will re.
quire the necessity of new derar-
turc.


l gratefully accept your nomina-
ton, but while accept it, I am not
unmindtul OF the dnii-. and rcspon-
sibiIities 1t will impose if the people
ratiiy your nomination at the polls in
October next. And while am
grateful for this nomination, l am
not so cgotistical as to believe that
it was the result OF any personal
claim or individual qualification l
possessed over my competitors.
When l remember the noble men


who were supported by honest men
against me, and their political and
military services, l cannot but ascrlbe
my own nomination as accident or
fortune. Ny locality in section of
the State which has heretofore re-
ceived little official recognition, to-
gether with some other favoring cir
cumstances, have produced this re-
suit. But you will pardon me tor
aylng that il l fail in administering
the government so as to rebound to
the interest OF this great State, whose
every inch OF territory I love so well,
it will be lack Of judgment, and
will not arise from motive. l hope
in time to come to aid in accelcrating
the material and educational interests
of Iowa. I desire TO see her rail-
roads multiplied and extended, ier
every water.powcr breaking upon
mill-wheel or factory, every section
OF her soil the abode OF industry; her
mines opened and developed, the
borders of her cities enlarged and
improved, her school houses and
school system extended and perfect
ed, and immigration invited to our
borders. In order to do this, / am
not unaware that burdens must be
lifted from the shoulders Of the peo.
pie as much as possible, taxation must
be kept down to the minimum. and
the State government should be an
example OF economy to all the peo.
pie.


I will not detain you to make
speech, as will meet You at your
homes between now and the day of
election "and give you the reasons
for the faith that is in me-" will
say one thing, however, in regard to
the Nen Departure. l do not share
the apprehensions OF many Republi-
cans that it will endanger the success
of our party. Intelligent Americans
will reason that ..if these principles
are to be made effective, it will be
better that the original friends Of
these measurers should put them in
to effect, rather than their enemies. =
Lord Chatham declared, confidence
to be plant Of slow growth" No
general ever went into action at the
head Of conscript legions, with the
same faith in success as the COM
mander who rode at the head oil
regiments whose banners bore the
sy mbols of the volunteer soldiery.
These Democrats, who are now
reaching out one foot, feeling for the
Republican Platform, are political con-
scripts. When the day comes that re-
quircs moral coArict!on in the men who
compose the Democratic party, to
keep their ranks unbroken, these .fsl.


0rs riU Not stand. Again thanking
you for the honor you have conferred
upon me, I will detain you no longer.