Made before the Republican Convention of Atchison County, October 8,
1884.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: Twenty-five years ago, on the 7th of the
month of May, I called to order the first Republican convention ever
held in this county. It was a mass convention, yet those in attendance
hardly exceeded in number the delegates assembled here to-day,
representing the Republican voters of Atchison county. It was called to
organize the Republican party of the county, and to elect delegates to
the first Republican Territorial convention, held at Osawatomie eleven
days later. The Republican party of Atchison county and of Kansas has,
therefore, just passed its twenty-fifth birthday. And to those who have
been identified with its history during that long, eventful period, this
rounding of a full quarter of a century of party life is an occasion of
more than ordinary interest.
Our political opponents now and then sneer at the fact that Republicans
“point with pride to the past.” But surely if the Republican party is to
survive for another quarter of a century, its most ardent friends could
wish for it no nobler record, no prouder history, no more beneficent and
useful career, than that of the past twenty-five years. Kansas was, in
1859, a poor, weak, distracted, oppressed Territory. What a great,
prosperous, imperial commonwealth it now is! A million and a quarter of
people, living in the richest and most prosperous State of the Union—a
State gridironed by railways, dotted with school-houses and churches,
and growing steadily, not only in wealth and power and influence, but in
all the elements of the most advanced civilization—the Kansas of to-day
is alike the pride of her own citizens, and the wonder and admiration of
the whole civilized world.
And why should not a political party, like an individual, proudly point
to an honorable record of noble endeavors and great achievements? It is
something to belong to a party that can be pointed to without blushing.
It is something to have a record that does not have to be explained,
denied, or lied about. When a man can say that he belongs to a party
which crushed the Rebellion, abolished Slavery, preserved the Union, and
made this a great Nation; a party that has dotted the land with
school-houses; a party that gave to the people the Homestead Law, and
established the best financial system the world ever knew, it is
something to be proud of. And when he can add that he belongs to a party
which intends to see that the civil rights of every American citizen are
protected at home or abroad; that every legal voter shall have a right
to cast one free, unintimidated ballot, and to have that ballot honestly
counted; that the debt of gratitude the country owes to the soldiers and
sailors of the Union shall be honestly remembered and repaid; that the
people shall be protected against unjust extortions or discriminations
by corporate power; and that laws enacted by the people, for the people,
shall be respected and enforced—all this is also something to be proud
of.
For twenty-five years I have annually, except during the period of the
war and for about two years thereafter, called to order the Republican
conventions of Atchison county. During all of that time I have been
Chairman of your County Central Committee. To-day, probably for the last
time, I discharge this pleasant duty, and I avail myself of the
opportunity to return my sincere thanks to the Republicans of this
county for their constant confidence and devoted friendship—a confidence
and friendship that has never been denied me; that has never wavered or
faltered during all the lights and shadows of twenty-five revolving
years. Before I was a voter you made me the Chairman of your County
Executive Committee, and annually, ever since, except during the years
when I was absent in the army, you have reëlected me to this place. The
measure of my gratitude to you, fellow-Republicans of Atchison county,
cannot be expressed in words. I have tried to express it by ardent
devotion to Republican principles, and by the most constant and
enthusiastic efforts to promote and secure the triumph of the Republican
party.
I want to add, as I think I can with entire truthfulness, that during
all of this period I have never attempted to act the part of a political
“boss.” I have avoided, rather than sought, authority or power to
dictate nominations, or to control the action of conventions. No man can
truthfully say that I have ever attempted to thwart a fair expression of
Republican sentiment, or to force upon the party an unwelcome or an
unworthy candidate, or to prevent the nomination of any man who was
clearly the choice of the Republican voters. No man can truthfully say
that I have ever provoked or encouraged factional feuds, or stirred up
personal strife, in the party ranks. No man can truthfully say that I
have ever refused to subordinate my personal interests, or my individual
preferences or prejudices, in order to promote or secure Republican
success. On the contrary, it has been my constant, earnest endeavor to
harmonize, consolidate and strengthen the Republican party; to preserve
peace in its ranks; and to make it a united, vigorous, and victorious
party. To this end, and for these objects, I have often endured, without
complaint, undeserved censure, and have preferred to be misunderstood
and even misrepresented rather than to imperil Republican success by
quarreling with those who misunderstood me. Time at last sets all things
right, and I have always been content to await the just judgment of its
final awards.
And now, gentlemen of the convention, invoking upon your deliberations
the blessings of harmony and the saving grace of Republican common
sense, and appealing to you to remember that your opponents alone
rejoice over and are benefited by personal and factional feuds in your
ranks, I await your pleasure.