Independent" on
"The History of the Republican Party." It was confined chiefly to
the contention that the Republican party was an affirmative party,
adopting, declaring and executing great public measures of vital
importance, while the Democratic party was simply a negative party,
opposing all the Republican party's measures but acquiescing in
its achievements. I insert the closing paragraph:

"Republicanism, on the other hand, holds fast to everything that
is ennobling and elevating in its history. It is the party of
national honor, which has removed the foul reproach of slavery,
and redeemed the plighted faith of the government in financial
legislation and administration. It is the party of equal rights,
an unsullied ballot and honest elections. It is the party of
national policies, of comprehensive scope and enlightened self-
interest, by which industry is diversified, labor systematically
protected, and the prosperity of all classes and sections promoted.
Between its present policies and the traditions of its glorious
past there is unbroken continuity of patriotic action."

On the 30th of September, I made my first speech in this canvass
at North Fairfield. The place, audience, and surroundings gave me
a special interest in the meeting. Thirty-eight years before, I,
then a young man, spoke at the same place, before a similar audience,
as a candidate for Congress, nominated by a party then without a
name. Now I was about to address an audience chiefly composed of
men and women, the children of my old constituents, who had been
born since my first appearance there. It is a farming region, well
cultivated, and but little changed in appearance by the lapse of
years. The great change was the absence, in the grave, of the
leading men I had met on my first visit, but they were represented
by descendants so numerous that they had to meet in the open grove
instead of the simple meeting-house of the olden time. The
comparatively few old settlers present who had attended the former
meeting, many of whom had been soldiers in the army, greeted me
warmly and reminded me of incidents that then occurred. It was
natural, under these circumstances, that my speech should be
reminiscent; but, in addition to the history of events, I stated--
I think fairly--the issues immediately involved--of tariff, currency
and coin. I closed my speech with the following reference to the
presidency:

"As to your vote for President I