MASSACHUSETTS. 



473 



of State; Nathan Clark, of Lynn, for Treasurer; 

 Waldo Colborn, of Dedham, for Attorney- 

 General ; and C. Osgood Morse, of Newbury- 

 port, for Auditor. 



Tlie first part of the resolutions were the 

 same as those adopted by the Maine and Ohio 

 Democracy (see MAINE). The others were as 

 follows: 



Resolved, That the length of the legislative ses- 

 sions, the number of State officers, the expenses of 

 government, and the burdens of the people have in- 

 creased, and are increasing, and ought to be at once 

 diminished. 



Itttolted, That the disgraceful, partial, and corrupt 

 execution of the liquor law brings all law into con- 

 tempt, and calls for the indignant condemnation of 

 every citizen who believes in the impartial adminis- 

 tration of justice. 



Rttolted, That intervention by the Federal Admin- 

 istration in State politics for the benefit of its favor- 

 ites and the advancement of its intrigues, notoriously 

 felt in this Commonwealth, is hostile to freedom nnd 

 purity of elections, an insult to the popular intelli- 

 gence, and merits the indignant reprobation of the 

 people jealous of their rights and liberties. 



Jfaoleed. That we invite the cooperation and wel- 

 come to full fellowship in political action of all patri- 

 otic citizens who agree with us in these principles 

 and are willing to unite to establish their beneficent 

 rule in the government of Stole and nation. 



Saolved, That the limitation of the hours of labor 

 for minors in manufacturing establishments to ten 

 hours is commended by urgent physical, social, and 

 moral reasons, and has our cordial sympathy. 



Saoloed, That we present, as our candidate for 

 Governor, William Gaston, of Boston, and we call 

 upon the people of Massachusetts to support him at 

 the polls as a citizen whose unspotted private life and 

 whose varied official career mark him as eminently 

 fitted to discharge the important duties of the su- 

 preme Executive with credit to himself, and with the 

 entire approbation of the Commonwealth. 



The assembling of the Republican Conven- 

 tion took place in Worcester, on the 10th of 

 September, and probably caused more excite- 

 ment in the State and attracted more attention 

 out of it than any other convention ever held 

 in Massachusetts. One thousand one hundred 

 and five delegates, representing every county 

 in the Commonwealth, answered to the call 

 of their names upon the assembling of the con- 

 vention. Most conspicuous among these was 

 General Butler himself, who had been elected 

 a delegate from Gloucester, that he might in 

 person direct the movements of his followers 

 on the floor of the convention. The conven- 

 tion having been called to order by George B. 

 Loring, of Salem, chairman of the Republican 

 State Central Committee, a permanent organi- 

 zation was effected by the selection of ex-Gov- 

 ernor A. II. Bnlloek as presiding officer. 



Most of the day was spent in a stormy de- 

 bate occasioned by a resolution offered by 

 General Butler, debarring a delegate, named 

 Green, from taking part in the proceedings 

 of the convention, for having publicly declared 

 that he would not be bound by the action of 

 the convention in case General Butler was 

 nominated. In this discussion, in which Gen- 

 eral Butler and his opponent, Congressman 

 George F. Hoar, took a leading part, the most 



impressive speech was made by the Rev. James 

 Freeman Clarke, a delegate from West Rox- 

 bury, who boldly asserted the right of every 

 delegate to vote as he chose at the election, 

 regardless of the action of the convention. 

 He claimed that the action of the convention 

 was not binding on any delegate, and declared 

 that "a bolt is always in order." The pro- 

 longed discussion on this resolution resulted in 

 a very decided vote adverse to General Butler, 

 which was regarded as a test of his strength in 

 the convention ; still the final issue was re- 

 garded as doubtful, each party claiming it as 

 favorable to themselves. At this point the 

 convention took a recess and reassembled in 

 the evening, when the action of General But- 

 ler surprised his adherents and amazed his op- 

 ponents. Immediately after the opening of 

 the evening session that gentleman took the 

 platform and made a short speech withdraw- 

 ing from the contest. His reasons for this un- 

 expected course, which caused great surprise 

 throughout the country, were given in the fol- 

 lowing words : 



MR. PRESIDENT: The test vote already taken in 

 the convention showed me that there is already in 

 the hall a majority of delegates in favor of the nomi- 

 nation of Governor Washburn. Having verified thnt 

 with satisfaction to myself and friends, so far as I 

 know, I do not desire to prolong any contest upon 

 that question by parliamentary or other tactics. 

 Having announced my purpose to bow to the will of 

 the convention, as expressed, which I hold to be 

 the first condition of party fealty, having first tested 

 the will of the convention in this behalf, I do not 

 propose, and I desire every friend of mine in the 

 convention to agree to it, to make no further oppo- 

 sition to the nomination of Governor Washburn by 

 his friends in any manner they please, by acclama- 

 tion, by ballot, or otherwise, and I desire that no 

 friend of mine will vote for me, because I don't want 

 the semblance of a contest where I make no control 

 whatever. We are in a Eepublican Convention, and 

 although many bitternesses which I hoped would 

 have been avoided have been evoked in the con- 

 test, I should trust that there is no occasion cer- 

 tainly there is not on my part to keep them 

 up as between Republicans, and let it be on their 

 heads, and not on mine, if they bring trouble into 

 the Republican party. And further, I desire, in 

 order that the delegates may in a large degree return 

 to their homes at night, to save further votes upon 

 the question of Governor, that his friends may nom- 

 inate him in any way they please, without opposi- 

 tion from my friends, if they choose to take my ad- 

 vise and listen to my wishes. And for this reason I 

 don't wish, and I will not he the means of splitting 

 the Republican party if I know myself (tremendous 

 applause) ; and another thing, having taken part in 

 the proceedings of this convention, I am hound by 

 its action, as every honest man ought to be. But 

 hereafter, if in the course of human events anybody 

 chooses to vote for mo for<3overnor, or for any other 

 office (laughter and applause), I propose to take one 

 of two courses either to go into the convention of 

 the Republican party or the party I am in, submit 

 my claim, and to take the vote of the convention, or 

 stand out, if I see cause, and run independently of 

 the action of any convention. (Applause.) From 

 that I am precluded as having come into this con- 

 vention, and I think every well-judging mind will 

 agree with me that I should be so precluded. I trust 

 our friends will remain to see to it not to take part 

 in this contest, but to see to it that the ordinary or- 

 ganization be properly completed. 



