All these objections might be met except the one which I think is unanswerable, that my presence here in the completion of a public duty is far more important to the whole country and the cause we advocate than if I were to run as a…

What I would aspire to, in case public opinion should decide to make me a candidate for President, would be to unite in co-operation with the Republican party all the national elements of the country that contributed to or aided in any way…

I would do this, not for the purpose of irritating the south or oppressing them in any way, but to assert and maintain the supremacy of national authority to the full extent of all the powers conferred by the constitution.

The true issue for 1880 is national supremacy in national matters, honest money and an honest dollar.

The President very truly said that any appearance of a personal hostility or opposition to General Grant, would be inconsistent with my constant support of his administration during eight years, and would induce a concentration that would…

Some of my newspaper friends here have tried to make me a candidate for Governor of Ohio, but I hope none of you will vote for me in convention or before the people.

If the present policy prevails, we shall be able to borrow all the money needed for national uses for less than four per cent., perhaps as low as three.

I am now engaged in a public duty which demands my constant attention and which can clearly better be completed by me than by anyone coming freshly into the office.

To now accept the nomination for governor, though it is an honor I would otherwise highly prize and feel deeply grateful for, would be justly regarded as a abandonment of a trust important to the whole country, to promote my personal…

The general government should issue an ample volume of full legal tender currency to meet the business needs of the country, and to promptly pay all of its debts.

The national banking system should be immediately abolished.

We demand the immediate calling-in and payment of all United States bonds in full legal tender money.

To err is human; but where it has erred it has always been on the side of liberty and justice.

It led our country in the great struggle for union and nationality, which more than all else tended to make it great and powerful.

It has always taken side with the poor and the feeble.

It emancipated a whole race, and has invested them with liberty and all the rights of citizenship.

It has never deprived any class of people, for any cause, of the elective franchise.

It maintains the supremacy of the national government on all national affairs, while observing and protecting the rights of the states.

It has tried to secure the equality of all citizens before the law.

It opposes all distinctions among men, whether white or black, native or naturalized.

It invites them all to partake of equal privileges, and secures them an equal chance in life.

It has protected our flag on every sea; not the stars and bars, not the flag of a state, but the stars and stripes of the Union.

It seeks to establish in this republic of ours a great, strong, free government of free men.

We would gladly fraternize with them if they would allow us, and have but one creed--the constitution and laws of our country, to be executed and enforced by our country, and for the equal benefit of all our countrymen.

I worked hard that winter, for hard work, I thought, was the way to fortune.