Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-06

House that they were not active IN the re-
publican ranks last year. Are we to have
again the drunken scenes in the House
that were witnessed before 1860? Is Con
gress to be again the nest in which re-
bcllion will be Matched? Thoughts like
these are running through the minds OF
men at the present time. True, the
wrongs and errors of the past are not for
gotten, but love for the party which saved
the Union, broke the shacklcs of the bond
men, trampled under lis feet the doctrine
of caste, lifted labor up to Il higher dis
tinction and broadeued the field OF Educa-
ton and Humanity, predomnates over all
other feelings and is bringing all rcpub!i-
caus together again and causing them TO
rally around the flag with the ardor
and enthusiasm of other days. In view OF
the change that has come over the House,
the New York Herald. that constant enc
my of the republican party. is constrained
to utter the following testimony to the no
BILE character Of the republican party.
Says the Herald: "And yet it is not with
tout feeling of sadness that we see the
republican party, after so proud, so il
"lustrious and honorable reign, pass ont
| "of power. 1t has done noble deeds. 1t
| "emancipated the slaves; lifted the Re-
public from the position of a group of
"contending, angry States into that OF a
proud. defiant nation ranking with the
great Powers of the world. The United
Estates is to-day better country, we are
ga better people, our flag is more re
"spectcd because of the achievements of
"the republican party. Let us think what
1--WE might be had the Southern Confed-
"eracy proved q success. We might be
"as Mexico, OF the crumbling belt OIL rop-
''ical republics, or the group of despised
"nationaliies that lie around the Andes.
1--WE might be as Germany was fifty years
"ago-State armed against State, inviting
foreign Powers to come into our territory
land profit by our strifes. We are na-
'.tion, and this we owe to the republican
party"
What o tribute is this for an opposition
paper TO pay to the republican party.
What better record than this could any
party ask
.gPE4EER BLAIJE'S Closing AD-
DRESS.
| GENTLEMEN. l close with this hour six
years service as Speaker OF the House Of Repre-
sentatives-a period surpassed in length by but
two Of my predecessors, and equalled by only two
others. The rapid mutations of personal and po-
tcal fortune in this country have limited the great
majority of those who have occupied this chair to
shorter terms Of office.
! 1t would be the gravest Esenslbility to the hon
ors and responsibilities of life not to be deeply
touched by signal a mark Of public esteem as
that which have thrice received at the hands ofny
political associates. desire in this last moment
TO renew to them, one and all, my thanks and my
gratitude.
To those from whom differ in my party rela-
tions-the minority OF this House, tender my
Acknowledgements for the generous courtesy with
which they have treated me. By Of those
| sudden and decisive changes which distinguish
popular institutions, and which conspicuousy
mark free people, that minority is transformed
in the ensuing Congress to the governing power
of the House. However it might possibly have
been under other circumstances, that event neces-
sarily renders these words my farewell to the
| Chair.
The Speakership OF the American House Of
Representatives is post OF honor, of dignity, of
power, of responsibility. Its duties are at once
complex and continuous; they ave both onerous
and delicate; they performed in the broad
light of day, under the eve of the whole people,
subject at all times to the closest observation, and
always attended with the sharpest criticism.
think no other official is held to such instant and
such rigid accountability. Parliamentary rulings
in their very nature are perempory; almost abso-
lutte in authority and instantaneous in effect They
cannot always be enforced in such way as to
win applause or secure popularity; but l am sure
that no man of any party who is worthy to fill this
chair will ever see dividing line between duty
and policy.
| Thanking you once more, and thanking you
most cordially, for the honorable testimonial you
have placed on record to my credit, perform my
only remaining duty in declaring that the Forty
Third Congress has reached its constitutional
limit, and that the House of Representatives stands
adjourned without day.
"STILL U1RPING."