Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-01-31
Meeting of the Republican Club.


in Diiigo Hall, last evening, with good
turnout, and an enthusiastic auGit nee. The
President of the club ii. NJ. Heath, Esq,
presided.
The first speaker was Hon. L. A. Emery.
late Attorney General, who said that the qucs-
tons we are called t0 meet are serious ones.
He thought from the faces of those present
that they meant work He held that the re-
publican party is q conservative party. VIII, n
democrats organized to extend slavery into
the territories, then republicans rallied to
prevent it; when rebellion came they rallied
to preserve the Union. Now we are called to
preserve the integrity Of our nation-to pre-
serve the standard of our finances. He illus
trated the danger of departing from standards
in the common business affairs of life Every
time the standard is changed somebody is
cheated. There is a standard of values that
must be recognized and preserved. The
world has settled down upon gold and silver
as Il standard Of values. The nations have
all settled on these and we must stand to it,
Congress does not make silver and gold, but
has marked out certain amount which it de-
signs a dollar. 1t is really a certificate of
| a dollar, or five dollars. or ten. One class of
men would be benefited by lowering and de-
basing the standard-the men who in flush
times contracted large debts. But is that an
ard! He spoke of the occasion of the govern
ment Issuing its notes for legal tenders, and
the imitation that followed. Ii was costly
thing for the government, and Il costly thing
for the people. Having now returned to the
true standard it would be suicide to again de-
part
l.. II. Hutchinson, Esq, of Lewiston, said
he happened to be ATTACHED to the little show
up on the hill, and had kindly been invited to
be present. The mission Of the republican par
ty has not ended. 1t has in its day perform
ed Il work that no other party has performed,
or that can perform while civilization en-
dures. He spoke eloqucntly of the struggle
for national life, and at that time the green
back was conceived, and well it did its duty.
But when the necessities that called it into
existence passed, its mission had ended.
Then came the shrinkage, which has been so
much felt. The hard times had brought into
existence a party which had resisted the
keeping of the nations credit And the new
party had made combinations with the demo
cratic party. and together they had formed a
mutual admiration society, which held its
daily meetings at the capitol They were
looking about to reform something, but the
administration of the republicans had been so
very excellent that the combination found it Il
difficult task. They didn't know what to do,
strike. The republicans had thought that
perhaps the Land office could be dispensed
with, but the Reformcrs found a man in Ban
gor who wanted the Office and il must not be
abolished He had friend in Auburn, who
lived during the war, if he didn't go, who
conceived the idea of being Adjutant General.
In the last campaign he had travelled two
thousand miles and made two hundred green
back speeches. He was told if he wanted
any little slice, to just come over to Augusta
and get it. He came. The amalgamation
was made, and the democrats amalgamated
the greenbankcrs all to pieces. After the
democrats had absorbed nearly all the Offices,
giving the greenbackers a smell or two, the
Old war-horse of Knox county. rises and
shakes his clenched fist, prances mp the ai,lcs
and wants to know if there j. not n sin
gle officer to be chosen On whom the mantle
of greenbackism had not fallen. And so the
Eastport warrior is chosen, and his friend
from Auburn who had been promised any of.
flee he wanted receives Just one vote, He
stepped down and out and his inquiry the
next morning was, ''Did you ever see any
thing Peter out so rs this greenback party 2"
But he has gone home, Il happier man, and
has leSHmed work.
Many have gone into this crazy greenback
movement because they are restless and want
change-men who have no settled convic-
tions or stability of purpose. He then ridi-
culcd the work laid out by the rtformers at
the State House, and remarked that in all
true measures of reform the republicans
would heartily join. He urged the rcpubli-
cans to keep working on, and this strange
combination that is now exhibiting in thi,
city will soon die of it, own inherent weak
ness.
The speech of Mr.. Emery was logical and
right To the point, and that of Mr.. liutchin-
son keen and very humorous. They were
both received with much enthusiasm, and
called out unanimous vote of thanks.
After "A few remarks by Mr.. Heath on the
rum-power that now controls our city govern
ment, the meeting adjourned to next Thurs
day evening.