Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-07-04

ions for the Mississippi river and for the
! improvement of Southern rivers and hsr-
bors-when we have made a just and
wise bill, distributing millions Of dollars
! in the treasury to the actual losers by the
Alabama and other Confederate cruisers;
and when the vote was taken in House OF
Representatives every vote but two found
against that measure was from the DEM
ocratic party.
Take the greatest question Of all,-the
sanctity of the ballot-that sacred right
of free men, which the republican party
for years has been engaged in protecting,
and when the House Of Representatives
sought to purge the floor and to drive
out men who were there with nothing
but paper credentials, had to seat COM
petitors who had thousands and tens OF
thousands Of majority votes, the democ-
racy served notice tina. they would sit
day and night obstructively to prevent it,
and it was only at last under the lead OF
the distinguished representative from
Maine, the representative Of the Portland
district, Mr.. Reed, that the republican
party took this great matter into its own
hands and to day, there is a rule in the
House Of Representatives dominated by
republican influences, passed by republi-
can votes, under which any democrat,
republican or grsenbacker who has been
elected to a seat in Congress, may be adj
mitted to his seat and stand up before
the speaker and in the name Of God
swear his allegiance to the republic, and
no man shall hinder him. Applause.
These things are all seen and known
of men, and it is because of these things
and the interest that the people have in
them that this great assemblage comes
together here to-day, an assemblage that
surprises and delights our friends and
confounds our enemies.
And, my friends, the omens are good
throughout the State Of Maine. The
people are tired to begin with, OF a gov
ernor whose atmosphere is strife, and
who, if he cannot quarrel with his coun-
Gil about Judge of the Supreme Court,
will quarrel about messenger-and they
are determined that there shall be at least
a complete and united administration in
the State Of Maine, where no conflict
shall again arise between executive and
Legislative or other powers of the State.
They are determined that the integrity
of the Judiciary of the State shall be pre-
served, and that when one man upon the
bench stands up and delivers an opinion
that subjects him to reproach from lis
party, that man, democrat, republican or
greenbacker, shall be stood by for con-
science sake.
Do not forget the other thing, my
friends, in forecasting the politics OF the
present year. The tragic events OF the
last year Weakened and quickened mems
minds as they have not been moved since
the war. The whole county so to speak,
sat beside Garfeld's bedside, and mems
minds were made more earnest and more
sober as will always be found with the
watchers who wait for deaths coming
1t came silently into mems minds while
that patient, heroic struggle for the life,
50 bound up in the countrys welfare went
on, that we have country that Is worth
living for as we'll as worth dying for.
Who can doubt that the American PEG.
pie needed that lesson though at the dear
price we paid for it. When the head OF
the republic was struck down by an as
sassin many a man recognized that to
him had been committed part Of the
great trust, that no harm should come to
that republic. The dilettantism that for
ten years had scorned to participate in
active politics, was rudely invaded in the
summer Of 81, and for one, do not fail
to note the result of this quickened spir-
it of the American people in the full vote
that has been brought out in every cleo
ton this year. And as is always the case,
a full vote means an increase ofthe Repub-
lican majority. The spring elections in
Maine show that. The significant elections
in Del. the other day, for the first time
carried by the Republicans, and the new
or before reached majority in Oregon tell
the same story.
A voice "What about Arthur"
My friend inquiries "What about Ar
thur" Well, let me say this Any man
who saw President Arthur during these
long weary days when Gen. Garfield how
cred on that thin margin which lies next
to both life and death and saw the ten
der solicitude that yet did not break his
calm spirit, will appreciate in some de-
gree the nature that is his.