Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-08-08

bury L. Stanton, Oxford.
SENATOR FRYES SPEECH Al
THE REPUBLICAN STATE CON.
VENTION.
Mr.. President: Gentlemen Of the Conren-
ton
l had no purpose Of addressing this
Convention, for on investigating the bus
mess which must necessarily come before
it, recognizing its Importance, tine grea.
numbers of the Convention, the limited
time for consultation, determined that
this must be Convention for work and
not q Convention for talk.
And yet, Mr.. President, cannot fail
to congratulate the Republican party Of
the State of Maine in this most magnif-
cent delegation that ] have ever seen as
sembled in any State Convention in this
State or in any other. Magnificent in
numbers, for almost every section Of thi:
State is represented, So men spending
four days of time coming down from
Aroostook county (applause), every por-
ton of the State responding to the call
made upon it. This is no Convention
meeting in the city Of Portland, and pack
ing weak delegations. Every man rep
resents a constituency, which selected
that identical man to come here and rep
resent it. Magnificent, too, in its
intelligence, in its enthusiasm, in its
evident determination to lift the State
of Maine out of the slough Of despond
into which it has just entered the perilous
edge.
And why should it not be magnif-
cent Convention, and why should it not
show intelligence, enthusiasm and determ-
nation Gentlemen, you represent a
party which for quarter OF century
has been the party of progress, the party
Of civilization, the party against barbar-
ism, the party for education, for the en-
lightenment of the people, for the fitting
of them for the high and responsible du-
ties of American citizens under the Con-
stitution; the party in favor Of temper
ance and to whom the temperance men
Of the State of Maine owe every ad-
vance, every step of progress that has
been made in the last IS years. (Ap'
plause.
You represent party, gentlemen
which twenty years ago took the admin
of affairs in this great republic
which found a bankrupt treasury, bank.
rupted by the Democratic party in a time
of profound peace, so bankrupt that ii
could not borrow money at IL per cent
and offers were made for its bonds at 81
per cent. discount, and they were re-
iected. You took this country and the
Of affairs when sever
States had seeded from the Union wher
the President and Vice President Of 9
Southern Confederacy had been elected
when your forts and arsenals and ships
of war had been seized by the enemy o
the flag, and the enemy Of the Union
when your army had been scattered ant
a portion of it surrendered when you
navy had been scattered to every corne
of the earth. You took it right in tina
perilous time of war, Of discord, and o
anarchy, with no army, no navy, NJ
money in the treasury. That party ha
raised an army of millions, it built ant
equipped and manned navy ample t.
blockade every Southern port. 1t raise'
by taxation and byiborrowing money S.,
900 900, 900, and in its extremity it re
sorted to that terrible expedient Of issu
ing paper money. 1t was an expedien
absolutely necessary to save the Union
and it was resorted to. One hundre'
millions, two hundred millions, four hun
dred millions in all. And then you saw
that party do what no other party o.
this earth, what no nation in all the his
tory of nations from the beginning ha
done. 1t stood up in the face Of ever
temptation, in the face of bitter, determ
ined men, and it resolved by solemn &C
of Congress that not another dollar c
that paper money, irredeemable, shoul
ever be printed and issued to the peopl
of this country as money. 1t was tn
greatest triumph of virtue, of integrity
of sound principle that even this countr
or any other ever beheld. Gentlemen
that party saw that money 60 down ,
SO cents on the dollar. With the bel
of the War Democrats of the countr!
with the bitter opposition Of the oth'
portion of the Democratic party, for fot
years holding the administration of affai
that party brought that war to a tr
umphant close. That party then, by
magnanimity never seen on this earth b.
| klok n.l.l.kaI L., A.. O.