The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-09-21
The Massachusetts Republican
Convex ton.
Scenes and Incidents of Remarkable
Political Assembly.
From the Boston Advertiser.l

[From the Boston Advertiser.l
THE COMPOSITION AND APPEARANCE OF THE
CONVENTION.
The convention was a striking one. Long
before eleven o'clock the spacious galleries
were packed, the first balcony being largely
occupied by ladies. Every stairway was full,
and hundreds went away unable to enter. All
day long these seats were filled. When one
was emptied, a score pressed to obtain it. 1t
was gathering of intelligent. orderly people,
watching every development below with inter-
est, and applauding with zeal the stirring
scenes of the day. Before the hour for meet
ing, the floor was crowded. Arranged in coun-
ties. the delegates occupied the seats and over
flowed into the aisles and upon the stage. In
front of the great organ was the coatof-arms
of Massachusetts. surrounded by glory of
flags, and beneath a large orayon portrait Of
the lamented Andrew. Representing the
honor OF the State and ner- patriotic and dis
interested war Governor, they looked :2to the
face OF the convention, silent, but telliDg re-
Dukes OF the disgrace and selfseeking which
have snamed the Commonwealth in these
later days. No other attempt at ornamental
tion was made save by the flags draped along
the front of the balcony. 1t was a meeting
lay entirely in its own action and composition.
Under the call 1909 delegates were chosen. OF
that number all but IL were present. Every
town and. village was represented. Looking
out from the platform the younger men seemed
to preponderate. They gathered in swarms to
the left, where the Independent element
rallied about the Suffolk contingent, and all
over the hall white heads were in the minority.
And yet, with all its apparent youthfulness,
none of the men who have led the Republican
party were missing. To name them would be
to call the roll of the living political leaders
in Massachusetts for quarter of a century.
Senators and Representatives in Congress, old
anti-slsvery advocates, men engrossed in busi-
ness, teachers, WRITER'S clergyrhen and philan-
thropists were there, honorable among the
hundreds of clear-headed and determined men
of every occupation on that floor Such a po-
litical gathering has never been convened
since the days when rebellion made all men
politicians, and laid upon them no alternative
by which to escape their public duties. The
same spirit seemed abroad yesterday to repel
the attacks which are now coming from within.
THE WORK TO BE DONE.
From the speech Of Henry Cabot Lodge,
chairman OF the State Central Committed
In all vigorous contests organization can do
much. Unorganized forces, whether in war
or politics, are always in danger of defeat, and
are certain to waste their strength and their
resources. But the best organization possible
is powerless unless it is heartily supported nv
those whom it represents, by the Conscious
ness of right, and by the enlightened public
sentiment. Great political struggles such as
we are now entering upon are not won by or
ganization or by money, but by the confidence
of good cause and the enthusiasm of honest
principles. They are won by standing up un-
finchingly for morality, decency and truth
against indecency, wroDg-doing and noisy
shams. Victory, therefore, lies not with the
State committee, but with you, and with
those whom you represent The man whom
you will select today for the high office of
Governor, whoever he may be, will be the
strongest candidate who can be put forward
But when you have completed this grave and
important task. you will have Just begun. Re-
member this and 60 forth determined that the