The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-11-18
Our DUTY in Opposition.


At a meeting of the Essex club in Boston
last Saturday Henry Cabot Lodge made no
bic speech, in which. after alludine to soma
mere personal matters, no said:
I went to the Chicago convention. az you all
know, in entire opposition to the nomination
OF Mr. Blaine. went also with my mind made
up that was in honor bound as delegate
and the head Of the Republican Organization
IN the State to support the nomination Of Mr..
bisine II IT should be made. II would have
been easy enough TO have Withdrawn to the
shelter OF private life from the bitter conflicts
OF this campaign. But / had assumed certain
responsibilities. believed then, and believe
now that the success OF the Republican party
was Tor the best interests of the country and /
was thoroughly determined not to shirk any
duty or any conflict that came to me. 1 do
no retract word that have said; thers "a
not an act Of my own which I wish uudone
/ believe that acted rightly, honorably, and
aiu my dusy, and should act in the same
way II had to do it all again. Victory ccuId
not change my ideas Of what 1t was right for
me TO DO, and neither can defeat.
have said more than enough OF myself A
word as to the party. In the depression OF the
last few days, and now that we know that the
count is finished and Mr.. Cleveland ia elected.
have heard some expressions of doubt and
dependency. Defeat is not pleasant bat IL a
party cannot live without office 1t Is not worth
preserving, and is not worth living for nor
ASueAHS Lntc BOfbrlmeQB mus be carried
on as 1t always has been through parties One
represents conservatism, reaction, and hitherto
sectionalism. The other is the liberal party
the party OF progress and nationalsm. These
differences are as deep as the differences OF hu-
man nature. The Republican party is the par
ty OF progress. 1t represents not Offices bat ide-
as and principles. 1t contains the strongest
and most progressive elementsof the people 1t
is best adapted TO deal in an advancing and
liberal spirit with the questions of the day. Its
ounes and responsibilities are as great now in
defeat as they would have been in victory,
There is hereafter In politics az In everything
else. There is great work for rs to do. Let Us
close up our ranks, welcome those who have
joined us, turn our faces toward the future and
press on to better and nobler and higher
achievements than even those which have
made our past glorious. 1 believe more than
ever In the future and the mission of the Re-
publican party. Let "a make the best use of
oeieat, raise our standard higher than ever,
address ourselves earnestly to the living issues
OF the present, and press forward to the work
and the duties before us.
One function OF party of opposition is csiti-
cism, not factious and petty obstruction, but
watchful resistance and fair criticism. We hssr
much said in these days OF the new South. I
hope and pray that all that is said of it is true
trust there Is q "new SOUTH" and that its
victory means the end of race politics, means
free schools and free ballot. Less than this
will not do. But among all the hurly-burly of
-uo Aaes low uhyoy III bu6 mlO6C OF LQ0 0a9l1uQ
utterances about the South and by the South,
one voice has been heard clear and distinct.
and to me of evil import. General Gordon,
speaking for the Empire State" OF the South
in great meeting at New York last week, laid
his hand upon the American flag and said,
"That Is my flag nolV.' NoD that his party
had come in it was his flag That is the voice
OF 1860, when party defeat meant civil war,
ana not the voice Of 1884. 1t is an i'll omen II
that is the voice of the new South. hope and
pray it is not, but that it Is only the voice of a
Confederate general. "My flag nowl' 1t is
my flag, no matter what party Is in power.
There Is not man listening to me, there Is not
Republican in this broad land, who does not
believe that this is his flag, no matter whether
Mr.. Cleveland or Mr.. Blaine is President. Let
us meet such talk at the threshold and boldly
condemn it.
In our own State we have triumphed, and es-
pecially in our good old county. Twenty-Five
years of successful and progressive administra-
tion have confirmed and strengthened our hold
upon the people OF this commonwealth. We
have our responsibilities and our duties, as
grave and important as ever. The Republican
party of Massachusetts has its future, as we'll
as that of the country. Let rs live up to our du-
ties. Let US place ourselves as OF yore at the
head OF the column and press onward with
high standard OF policy and Of candidates, de-
ing our work and the work OF our people faith
fully and well, and there need be no doubt or
anxiety or fear about our future.