Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-08-12
And a Happy Speech from
q Il N. JOHN l.. WHIT.

music. At eight o'clock precisely the speak
ers entered and took a seat on the platform.
Capt. s. w. Lane presided and introduced
Col. A. LOwdon Snowden as the rst speaker
Of the evening. Col. Snowden is gentle
man Of about so years of age, medium
height and cOmpactly built. His countenance
is open and frank and his presence command
ing. He spoke slowly and distinctly so that
every word was audible in the rear of the
hall, and with marked power and energy,
carrying conviction and belief to the listener.
The audience followed his remarks closely
and gave him their undivided attention,
cheering often and with much vigor. The
tollowing is synopsis of his speech
Col. snowden's speech.
He briefly arraigned the leaders of the
democratic party for their disloyalty to their
country in the time of its peril, and "a d that
the people are now called upon to consider
whether it is wise and prudent to continue
the administration Of national affairs in the
hands Of those who have controlled it for "a
years, or TO hand il over to the party that has
clamOred for power 50 long. He argued that
the record Of the democratic party on all the
vital issues Of the last quarter of century
was such that 1t does not deserve the conf
dence OF the people. The democrat was al
ways going to give the country something
wonderful but had always failed 1t had held
the popular branch of Congress, but had only
succeeded in disturbing every business man
by their insane tinkering of the tariff So
poor and so weak is the navy of this great
nation of fitty-ive millions of people that
Chill can take San Francisco tomorrow in
case of a contest, and yet the dominant
party of the House hasn't statesmanship
enough to know that the people cannot be
deceived by the miserable cry of economy
We all desire economy, but no man leaves
his house open with thieves at the door,
and no nation will permit itself
to be without a navy with which to enforce
her just demands whenever they may arise.
He believed that within two years an Amer
lean citizen, however humble, and wherever
he might be, would have such a powerful
navy at his back that every nation in the
world would respect his rights. Applause. |
He entered into a brief history of protection
in this country and in others. At one time
there were many spindles in Ireland, but
Great Britain applied her free trade, and in
less than ten wears every spindle in Dublin
stopped, AID ireland WAS left to starve on the
simple 4, lege ct the sul All that we ask is
that our people MAY b. protected from the
under paid labor OF Europe; not that they
may live and drag out a miserable existence,
but that they may live well and be American
citizens in the highest sense of the word.
The republican party at Chicago took no time
TO say what the meant on this subject. 1t
said not only for revenue, but for protection.
The democratic party took 80 hours to say
something that would nothing or mean any
thing on both sides 1t struck out the word
"only" because ii was unpopular and put in
the word exclusive" which means exactly
the same thing; and when Gen. Butler of
fered a straightforward protection plank it
got 90 votes out of 700 Yet the democratic
party had the audacity to say that their plat
form was as strongly protective as ours, Mr..
Randall of Pennsylvania was protectionist,
but he would trust no man of that party with
vote on the tariff when that vote meant pro-
lection to industery or its overthrow, if the
principles of the party backing him are
wrong. He preferred to trust a doubtful
man with grand loyal organization behind
him than any man with a rotten thing behind
pushing him to destruction. Since 1860 with
protection this country has made such
marvellous progress in wealth and prosperity
that the world has stood amazed. But it is
said our labOrers do not receive more pay
than those abroad. Then why do so many
come to this country? We all know the
condition of ireland, There never was a
people so wronged as the Irish have been.
They have had their lands taken from them
without law, rhyme or reason, and they are
wanderers and strangers in every country,
fleeing from the land that gave them birth.
AL tho bal lie
casts here is for what? For the protection
of British trade against American workmen.
Applause. 1t was marvellous
thing that these shrewd and
clear headed people had been SO
misled as to remain in contact with a party
that aims to build up British power at the
expense of American independence and pros
perity, and yet who say they hate Great Brit.
ain. But they propose to exercise some in
dependence this year, and they will be found
voting for James G. Blaine because they be-
lieve he and the party backing him are in
favor of protecting American labor. There
was but one place for those who did not
believe in protection. and that was in the
democratic ranks but they should be men
enough to tell the reason of their dissstisfsc-
ton and not say 1--WE don't like the candidate
lie charged that the democratic party was
afraid to nominate standard bareI who mad
made record, and so they took a sheriff who
had been an accidental mayor and was an
accidental governor saying they could elect
him. But it seemed that he had some rec
ord Applsuse part of which would per-
haps altogether too long. The speaker next
paid his respects to Hendricks and charged
him with disloyal acts during the war The
democracy charges that Gen. Logan doesn't
spell correctly. When Gen. Logan was
fighting the battle of his country he had little
time to which to study thoroughly. but the
men who were using their pens dipped in
gall against their country's interests had OPP
portunity to qualify themselves in that re-
spect. There were. however, some things
that Gen. Logan did not lack, and they were
the courage and loyalty which he exhibited
in his couutry's honor, He said he preferred
man who could not spell treason to one who
predicted it We have nominated two men
whose lives and services are well known, and
neither the tongue of Islander, nor malice,
nor hate can deceive the American people.
The people are grand jury and they have
sat upon all the baseless charges that have
been made. There has been no man in the
republican party mentioned for a high office
from Lincoln down that has not been ssssiled
in the most infamous manner. He then
closed with an eloquent appeal for the candi-
IL. Nt