Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-09-17
GOV. PORTER.
A ROusing Speech Before a Mass-Meet-
ing in Indiana.

Liberty Qnd.) Cor. Chicago Tribune.I
GOV. Albert q. Porter addressed, tonight, an
immense Republican mass-meeting and deliv-
ered a lengthy and able speech, most of which,
however was taken up in discussing questions
relative to the State. He presented scathing
arralgnment of the professions of the Demo-
cratic State Convention, vindicating Republican
management of public institutions, and COM
mend1ng some valuable suggestions to the COM
ing Legislature He showed that the Republic
can party in Indiana deserved credit for taking
measures toward securing mechanics by first
lien upon work done for wages thereon per-
formed, and he recalled in the same connection
that Grover Cleveland had vetoed mechanics
lien Dill, and was fully sustained in it by his
party friends. The speaker suggested that
the burden of taxation fell upon the farmers
and the owners of small homesteads it would be
We'll Tor experienced men chosen by the people
TO meet In convention and discuss measures of
reform.
Touching the general issues of the campaign
he said: my objection to the Democratic party
IN recent years is that it is party without con-
v1ct1ons. 1t has had no settled belief upon any
public questions. 1t has repeatedly approved
and pledged itself not to disturb measures
achieved by the Republican party, against
which it had waged the f1ercest party warfare.
1t is always asking that it's past may be for
gotten. Its enemy is memory. The first SEN
tence in it's recent platform shows it's soreness
about the past: The Democratic party of the
Union, through its representatives in national
convention assembled, recognize that as nations
grow older, new issues are born of time and
progress, and old issues perish Why remind
the people anxiously of the old issue having
persisted? Banquo persisted, but his ghost took
a seat at the banquet table, and the ghost was
hundred times more narrowing than Banquo
had ever been himself. That is what is the
trouble. 1t is these memories connected with
the old issues that win not down. that haunt
and poster the party. The republican
party has no ghosts of memory con-
nected with past issues that put it In
dread that the past will be referred to. vast
territory-mother of many States-prtserved
from the presence and faint of unrecompensed
labor; an enemy overcome by the sword yet
more benefited by war than it had ever been by
peace by being ridded of a destructive system
OF labor and of having had opened to it, as by
doors flying wide apart, enlightened system
of free and diversified industries: a national
credit, through the exercise of an undertaking
good faith, uneXampled in the history of ma
tions; a currency, since the issuing of which no
blllholder has ever lost dollar; arbitration
OF great national dispute, through which, as
national redress for WrOngdOing, there was Wrung
from the most warlike nation of Europe SIS, OOO,-
600 of treasure; tariff system which, at the be-
ginning of our great civil strife, by setting on
loot q vast system OF manufacturing industries,
spanned the darkest clouds of war with the rain
bow of promise. These past issues have left
no ghosts to terTtfy the Republicans. We never
beg that they shall not be remembered"
The speech was received with great enthusi-
asm, particularly the closing tribute to the Re-
publican standard bearer. eff Mr.. Cleveland
cannot tell, said the speaker, where he stands
upon this great question, there is one man
whose trumpet has never given forth an uncer-
tain sound--its notes being ever clear and reso-
nant. You know very well whom l mean.
James q. Blaine answers to the description. Be-
ginning life in the humble occupation of
schoOlmaster, he has, by the force of his talents,
by the strength and Vigor of his character by
his personal intrepidity by his irresistible social
charms, by that combination of high and SYM
pathetic qualities which belongs to rare and fine
natures, made himself one of the best known
and best beloved of all The public men in our
history. AS Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatiTes of his adopted State and of
Congress, distinguished always for the fair
ness and unerring clearness of his decisions;
debater on the floor of each House, when
ever he entered the lists his plume shining In
front of the combat; a statesman, long
known for the surprising breadth and accuracy
Of his political knowledge; as a writer, depict
ing the incidents and scenes of a long public
life, in which he has borne a most conspicuous
part, rich and perspicuous in STYLE copious and
accurate in information, just and generous to
every one with whom he has ever crossed q
sword; his home the abode of domestic bliss
and hospitality-its hospitable doors open alike
to friend and fOe-the bitterest adversary in his
warm and joyous presence forgetting his feud
and dissolving into kindness a citizen of the
United States, broad minded and just toward
the whole world yet his whole being pervaded
and burning with the American instinct; so
frank and open that he is transparent as the air
this is the man whose banner is in our front,
whose plume mods at the head of the column,
and under whose leadership we expect to move
on to victory"