The Portland daily press., 1888-01-31
VETERAN REPUBLICAN CLUB.
An interesting Address by William n.
Smith. ESQ.

There was very interesting and wide
awake meeting Of the Veteran Republican
Club at room No. 6, Brown Block last night.
President Perry called the meeting to order.
after which the records of the last meeting
were read by the secretary, Mr.C. 0. Leach.
The report of the secretary was accepted. A
letter from Hon. Hannibal Hamlin. dated
Bangor, January 18th, was read by the pres
ident. Mr.. Hamlin stated in his letter that
he did not feel able to address the Club in
City Hall before large audience ON pub
lie occasion, but would willingly accept an
invitation to speak to the Club in the club
rooms or in some small hall.
Mr.. A. f. Gerrish suggested that Recep-
| ton hall or some other small hall be pro-
cured for the meeting to be addressed by
Mr.. Hamlin.
Mr. VIM. II. Smith said that he thought
Mr.. Gerrish's suggestion a good one, and
moved that if the meeting be held in Recep-
ton Hall the ladies be invited to attend. The
motion prevailed.
Mr.. A. f. Gerrish made motion that Mr..
Hamlin be invited to address the Club at
Reception Hall on Friday evening, February
10th. The motion was passed
On motion Of Mr.. w. ii. Smith, 1t was vot-
ed that the president and secretary consti-
tute committee to make arrangements for
the meeting, and on motion of Mr.. A. f.
to the committee.
On motion of Mr.. T. G. Harris, it was vot-
ed that the secretary be directed to give pub
lie notice Of the meetingto be addressed by
Mr.. Hamlin
Mr.. John M. Stevens, in behalf OF the
committee on badges, reported that the CON-
mittee had been looking for suitable badges,
but wanted another week granted them be-
fore they should report. 1t was voted that
the committee report at next meeting.
No other business coI.si.. before theSmeet-
ing, In brief, well-worded speech, Presi-
dent Perry introduced Mr.. William II.
Smith, who spoke as follows:
Gentlemen July 18th, 1904, two able men
met for the last time at Weehawken, New
Jersey, and at the command of zone, two,
three, firel' turned about and discharged
their pistols at each other. The bullet from
the weapon used by Aaron Burr entered the
body Of Alexander Hamilton. infiicting a
mortal wound, which ended his memorable
| life the next day. The effect of this combat
upon Burr was worse than physical death
| It blasted his life, which ended In obscurlty
| and poverty, in 1886. These men were both
| brilliant, but unlike. Hamilton was states
| man: Burr a politician. Hamilton was the
leader and hope of his party. When he
| died his party virtually died with him. Burr
| had no positive political convictions, and but
| for the personal quarrel between him and
Hamilton both might have been sensible, and
| acted together and retrieved the fortunes OF
| the Federal party, which lost the election in
| 1900 through Hamilton and Timothy Pick.
| ering's war which they made upon John
| Adams, thereby dividing the Federal party,
and making the election of Thomas Jeffer.
| son possible.
MI. Smith then gave sketch of the polit
ical history of the country from the begin
| ming of Washington's administration to thu
death of Hamilton, referring TO the leading
persons of the Federal and Republican par
| ties of that time. He also alluded to the
| quarrels of Clay and jackson, and Calhoun
and Van Buren,, all Of which grew out O.
the political ambition of the parties named
The personal quarrel between VIM. l.. Mar
| cy and Silas Wright, which caused Cass to bt
| cratic National Convention OF 1914, defeated
Wright for Governor of New York in 1916
| and divided the Democratic party In 1913
resulting in the election of Taylor. The
| quarrels between Clay and Webster on the
| one part and Seward. Greeley and Weed on
quarrel between Buchanan and Douglass
disrupted the Democratic party in 1860 and
| lost them the ascendancy in this country
which they would not have regained had il
not been for the quarrel between Blaine and
| Conkling.
Mr.. Smith maintains that political parties
are a necessity and that private quarrels are
| no part of politics; that if a man is fairly
nominated it is the duty of his party to sup
| port him. The candidate loses his identity
and becomes the embodiment of the princi
| Piles of the party he represents; that per
| sonal quarrels in party always have and
will work disaster to it,
| Mr.. Smith claims that as members of a
| party each has the right to his individual
| chance. That in this vital matter no man i
| to be ostraeised but must and will demand
the right to advocate the nomination OF an,
member OF his party for any Office In tn
| gift of the people. "Any other course lead
to the worst form of bossism and in TIN
end ruin to any political party"
The caucus is the proper place to SETTLE
| disputes. 1t is the duty of every man to at
| tend these gatherings and demand fair play
| The primary box should be as pure as thu
ballot box, and as popular.
In closing, Mr.. Smith urged upon his Lear
| ers the Importance Of their interesting them.
| selves in political matters and never dele
| eating that duty to some one else.
After brief remarks by President Perry OF
things referred to by Mr.. Smith in his ad
dress, Mr. 81. w. Richardson made motion
that the thanks of the club be extended tt
Mr.. Smith for the very Interesting remarks
which he made. The motion was unani
mously adopted. At this point it was voted
to adjourn until next Monday night