Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-06-13

close consultation, planning and scheming.
Consultations were in progress at the York
club rooms and in the Portland club rooms.
The ominOus head shakes clearly defined the
anxiety felt by the opposition.
As the hour for opening the convention
arrived, the delegates began to sauLter tow
ard the hall. Here was scene of life that
words cannot adequately describe. The en-
trance, the halls and the vast auditorium
were filled much sooner than usual on such
an occasion. 1t was a busy convention and
the delegates were ready for business. One
of the most noticeable decorations of the
hall was handsome purple and gold banner,
bearing the inscription Home Market Club,
Boston, American wages for American
workmen. American markets for American
people. Protection for American homes"
The whole the universal sentiment among
republicans
At about | l O'Clock the Brigade Band of
Lewiston, struck up the lively strains Of All
inspiring selection. The music met with
tremendous applause which it richly deserv-
ed. At ll.zU, Chairman Manley stepped on
to the platform and read the call Of the con-
vention. The Rev. Mr.. Small offered divine
blessing MIR. Manley announced the fol-
lowing organization:
Contamination A. p. Wiswell, Ellsworth
Secretares-F. f. Manson. Augusta;
George l. Barrows, Portland; T. +. bou-
telle, Bangor A. l.. Cummings, Biddetoru !;
james {. Chllcott, Ellswo orth Harry Andrews,
Lewiston; a. I. Rogers, Wells.
Mr.. Marley introduced Mr.. Wiswell.
Judge Wiswell stepped forward and was
greeted with prolonged applause. He spoke
as follows:
Gentlemen of the convention: Fo-
this distinguished honor in being called to
preside over your temporary deliberations.
desire to- thank you and to assure you of my
keen appreciation of the compliment. This
magnificent assembly of representative re-
publicans, this great convention filled to its
utmost capacity by delegates from every
city, town and plantation within our State,
is it seems to me, of the utmost significance.
think it shows that the republicans of
Maine are fully awake to the importance of
the hour. And while we are convened here
for the responsible duty of nominating can
iida,e to be supported at our Stee election
in September might well say for the pur-
pose of naming the next governor Of Maine
I think that this great convention shows
that we realize that the September election
and inn propadiuu VT i'll no hpf "a
part of the great political struggle which will
90 on during this coming summer and fall
all over the length and breadth of this coun-
try, and in which will be involved question
of overwhelming interest to every man, wo-
man and child n our midst question per-
haps which does not appeal so much to senti-
ment or patriotism but one which affects the
material welfare of all our citizens.
One great reason think, why we are so
Justly proud Of our party and its record, is
that ever since its organization that party has
at ali times been ready to meet and SQUARED!
lake sides upon, the great questions which
from time to time have presented Themselves
In that terrible struggle for national suprem-
acy, for the preservation of the union and
for the universal liberty of MANKIND. that
took place a quarter of a century ago, but
which is yet SO fresh in the minds of a ma
jority of this convention, the republican par
" from the beginning to the end, from the
firing of the first gun upon Sumter until the
surrender of Lee had but one mind and but
one purpose, the carrying on of the war to a
successful termination.
There were days that were dark indeed
| hen the end seemed far away, but our par
ty never faltered in its purpose, never de-
clared in convention or elsewhere that the
sar was failure, but they kept on sending
| regiment after regiment of gallant men to
| the front until it WAS not the war that was n
| failure, but secession and rebellion.
| And later in that period of reconstruction,
| when so many serious questions were all of
| the time arising, we remember how our par
| was equal to the occasion. me. t ny those
| questions and settling them in such IVA,
| nat all the world now admits shat they wer'
.ettled wisely and for the best and for al
| time.
And in still later years We have seen the
great fight made by the republican party for
honest money and for an honest ballot; and
.fter every contest has been finally settled,
even our opponents have been driven to ad-
nit that they were wrong and that we were
right.
| For the last few years the differences be
tween the two principal parties. in platform
at least. have not been great. But again the
gauntlet has been thrown down and an issue
has been rendered.
| IL is provided by the constitution of tie
| United States that the President shall from
time to time give information to Congress of
| he state of the Union. From time imme-
mortal il has been the invarab!e custom OF
the distinguished men who have held tina,
high position to comply with this provision
of the constitution both in letter and in spirit,
by giving 10 Congress in an annual MESA se
information in regard to the state OF The
Union with great minuteness and detail In
| December last, when the President sent his
first message to Congress there were many
matters about which the people OF
this country we're Interested
We Should have been glad TO heal
the views of the President upon the work
.nps of his civil service reform theories. Hi
ha! had then nearly three years of offlcia
experience, he had had time enough to re
move almost every person who was IN oinc'
at the commencement of his administrator
and if civil service reform meant to th'
President of the United States the remova
of old and experienced public servants, man.
of whom by reason of loss OF health or lim
in the war of the rebellion had claims upol
this government which can never be full ,
satisfied, then he could certainly fatter him
self that he had met with most remarkabl
success.
. We should have been interested in hear
ing from the President in regard to our re
lations with foreign governments, especial
: with the Dominion government across til
line. The people of this State of q other
, we're anxious to know the policy OF the ad
ministration upon the fishery question. An
: as to what movement if any was being mad
: to prevent insult and injury to our fsherme
q and their property. But in this remarkabl