The Portland daily press., 1889-10-30
Some Words OF Wit and Wisdom
Spoken Last Evening.
Cordial Reception to the First Dis
trIct's Congressman.
The Young Mems Republican Clubs
Gathering Last Evening.


the young men began to arrive. 1t was a
young mems gathering almost exclusively.
MIR. Reed. Mayor Melcher. and one or two
other Republicans of the line who have
passed the forty-year limit which the club
has set up as the utmost bound Of the age of
its membership, were the only exceptions.
Both branches Of the city government were
represented officially, as we're also the Re-
publican clubs of Brunswick and Biddeford,
10 the throng of Republicans who were
crowding through the doorway into the
broad hall of the club as o'clock came on.
There were from hundred and fifty to two
hundred present when Mr.. Grimmer and his
tuneful orchestra gave the signal that the
business Of the evening was to begin. Mr..
Reed, on arriving, was first shown over the
quarters Of the club, and expressed his ad-
miration of Its prosperity and its surround
ings. Mr. Reed was then escorted to the
reception room. and the young men were
presented to him by Dr. Alfred King, first
vice president of the club, Mr.. E. w. Kent,
the president, being unable to be present on
account of i'll health. They were also pre-
sented to Mayor Melcher, who stood beside
Mr.. Reed. Treasurer Charles A. True and
Secretary Richard Webb assisted in the pre-
sentations. Among the representatives who
came bearing the respects Of clubs in neigh
boring places were Charles H. Prescott, Esq.
Hon. G. NJ. Moses, Hon. II. Fl. Burbank and
Fred S. Boothby of the York club, of Bid
deford; Barrett Porter. Esq, G. Fl. Towns
hend, E. A. Crawford and o. I. Despeaux
of the Republican club of Brunswick; and
Levi Turner, Jr., one of the young Republi-
cans of Rockland.
The greetings occupied about half an
dred of the young men of Portland were
presented to Mr.. Reed. each receiving a
hearty shake of the hands and some pleas
ant word Of greeting.
After the presentations were made lunch
Of several courses was served by West q
Calderwood. This very enjoyable feature of
the occasion was. greatly appreciated by
members and guests, it being both excellent
in form and admirably served.
The lunch was finished at about 9.45.
Then Vice President King called the compa-
ny to order. and said:
Gentlemen:
feel that this large assembly speaks
more, imlressively and more eloquent
ly than any words Of mine can the
great esteem ard popular favor which we
have for our representative in Congress.
feel, also, that express the desire OF the
mem bers present when l call for a few re-
marks from that prominent member of the
Republican party, that leader in Congress,
the Hon. Thomas B. Reed, who will now ad-
dress you. (Great applause.] tHa
As Mr.. Reed arose. standing by the win
the throng of young men crowded in front
and through the anti-rooms.to the right and
left, he was greeted with applause, continued
long and loud.
"Three cheers for Mr.. Reed" called DR..
John F. Thompson, and they were given
with will Then Mr.. Reed was allowed to
proceed with his speech.
MR.. REEDS SPEECH.
Gentlemen:
| am greatly obliged to you for your very
| cordial greeting. l assure you that no one can
| appreciate it more deeply than do, for, II
| there is any pleasure that comes out of pO-
| litical life it arises from the appreciation of
| those with whom one has always lived.
| There is much in this scene tonight to re-
mind me of the first political speech that
| ever made, so many years ago that l hardly
| like to state them. But remember making
| a political speech in the year 1856, when
was sixteen years of age, upon the then is
| sues of the day, and the difference between
| that day and this has been impressing itself
upon my mind all this evening. The inn
| mense and momentous events OF history
which have intervened become more and
more astonishing as the years go by. They
come out with greater force. and vividness
by their very contrast with the peaceful
i times of to-day. During those thirty-three
/ years which have elapsed since thai
time, this country has changed it;
asoect, has changed its principles
man, standing at that day and looking
at the future Of this country could ever have
dreamed of the wonderful results whici
time has shown. L need not say to you, gen
tlemen, that the Republican party has beer
the architect of all this greatness. Zap
commenced its career Of duty with much feal
and trembling. 1t had grave doubts at each
step of its progress. To us, sitting here to
night, it seems so simple that slavery should
have been excluded from the territories; tina
slavery should have been abolished; that thu
integrity of this Union should have peen pre-
served; that we should have kept with hon
esty all our engagements with the pe0pl
who had helped us through a successful wa
by their money and by their lives. that w
fancy anywhere. And, yet, those of us VIII
have lived through it know that at ever.
step forward there was doubt there was diff
iculty, there was darkness always In front
Every step was taken with hesitation; ever.
step was taken with doubt. All this aros
from the fact that in the march Of progres
it Is absolutely necessary that that marcl
| should be so regulated that the foremost pe0
pie shall not get too far ahead, and that the
rearward people shall not be allowed to laI
| behind. The march of an army must be con
tinuous. 1t must embrace all its members Ii
| order to be successful. The Republican par
ty for three and thirty years has maintained
march and progress as steady as an
party ever known in the history Of the world
Indeed, those thirty-three years cover per
iod OF history the most eventful in this coun
try. How is 1t that this thing has hap
pened? How is it that, Notwithstanding a.
the doubts, Notwithstanding all the hesitan
cy, Notwithstanding the thick darkness tina
seemed to be in front Of us at all times
how has 1t happened that we have taken tn
wise step in each instance? Not alway
1t is true, the long stride that some Of on
| best men desired, but always stride to th
front? believe-and I challenge any ma
to account for 1t on any other principle. o
by any other reason,-I believe that it IS be
cause the Republican party enbodes in II
self larger proportion of the reason an
intelligence of the public virtue of tn
United States of America lGreat applause.
| L believe that it meets the events Of ever
| day with the wisdom with which 1t has me
the events of the past, and therefore be
lieve that it has the same great future befor
it that it has passed behind it.
do not imagine that the generation whic
am addressing will see such great events a
have happened during the last quarter OF
century. do not imagine that events whic
will so take hold of Imagination Will be scat
tered over the history of the next thirty
years. Yet have no doubt tnat the sam
wisdom and good sense which have ensure
the doing of the great deeds which wer
necessary in the past will ensure the doin
of the deeds which are necessary to go O
with the next quarter Of a century OF prog
| resS.
night with the intention of making polit
cal speech of any kind, and what hay
said has been awakened by the presence Q
the young men / see before me. l am dt
lighted to see an assembly Of this kind an
character. | am delighted, because it is th
harbinger Of thorough, honest work on th
Republican side and for the Republican pa
ty; and the fact that your presence here I
in a certain sense, personal compliment I
me, does not, in any way, lessen the impre;
sion that 1t makes upon me. lApplause.l
In the ordinary assemblies which adore:
in abe city of Portland have a certain d.
gree OF hestancy. have little OF 1t no
for, as / look about me see two or thrt
aged persons, of my own time OF life.
| whose eyes have no doubt lssuffer the mi
- ~ ~ kn tt.kV