The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-07-05
INDEPENDENCE DAY At WOODSTOCK.
A Great Crowd Listens to Speeches
by Eminent Men.
President Harrlson's Remarks Pune
tuated with Applause.
Mr.. Reed on the Victory and Its Ac-
companying Duties.

was probably as large as last year. 1t was an
enthusiastic and happy throng of genuine
New Englanders. During the morning the
rain did not seriously interfere with the ex-
ercises. Congressman Russell, at II o'clock,
raped the company to order and after plea
SAINT words Of welcome to the President,
other visitors and the people assembled,
nominated Gov. Bulkeley as chairman of the
day. The Governor, In brief speech, ac-
cepted the honor and presented the President.
Hearty applause and ringing cheers greeted
President Harrison who spoke as follows:
The Presidents speech.
1t is not my purpose to make an address
today. did not know until this morning
that the programme would contain any men,
ton Of my name. 1t would be altogether
uncivll il did not, this opportunity being
onered lie, express my thanks to those gath
cred here, and to him upon whose hospitable
invitation you have gathered, for the
friendly and cordial greeting you have
given me, not only here today. but
in my progress hither yesterday. rCries
Of "good."l 1t is very gratifying to
know that your love of country and interest
In the perpetuation and right observance Of
this pleasant celebration at Woodstock have
so perfectly triumphed over every impedi-
ment. / am sure | look into the faces this
morning Of citizens filed with honest pride
In the story Of their country, and full of
serious purpose to maintain those institu-
tions from all faint Of corruption or decay.
We stand to-day as nation exempt from all
foars Of foreign hurt. 1t is not in the power
Of any people upon this earth much to harm
us, except our own people. Our thoughts
should turr to danger internal from which
alone we can have serious harm Every
thoughtful citizen should consider how he
may promote the public veal, securing and
promoting in both State and national legisla-
tion measures best promoted to the general
good Of all the people. lApplause.l
There are behind me several gentlemen
with manuscripts in their pockets. who are
burning for utterance. tLaughter.l | will
do again today that which / have so
much formed the habit of doing at Washing
ton, Give way to the Senators and members
Of Congress. fdearty cheers and cries Of
"Good"j
As the President resumed his seat. three
cheers were given with a will. Senator
Hawley was next introduced and spoke
briefly advocatinga worthy celebration of
the Fourth Of July. Associate Justice Mil
Ter followed and made a short and excellent
address Congressman Thomas b. Reed, Of
Maine, was the next speaker introduced.
His subject was, "The Victory" Mr.. Reed
spoke as follows:
Mr.. Reeds Speech.
1t was no less person, believe, than the
Duke of Wellington, who remarked, There
is only one thing more demoralizing than de-
feat and that is victory" have not taken
the trouble to verify the citation because
thought so solid and sound needs no buttress
or support from even most illustrious
name.
Battles are the supreme shock of great
armies rushing together and then staggering
asunder, one in the throes Of victory. the
other in the agony Of defeat, Battles are
over in day. War may rage long after the
most signal victory. That general misuses
victory who thinks 1t an end not a means.
The victories Of peace are, like the victories
Of war, worth nothing unless you look after
them. 1t takes pains to keep the human
race in motion. The race hates restraint
and the long pull. 1t likes to think its task
over, to retire on It's estates and to live on its
income. But men who live on their in
SaVe little % to DO With % making the world SaS 70
round. The Republican party won great
victory last November. Deprived by cruel
tyranny which seems inexplicable in a land
OF liberty, of the votes Of great portion of
our followers, We drove the enemy out of
their entrenched camp and displayed the old
time vig0r which has made glorious history
for this country for quarter of a century.
One portion OF our victory we cannot lose
an administration firm and steadfast, high In
courage and imbued with the best privileges
Of Republicanism. But something more than
no step backward is demanded by the people
Of the United States. 1t behooves the peo-
pie TO consider just how much power they
have granted, Just how much they have a
right to require. We have great questions to
dispose OF, questions which concern the pas
si0ns and interests Of men. By a decisive
vote the country decided against free trade
1t has become our duty to see wise measures
passed which shall give the country con-
tinuance of that system which, more than
anything else, has made us 81, 100000 strong
and rich in all that makes up great nation.
The reasonable demands OF these who de-
serve pensions Of their country must be met
In spirit Of fairness to those who ask and
justice to those who pay.
What ought to be done to spread the bless
ings OF education over the nation must have
full and free consideration. The question Of
the suppression OF votes in the South must
be met not rashly, but with determin-
alton that In national elections, and
wherever else they have the right and
power. those who by the constitution and
law are entitled to help govern this country
shall be the measures it Is not my province
to say. nor thank Heaven, the province of
any hundred Of the most powerful men Of
this republic. 1t will be the province, In due
time, Of the Republican members of Con-
gress to say, not et their own sweet will,
but after full, free, and impartial confer
ence with all Republicans and representing
them all. Congress is never strong, except
when the people are vigorously and vocifer-
8asly behind ehna it, II you want Coz Congress
had better help from outside all you know
how. Owing to this suppression of
votes In the South. owing to maneuvres
probably unsuccessful to count us out al
fhnr fba ~ paf ,kakix
to work so evenly balanced that it needs the |
whole Republican party to come to its help. |
Most people, giving little heed to this close |
balancing OF numbers, expect all that there |
was In the victory. With margin Of three |
the country must keep a, helping hand out
stretched or be ready to be thankful for |
nothing. Let us look these things squarely |
in the face.
The first thing the country needs is parla-
practice Of the House:of Representatives @ for for |
years to indulge In tillibusterin1g, of which |
the most effective form is to refuse to vote. |
When the constitution authorized any mem |
Der to demand quorum, no thought existed |
stitution, like England at Trafalgar, expect |
ed every man to do his duty. But today, so |
prevalent has become the practice, so free |
has 1t been from rebuke that |
ali econ he part Of
Some Of this facility fol-. evil doing grows |
out of the worst set of rules which ever af- |
ficted decent community, but no change of |
rules alone can remedy what results from |
bad public sentiment or the slight notice our
people take Of the way they are governed. |
The minority, simply because it is minor /
ity, stops legislation and the country looks |
on as II it was trivial matter Unless |
some remedy is found you can ex- |
pect nothing from the next Congress |
or any other. There is remedy in plain |
sight-public sentiment. Let the people at |
large.but once understandable facts about this |
practice Of defeating public business, and be |
will be bold man who attempts 1t in future, |
Ii 1t were possible on the Fourth Of July. /
in a country OF 67,O0O,000, with wealth un.
told, to be little dismal, should be SO over |
the small attention Congress gets. That
tight OF dogs must be eventless, that lady |
about to shine as q star on the dramatic stage |
must be pressing her divorce suit with great
languor, If either cannot displace in any
metropolitan journal the regular proceedings
of Congress. l suppose we must take the
bitter with the sweet. IL we are not photo
graphed in our especially statesmanlike at
titudes, we escape display in some others.
So on the whole we may safely hope the peo-
pie will attend to their business as faithfully
as they have until we reach 400,000,O0O.
Secretaries Noble and Tracy, President