The Portland daily press., 1892-06-11
Hon, 1ohn =. spooner's Speech.

"Af = ootuslC GllG O6Htse"SS'' W Neo Cot-
vention:
The preliminaries are settled and it is
relief that we are at last face to face
with the great duty which we came here
to perform. That the action OF this
body, composed of representative men
who love the Republican party, and seek
to promote it's success for its record and
it's principles. will be deliberate, though
cure for it the anproval of those who sent
us here, cannot well be doubted.
National Republican Conventions have
not been accustomed to make mistakes.
That which met at Chicago in 1888 made
no mistake when it entrusted the honor
and responsibility of leadership to Ben
Jamln Harrison of Indiana He quickly
proved himself an ideal candidate and a
leader who led. Millions OF hostile and
eager eyes searched his whole life in vain
for spot or blemish. On the march and
in the battle no man rode before him.
Calm, dignifed and wise, each day
brought from his lips deliverance in
itself perfect platform, unexcelled for
grace OF diction, power of epigrammatic
statement and the spirit of true elo-
quence. He imbued the party with re-
newed vigor and strength and intrepidly
led 1T to victory: His friends bring his
name into this convention proudly con-
scious that the record which he has made
needs not to be supplemented by words
OF advocacy He has been from the day
OF his Inauguration, what the people
elected him to be, the. President of the
United States. He has given to the
nO1IntrV IN cfrotiAn which Con
ability, efficiency, purity and patriotism
challenge without fear, comparison with
any which Ehas preceded it since the
Foundation of the government. He has
been free from variableness or shadow of
turning in his devotion to the principles
OF the Republican party and to the re-
demption of the pledges made by it to
the people. He has stood for the pro-
lection of American industries and the
interests OF American wage-workers and
placed with alacrity the seal of his APP
proval upon the great tariff bill of the
Fifty-first Congress, which has outridden
the flood of Misrepresentation which
swept over it as did the Ark the deluge
OF old and now rests upon foundation
as solid as Mount Ararat He cham
pioned and promoted, by every means in
harmony with the dignity of his great
oHce, Tile aQOptlon Oh
The Sheme of Reciprocity
which, as enacted, has found favor with
our people, not limited to the South
American republics or bartering the in
terests of one industry for the benefit of
another by the free admission of compe-
titive products, but compelling fair treat
ment by all governments of our people
and our products under penalty of COM
mercial retaliation.
Openly friendly to the use of silver,
as one of the coin metals of the country,
under conditions which shall surely
maintain it at a parity with gold and
striving to secure by international agree
| meut the existence of those conditions,
he stands nevertheless as firm as the
granite which underlies the continent
against policy which would debase the
currency OF the people. Nor did he for
Republican party that ''every citizen,
rich or poor, native or foreign born,
white or black'' is entitled atevery public
election to cast one free ballot and to
have that ballot honestly counted and
faithfully returned.
With a skill, dignity and courage
which has compelled the admiration of
political friend and foe alike, he has
caused it to be understood throughout
the world that the American flag repre-
sents a government which has the power
and the will to protect the American uni
form and American interests at all haz-
ards everywhere, whether assaulted by
peppery neighbors to the southwark of
us, or by the diplomacy or power sof
Great Britain.
Every interest of the people has had
his best care and his best thought, and
he stands before the country today well
approved, and universally acknowledged
to be man of transcendent ability, of
extraordinary capacity for the discharge
| of executive duty, of exalted patriotism
and lofty purposes, who would not for a
unanimous denomination by this con-
vention and reelection by the people,
swerve one hair s-breadth in any matter
of duty, great or small, from what he be-
lieves to be just and right. 1t is said
against him that he has made enemies,
and it is evidently true. So did Wash
ington, so did jackson, so did Lincoln,
so did Grant, SO did Garfield, and SO did
Arthur.
But this convention will not mistake
the lamentations of the disappointed
for
The Voice of the f'PIain People,.
This argument against him overesti-
mates the Importance of individuals and
underestimate the intelligence and pat
riotism of the masses. They will not be
beguiled into the belief that the object
of the government is the bestowal of
office. They care little for the ambition
OF leaders or whether John Smith Sc
cures an office this month, next month or
not at all. They do not demand of a
President that he shall be able to please
every one. They want good government.
They demand honesty, ability and in
dustry and purity in public and private
life and all this they have had in Benja-
min Harrison. We place him before this
convention as one who can bear and will
bear, whether nominated or not, for he
is a Republican, his full share in the ma
tional contest which today is to begin.
The Republicans of every state save one
in convention assembled have endorsed
| with enthusiasm his administration.
Upon that administration and it's record
OF efficiency and achievement the Repub-
lican party is to win, if at all, in the
coming campaign. There is nothing
| persuasive in the assertion that those