Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-10-15
Confessed His Clients Guilt

and had overwhelmed him with all the re-
proaches and epithets and denuncications of
which the language was capable. His occu-
pation would be absolutely gone. and even
Joseph Choate or Rollins or Roots could
only founder back into silence as best he
might.
Such is the condition of the Republican
speaker, today. There is no way in which
he can improve on the defendants confes-
sion. l have been in the habit for some
wears of speaking of the Democratic party
in terms which seemed to me to be just,
but which the members of it have not found
rtlrely satisfactory, and yet | never
ireamed of using words about the party or
is chiefs which have been shouted in
speeches by great Democrats from Maine
o Texas and italicised in much letter writ
ing by very exalted public functionary
have, therefore, no epithets to bestov
tonight, my weapons have been taken from
me snd my occupation as political speaker
for this campaign seems to be gone. Yet
IN some ways do not regret it. If we can
10 longer talk politics, we can perhaps do
better. Surely there never was better
opportunity for little business sense, for a
title of that wholesome wisdom which we
out into the affairs of ordinary life.
Let us then commence with frank ad-
mission that the action of the Democratic
party and its complete failure in the art of
governing this country was perfectly
natural, and that as individuals the Demo
Gratis are not responsible therefor. Nor can
we venture to say that we were prophets
whose predictions are being fulfilled, for
am persuaded that no man on our side
Jared to oreshadow one-half of what has
happened, most of us not tithe. Natpr
ally enough, if we who were their enemies
did not prophecy this measure of calamity
the ordinary Democratic voter could not
have dreamed of it, and therefore did not
have it in his heart.
1t is because | am sure from outward
and visible signs, and notably from the
elections in Vermont and Maine, that men
are laying aside their partisanship and are
willing to do their share toward saving the
country, that | am willing to lay aside mine
and discuss on reasonable terms what it is
best to do here and now for the common
interests. Whenever the principals in Mr..
Evart's lawsuits lay aside their grudges
their lawyers can lay down their weapons.
So when in politics, where great mistake
has been made, so great that all men can
see it, partisanship can be safely laid aside,
and the case can be stated without exsgera-
ton of the merits of your own side or abuse
of the other. Of course no man gets to he
perfectly fair this side of the river of death,
for prepossessions and lifelong associs-
tlons can never be entirely overcome, but
there are times when men who have never
before acted together can think alike.
These times are shown by the actions of
men and not by their speech.
Maine is State where Democracy is
rockribbed and ancient as the sun, and yet
in Maine the Democracy so expressed
themselves that the great tidal wave ma jor-
ity of 81 900 given years ago when the
deepest depression, the result of the war,
rested on the Democratic party, was ex-
ceeded by ii, 900. | do not think yoT
quite realize what that majority means. If
New York state we're to give 800 coo it
would hardly exceed it; $1,000 would re-
present only the increase. None of US e1-
pected such majority. There was no
special organization and no money. The
Democrats did it themselves. Many of
them voted with us and many more stayed
at home, determined, some by outspoken
action and some by silence, to show their
of the results of party govern
ment which they. saw about them on every
hand.
Was this a sensible course of action,