The Portland daily press., 1894-02-13
Mr.. Morrill, then introduced
Governor Cleaves,

Governor Cleaves,
who received an ovation of applause and
cheers. He said that he had come to
join his congratulations with them on
the prosperity and success of the club.
And he could say to the guests who had
come that they would address loyal
Repu blicans (cheers) who believed in
protection, sound money and forei IN
policy that was American (applause).
A braham Lincoln dealt with questions In
his administration as an American. he
Was true to his country, even to the In
terests of it's least citizen. The Republl-
can party had followed this principle,
and it chad never undertaken to found
or upheld monarchy anywhere Gap
plause.) Mr.. Cleaves then spoke OF the
effort to give the freedom of our markets
to the cheaper labor of other countries a
course which had left labor without
employment, and brought financial
distress upon the country. Maine has
seen less of this depression than many
other states, for she has entered upon a
new era of prosperity. But the provisions
of the Wilson bill strike. nearly every
industry that helps make Maine great.
Why, the bill strikes every Maine IN
dustry. Perhaps they thought that in
no other way could trey get even with
the Maine delegation. daughter and
applause.) After having struck at all
other industries the trainers OF the VII
son bill have attacked the farmers,
whom they intend to put in competition
against the cheaper lands and labor OF
other countries.
In conclusion, Mr.. Cleavess thanked his
auditors for his cordial greeting, and
promised that if he should come next
year, as he expected to do, he would tlnd
fhof l. IL tod q
Congress, and the light of day will begin
to shine on. this country" cloud cheers).
Mayor Baxter
was next introduced, and received with
prolonged and enthusiastic applause. He
said that he could not help rejecting on
the influence for good that such an or
ganization as this could have in the
work of the Republican party. Upon
that must devolve the work OF governing
in this country. The Democratic party
was plainly showing itself incompetent
for the task which it had undertaken.
Speaking then of the life and character
of Abraham Lincoln, Mr.. Baxter said
that the disasters of his early life should
not be forgotten, although his successes
had obscrlred them. He was tried in the
furnace of affection for a great work.
Failures followed his path in his early
business life. Three times he ran for
Congress and was defeated; and he at the
time regarded the third defeat as a
crushing one.
Speaking of the present times, Mr..
Baxter eloquently described the ship of
state. CAT her helm 1s.an incompetent
man; OH her deck a mutinous crew. He
then concluded: "God grant that the
Republican.party may soon take control,
and may add that Thomas B. need may
bear the standard. cloud cheers.)
A voice-Three cheers for Tom Reed.
The cheers were enthusiastically given.
The choir, which with the veteran John
Shaw for leader, has always been figure
of the Lincoln club banquets, here rem
dered one of the old patriotic airs.
Adjutant General Seldom Connor
was introduced as gallant soldier, who
had helped in the field to sustain the adj
ministration of Lincoln. General Conner
received most enthusiastic welcome.
He said that the days of Abraham
Lincoln were the glorious days of the
repu bic, the most heroic that ever came
to people, in strong contrast with these
days of Grover Cleveland. AS every true
American must sorrow on the present
condition of the country, so must he
exult in the glorious days Of Lincoln.
The troubles of those days showed that
patriotism was often greater than party
fealty. 1t was a grand time to live in.
A great leader, i'll touch with his people,
gave himself in heart and mind and soul
to the work of the great crisis. The con-
slderation of that period is of practical
value to us as Republicans today, as ex-
employing the central idea of the time,
the preservation of the union. | expect
70 M aintain This contest until die or
am conquered, or am victorious, or Con-
gress or the people deserts me" were the
heroic words of the great President at
the beginning of the contest. The Re-
publican party, having restored the
country to its integrity, believes that it
belongs in peculiar sense to its own
people.
America for Americans" is the legend
on it's banner, the war cry on it's lips.
(Applause.) 1t was befitting this occa-
sion to take counsel as to the duties
lying before us. the obligation of re-
sponsibllity rests upon our party by
virtue of what it has done in the past,
and what needs to be done in the future.
The Republican party will again be
called to power as soon as the people
shall have the chance to express their
opinions. (Applause.l
AT this point Mr.. John D. Prinda BILE
was called upon to render his never to-
be-forgotten speech anent the Mont
gomery Guards of Boston and New York.
No Lincoln club banquet is complete
without this feature. Mr.. Printable re-
sponded gracefully as one of the privates
OF the Lincoln club, and delivered the
recitation, amid much applause and
merriment.
Hon. A. M. Spear,
of Gardiner, was introduced as repre-
sentative of the old county of Kennebec
He said that no occasion could be more
pleasant to the true American than the
anniversary of Lincon's birth. The word
destiny alone could account for the
abilities and virtues of that Incompatible
statesman. In his early career his great
antagonist was the Little Giant of
Illinois, Stephen A. Douglass. AS "a
reasoner, Just and true in his reasoning,
william Pitt Fessenden was the peer Of
Douglass. But in the cunning sophistry
which Douglass knew how.tt use so we'll,
as we'll as in the higher reasoning power,
Law force which was met only by the
great mind of Lincoln, supplemented by
his homely w.t. which sought out and
demolished the sophistries of Douglass.
The contemporaries of Lincoln did not
| SO fully appreciate him as does posterity.
| Attacked by the border states for his