Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-13

into tue air. over thete pillars are
stretched these cabl- s. These are the sup
ports without which tbs bridge could moi
even be conceived. Upon them depend.
the whole structure over which passes q
countless mass of humanity from day tc
day. Like ttese pillars are great epoch.
in human history and the lesser
events are but the fine wires, form.
ing thu great cables of development
that held the biiige over which progress
marches from one great epoch to another
The battle of Marathon marks a great
epoch. Had the hordes of Xerxes sue.
ceeded in vanquishing the 10000 Greeks
who had assembled on that immortal plain
between the mountsin and the sea, the
worlds history would have been changed
and that magnificent civilization which has
flowed westward even to the present moment
IF tine would have been turned back for.
ever.
The advent of Christ marks another
By it the old heather customs and bar
oarisms and laws we're swept away, and
chat new law promulgated upon which has
been erected the church, the school and
the humanity of to-day, and above all and
over all that transcendent precept Of life,
do unto you."
The American Revolution marks another
1t broke the grasp of regal power and
fixed the right of popular rule. From it
arose new nation in which freedom of
thought. freedom of speech, and freedom
of action were constantly exposing thu
wrong and presenting the right, weaving as
it we're the thought and sentiment Of the
hour into those great cables over which our
nation was about to pass to a grander and q
sublimer life. Referring to the birth Of
the Republican party Mr.. Spear said !:
1t was the outgrowth of the progress
and civilization of the nineteenth century.
1t included the best men of the time. II
absorbed the best thought of the age. 1t
recognized the equality of man. 1t was
the embodiment OF patriotism and justice.
It embraces all the beatitudes of former
parties and emblazoned new ones upon its
banner. Its courage, its patriotism, it,
high purpose preserved from destruction
the only true republic of the world and
saved its people the humiliation of seeing
erected in the land of their fathers an in
famous oligarchy based upon slavery and
the maintenance of the slave trade. In
fine it sacrificed life and treasure to estab-
lish the great cardinal principles of human
welfare, free government, free men, free
speech and free schools.
Since this great party came into power il
has accomplished every task and met every
condition anticipated at its beginning. But
outstanding its marvellous achievements
there are those who say it has outlived its
mission. But when / remember that it
took the country in bankruptcy and raised
it to affiuence; that it found it in war and
r stored it to peace; that it received it in
fragments and made it whole; that it eman-
cipated race and established their liberty;
that it founded an industrial system thai
brought prosperity before unknown; that
it proclaimed a financial policy that
made its credit absolute and it.
obligations without precedent: that it
pursued q diplomacy that upheld thu
An erican flag and opened foreign ports to
American products and industry; and that
the Democratic party opposed everyone
of these achievements. When | remem-
Der all these things and that the Republi
can party has been, and is today, fit mon
nment to the name of the martyred Lincoln,
I say to it not that it's mission is ended,
nut, "W hither thou goest will go; where
thou lodgsst I will lodge; thy people shall
be my people and thy God my God"