The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-13

that coming to power with Lincoln, Ior
thirty years led the Republic In career
of growth, development and prosperity
unequalled in our own land, unknown
elsewn ere in the annals OF mankind.
"Treasures brighten as they take their
| iigbt.n Had anything been wanting to
place the crown upon the work of the
RepubIica party it has been supplied by
the abortive attempts at government
made by our opponents. Confronted by
some of the gravest national problems,
the Democratic party, WIEN the Presl-
dent and majority IN 10th houses OF
Congress, stands hopelessiy dlvlaed and
oonfessedly impotent.
| So stron and deep is the disgust OF
the whole country with Democratic
incompetence, that we now behold the
unprecedented spectacle of vast numbers,
| if not the majority of honest Democrats
looking forward with satisfaction to the
defeat of their own party, and the res
toration of the Republican party to full
power, as the only means of resculng
our country from the slough of despond
into which Democratic misgovernment
has led us, and placing us once again
on the road of prosperity and progress.
To the accomplishment of this .benefi-
cent end, you, gentlemen of the Lin
| coin Club, have consecrated your ener-
gies and efforts.
AS your leIlOW ClllZeuS L . Luduh tou
for the ZEAL courage and devotion you
have ever manifested in the good cause.
/ congratulate you, too, upon the GER
tainty of glorious victory toward which
YOU will march in the next national
campaign.
Aye! more, / congratulate you that
all the signs of the time point TO the
fact that in that campaign the great
captain of the Republican hosts of the
| 10 will ra other than
the eloquent orator, the brilliant states
man, the indomitable leader of men,
one who is so well worthy to be sue
cessor of the great Lincoln, our own fell
low townsman, Thomas b. Reed.
Mr.. Thomas's sp irited and eloquent
speech was applauded frequently as it
proceeded, and loudly and long as it
closed
HON. JAMES o. BRADBURY
of Saco, always welcome guest with
the boys of the Lincoln Club, was the
next speaker. He dwelt upon the states
manlike qualities of Lincoln, and the
force of his example upon the Repu Bill
can party. Whenever the Republican,
or any other party, should drop away
from principle to get votes, then would
begin it's decay. MIR. Bradbury referred
felicitously to coming nomination for
the Presidency. He was in Texas a lit
tie while ago, and saw an old Democrat
down there, who said to him:
"Do you know old Tom Reed?"
Mr. Bradbury said he'd heard of.him
"Well, / wish he was Vice Presidents
He would take the twist out oiR
those silver senator's. 1t is hard for m Z
to say, but if Tom Reed was Demo
crat he would make the rippingest Pres
ident we ever had" replied the Texan.
There was an ovation for ~
HON. HERBERT M HEATH q
of Augusta Mr.. Heath proceeded to cal
roll of his best Kennebec stories, con-
vulsing his hearers as each good anec-
dote was succeeded by better one.
Coming to a more serious vein, he
took up the pictures of Cleaves and
Reed to keep for his children until the
day when it should be said of one:
Maine never had better governor"
and of the other, America never had a
better President" (Applause.)
The dinner closed with loud cheers
for the speakers. 1t had been one of the
most enthusiastic and successful ever
held in Portland. The speaking was
exceptionally good in every respect.