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

ui1tt0u " pOSGeTlt9.
But l must not linger, l am reminded
that you are desirous to hear from oul
| invited guests, whose words Of eloquence
and wisdom / know you will appreciate
and enjoy.
At the conclusion of his remarks he
read the following telegram:
Washington, D. c., February H..
George Libby, President of Lincoln
With regret not to be with you, | wish
the Lincoln Club dinner as good ms 1t
deserves, future as useful as it's past,
and luck as good as its conduct.
TB. REED.
Loud cheers and shouts greeted this
telegram.
Letters were also read (and applauhed)
from congressman Boutelle and Milliken,
and Robert T Lincoln of Chicago.
GOVERNOR CLEAVES
was next introduced and most enthusi-
astically received with three cheers, de-
livered by the guests standing.
Governor Cleaves began by saying that
ne felt very much at home. He had
come to join his fellow members of the
club i'll greeting the guests of the eve
ming. He was glad to see the press SO
well represented. They could always be
| trusted as the repositories of state Sc
crets Cloud laughter), and while they
couldn't make man yet they could I'M
make him mighty quick.
Speaking of the recent political tidal
wave, he was reminded of an epitaph in
a western cemetery: II expected it, but
not so soon." cloud laughter.)
The Republican future wouldsbe entire
ly assured when we should "elect an
American Senate, and then elevate to
the highest Office your own fellow citi-
zen, Thomas B. Reed. (Loudsapplause.
The Governor paid high tribute to
the Lincoln Club, and then spoke of
Lincoln.
zone of Lincoln's strongest charac-
teristics was his loyalty and devotion to
his friends. He gave a striking illustra-
ton of this when a distinguished dele
cation from California called upon him,
soon after his Inauguration, relating to
the appointment of certain officials on
the Pacific coast, and during the CONVEX
sation they bitterly assaulted friend of
Oregon, and who entertained different
views relating to the appointments from
those entertained by the delegation. Lin
coin, after listening awhile to the as
saults upon his friend, standing at his
full height said: Gentlemen, if you think
you can why our cause by assailing my
friend, desire to have you distinctly
understand that You cannot accomplish
your purpose by any such means.
50" Lincoln lived during the trying days
Of the republic, when 1t was uncertain
whether we should have one flag or two
He never lost faith in the army. He was
alwaysssthe friend Of the private soldier,
and was constantly giving them words
of encouragement He had the conf
dence not only OF the Union army, but
of the American people. He .despised
slavery and loved freedom. Although
his administration was unjustly as
sailed at times by mem hers of his own
party, he never swerved in his duty, as
he understood it, to the American peo-
pie. His memory will be cherished for
ever by the libertyloving, patriotic peo-
pie of America"
MAYOR BAXTER.
was next introduced. Loud and long APP
plause greeted him as he arose., He said
that inasmuch rs this club was named
after the eminent man whose fame rest
ed with that of Washington, it might be
considered proper to condne one's speech
to Lincoln alone. II should at least be
the text on an occasion like this.
But he wished to speak briefly of a
matter more closely concerning the fu-
ture of Portland. Boston, by the great
improvements she had made had secured
one hundred miles of drives in her park
system. The business of Boston has in
creased, and her desirabIlity as city of
resi- dences ha0 increased vastly, on ac-
count of this park system. We have in
Portland the possibilities of "a splendid
park system. Visiting the Eastern Prom
enade with the Mayor of Dublin. he was
struck with the great advantages of the
situation and commented enthusiastical l.
ly upon them. A park can be laid out
around Back Bay, connecting the two
promenades, which would complete one
of the finest park systems in the world.
A broad boulevard could be laid out
around this bay, changing an unpleas-
ant feature of our surroundings to one
of the most beautiful of it's adornments.
see that some smile at this proposition.
Bnt | am a business man and taxpayer
here. And if we are to lower the taxes
of Portland the way to do it is to in
crease the taxable property. The new
house lots on the poor farm would in
five years increase the the taxable prop
erty $500, 900. The future growth of
Portland must depend largely upon Its
growth as residential city. In no way
can we so easily attract people to us as
by identifying the city.
Mayor Baxter said it might seem n
long way from the memory of Lincoln
to the park system of Portland, and it
reminded him of the story of the dog in
the New York express Office. Where
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