The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-06-20
THE LNAGUE CONVENES
Immense Gathering Of Repub-
licanS in Cleveland.
PRESIDENT TRAcrs SPEECH
ScOrching Denunciation Of Demo-
cratic Party-TOm Toms Will
Not Blind The People.
PRESIDENT TRAcrs SPEECH

Cleveland, June 19.-The open session of
the eighth annual convention of Repub-
hcan Clubs adjourned at l p. m. today,
until 10 a. m. tomorrow, after disposing
Of oil preliminary and routine matter
President Tracy opened the session with
the following patriotic speech, which was
received with loud cheering:
Ladies and Gentlemen: lt is my duty
and pleasure to now formally declare
opened the eighth annual convention OF
the republican national league.
Our last campfires were laid upon the
slopes of the Rocky Mountains, in the
heart of that vast western empire which,
with It's newer civilization and youthful
vlgor gives to the nation new blood, new
lfe and energy. From the noble peaks
Of these grand mountains and from the
exhilarating atmosphere of those beautt-
ful valleys we drew new inspirations, new
thoughts, and came forth from that con-
vention well equipped for the campaign
which was then before u.s.
l congratulate you as members of tine
republican clubs of the United States,
the positive and active force of that cam
paign, upon the great and overwhelming
victory gained by our party. Rarely In
our political history has party elected
its candidates by such great plurallties.
In congratulating ourselves upon the
work of party organization we must keep
well in mind the fact that an influence
far more potent than party organizations
had been at work among the voters.
Never before had the leaders of that great
party demonstrated such absolute inca
paclty for administering affairs of gov
ernment as had the democratic leaders
for two years previous to that election.
1t was but a natural result that the peo-
pie, disgusted with democratic states
manshAp, should grasp the opportunity
to administer lasting rebuke to that
party. The election of last November
sounded note Of warning to the world.
That the people Of the United States once
and for all declared themselves in favor
of protection ta American industry and
American labor. 1t was bugle note
that awakened the sleeping industries and
brought new life into the business world
1t caused the fires Of the American fur
naces to again awaken to an American
demand; 1t has put the wheels of COM
merce in motion and the glad hum or
industry must soon resound in the land
Enterprise revivifed IS extending her
arms of iron into new fields, into unex-
plorsd territory, never to cease until old
mother earth shall have been made to
give up her hidden treasures, in the
farthermost corners of our territory. AT
such time, when the business world
has thrown off its shackles, when the
pent up power and force Of three long
years is forming into a current which will
brng prosperity and happiness Ito all the
people, lit is most fitung that we should
join here in general rejoicing over the
possibilities of the future. We should
rejoice that we are young and have pre-.
sented to us all great opportunities of
good times to come, we should rejoice
that we are Americans, youths of the
youngest nation in history, and rejoice
that we are members of the greatest
political party of the age, a party which
from the first has represented in its MEM
bership the intelligence, patriotism ana
higher ambitions of the republic.
Thus 1t is with quicl1ened steps and
loyal hearts in harmony with the times
we come together as representatives OF
the republican National League in this
great heart of republcanism, this beau,
tiful city Of Cleveland, to express our
unbounded confidence in the Integrity OF
the republican party and renew our fealty
to that party In the name of the greaL
leader the martyred president, under the
shadow of whose tomb we are now as
sembled.
AS members of this organization we
gather here today to consider how as
intelligent and patriotic citizens we can.
best serve our country and party. This
great gathering of young men from
every state in the Union, many of whom
have Travelled thousands of miles with
no promise of preferment or reward.
bears testimony to the great work this
organization has accomplished ana
demonstrates Its value to the party Well
may the republican party be proud of
this organization, for 1t Is largely
through its labors that the young men
of this country have been enlisted In
Its ranks. The founding of great league
by two Thousand young men VINO gath
cred in Chickering Hall In New York
City in December, 1887, marked out a new
path in the political field, opening up as
1t did for the young men and the firsz
voters new avenues for practical political
work. AS a result 1T has given po-
litlcal education to the thousands of
young men who otherwise would have
had little Interest in political affairs TO
these whose ideals have been somewhat
removed from practical politics II, has
gwen an opportunity for individual effort
1t has made out OF the political dreamer
a practical idealsSt who is destined to
be a most beneficial factor in the future
politics of the country.
In this eighth year of our organization
we find ourselves grown beyond our ex-
rectatlons. Our conventions are the
opening guns of every campaign. Our
deliberations are listened to with the Ut
most consideration and evlnce the fact
that the future Of the league as a power
for good in the republican party Is as
sured. No political party can exist long
in any country which does not appeal
in every way to the young men OF the
country. The enthusiasm or warm pa
trotism of youth and the husiling prac-
tical young mans demand that the party
to which he allies his fortunes shall be
a party of the present, face squarely 70
the front and fear not to take up and
consider any and all Of the complex ques-
tlons which confront US from time 20
time. Therein lies the value OF these
conventions. Here we can as Representa-
tiyes of the various portions OF our vast
country pass a few days IN calm and
jiIdicious consideration Of the question:,
which are near the hearts OF the people.
The discussion may be free and untram-
meled. Every individual delegate has
the opportunity 70 esprezs he opinion