Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-13
A ROUSING CONVENTION.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE YOUNG
REPUBLICANS OF VERMONT.
Address of the Day by Congressman Rus.
seli-Speechcs at tho Banquet by Gov.
Woodbury., Gen. Howard and Others
-E. Il. Morse President.


: E. X. Morse President.
Montpelier, Feb. 12.-This has been q
great day for the young republicans OF
Vermont, who turned out in large numbers
to pay tribute to the memory of Lincoln
This is the day permanently adopted as
the date of their annual meeting, and the
wisdom and appropriateness of that choice
have now been fully demonstrated. All
parts of the State were represented and q
more enthusiastic gathering of republl-
cans Is seldom seen.
: Soon after the arrival of the midday
trains the delegates formed in double col
umn and marched from the Pavilion
headed By the Montpelier band, to the
opera house, where the exercises of the
afternoon were he'd. A large number OF
ladies graced the occasion by their pres
ence, almost completely filling the stage tc
the rear of the speakers, and their enthu-
siasm would Indicate that were they able
to vote, Vermont's capital might be even
, more Overwhelmingly republican than IT
Is at present.
George NJ. Powers, president of the
Young Mems Republican club of Vermont
presided. and those who occupied seats on
either side of him We're: Congressman
Charles A. Russell of Connecticut, speaker
of the day; Gov T. A. Woodbury., Lieut.
Gov. Mansur, and Gen. o. o. Howard
The afternoons programme opened with
spirited selections by the Montpelie: band
followed by campaign songs by a. j. Max.
ham, the, well-known campaign singer
Mr. Markham explained that he was able
to be present through the efforts of Con
gresham Powers, who secured his release
from duties in Washington for this occa-
slon and those who enjoyed his singing
of new campaign songs for 1896 fully APP
II. .aI l. %. -.
dedicated to Thomas B. Reed was received
with tremendous enthusiasm. Presiden,
Powers made a felicitious speech introduc-
ing the speaker of the day, his address
being as follows:
PRESIDENT POWERS REMARKS.
1t Is neither my place nor my purpose e
attempt TO whet your appetite for the feas
which has been prepared for you. canno
refrain, however, from expressing, on be
half of the officers and committees oul
pleasure at this generous response to ouI
invitation TO the second Lincoln celebra
tion of our club, or from congratulatnl
you upon the success of our organization
which now seems permanently assured.
The purposes of the Young Mems Repub
lican club, although repeatedly affirmed
have been too frequently assaled. lie
me again announce that our purpose |!
educational 1t is unselfish and mpersonal
We contemplate no organized raid upor
the State offices. We realize that office
seeking becomes a disease with some men
the political microbe is so positive in 1t!
manifestations that it requires no hyper
dermic test to detect its presence. and 81
sudden and thorough In its deadly worl
that it succumbs to no known inoculatioi
or treatment We are not, and do not de
sire to become infected. We believe tina
merit should be the test of qualification foi
| ri 0f N
/ residence; and what we most desire Is Il
| join hands with our elder brothers in th'
grand work of accomplishing the success
of republican principles. not by intrigue
strategy or manouvrc, but by increasing
the spread of political intelligence ant
awakening the people to a keener appre
citation of their political responsibilities
n purpose lofty enough to challenge tn,
|. admiration and deserve the support o
every fair-mnded citizen in the State.
We are upon the eve of another presi
dental election, the result of which viii
be of far more than usual Importance L
the American people: the result of whicl
will to large degree determine tn,
measure of our moral, material and educa
tional advancement I'm the closing year,
of the waning century. i believe we shal
be successful in that contest: | belicv,
that the morning of the new century will
dawn amid the glorious peace, plenty an,
prosperity which Is the assured result o
republican success.
And now, gentlemen, / invite your at
tention to an address worthy of the day
and occasion, by one who understands
not only the wants of Vermont and New
, England, but also the broad necessities Of
the nation; by one whose knowledge EN-
braces manufactures and markets, tariff:
and trade, commerce and currency; by on,
whose ability has been enriched by ex
perence in public affairs; by one whose
power of illustration and expression wi.
add the charm and finish of oratory to 1t.
delivery. Such man / have the pleasur,
of introducing in the well chosen speaker
of the day, Hon. Charles A. Russell o.
Connecticut.
CONGRESSMAN RUSSELL'S SPEECH
Congressman Russell, after receiving ar
enthusiastic greeting, paid glowing tr
butte to Vermont's influence in nationa
affairs. He spoke of the encouragement
which Vermont had given to the republic
can party and its principles, with major
ties as exhilarating as our lofty hills ant
with stalwart devotion to party principle.
as sturdy as the character of her people
She has in the past wonderfully raised W
repub.ioanism all over the country. Allu
sion was made to the influence of Vermont
in national legislation as displayed in the
able craftsmanship of an Edmunds and q
Morrill,, in the practical legislative work
of a Proctor and Grout, and in the cleal
and accurate legal ability of a Powers
Congressman Russell then proceeded as
follows
1t would seem that no more fitting date
than the 18th of February could be selected
for gathering of republicans. 1t Is the
birthday of Abraham Lincoln. who is the
only American universally named and rev.
cred with Washington. And Lincoln gave
direction, strength and success to the re-
publican party. In honoring the man We
recognize the political organization tc
which he gave force and leadership, and
we recognize the political achievements
which have been wrought out through
that organization. That great character
of our first republican president, spotless
in its purity, childlike in its confidence In
the right, fearless in its action for the
right and uncomfortable in it's fight fol
human liberty and human progress. gave
the birth marks TO the republican party.
1t is related of Lincoln by one who called
upon him in his Office at the White House
soon after his Inauguration in 1861, and
when the contention of the north and the
south was assuming the aspects of civil
war, that he was found standing by the
side of table on which were stretched
maps and plans of the prospective seat OF
war. Pins with blue and gray heads, rep
resenting the positions which would be
held at the outset by the armies of the
Union and the Confederacy, were stuck
into these maps. Lincoln, with that weary
and anxious look which was ever notice
abe In his sad eyes, was intently study
ing the papers before him. He turned
from his study and entered into conversa-
tion with his visitor There was in his