The Republican journal., 1896-06-18
Hon. Harold M. SewaIrs Speech.

Hon. Harold NJ SewaIIs Speech.
Mr.. Sewall was warmly applauded,
aud spoke as follows;
Gentlemen of the Conventions:
Forty years ago, the distinguished
minded you the other day at Portland
ht Republican party came into power Ill
his State under the leadership of Hanni-
bal Hamlin Forty years ago Hannibal
Ilamlin. Democratic senator from Maine
rose in his seat in the Senate, and declar-
NIX that he loved his country better than
ms party, resigned the craftsmanship of
he committee on commerce and re-
nounced his allegiance to that party to
WHICH he owed every honor of his politi-
cal life.
hen, an issue that was to become an is
sue of life or death to the country. The
Republican party decreed that it should
live, live free and regenerate, live in pros
perity such as it had never known be-
fore.
Another issue, a greater issue than any
other that has arisen since, confronts the
country now. And again has come to
Democrats the question that came to
Hamlin and those who followed him, and
again there have been Democrats who
have dared to solve that question as
Uamin did.
And if 1 interpret the significance of
your action today Alright, this is your
meaning. that as in the days of its weak
ness when girding itself for mighty and
doubtful contest, it recruited its ranks
from those of its opponents, so not less
today in the pride of it's plentitude and
power as it marches forth to certain vic
tory, it welcomes to share it's glory and
approaching triumphs all those of it's
fellow citizens who find in it the ark of
the nations covenant and bring to ii
their unfaltering allegiance.
And in this spirit l accept this honor,
and ask your cooperation and support
that / may discharge it worthiy.
Fellow Republicans | greet YOU!
! greet you, young men and veterans of
a hundred fights! l greet you as victors
you as victors whom long continued and
certain victory cannot make careless of
the welfare of our beloved State en-
trusted to the party you represent, al
most unwaVeringly since its existence.
Forty years ago you received this trust,
and only twice since have you failed of
IN endorsement by the people you have
sought to serve Only twice in forty
years. And in the face of such a record.
care not what his politics may be, tell
me of that citizen of Maine who has not
respect, aye, and within the bounds of
party loyalty, admiration for that party
which has received such an endorsement
by the intelligent suffrage of this intelli-
gent State, crowned as it was in the last
election by the magnificent majority of
30 900 votes.
Men may differ and divide among us be-
tween the great national parties as they
do and must, for it is the glory of our
State that it is a State of sturdy convic
lion whose clear and bracing atmosphere
reflects no neutral tints, but he who
terests with which the Republican party
If Maine has administered her affairs
during its entire history, doubts the in
tegrity of her people and libelS the fair
name of our State herself.
And SO today, as it has ever been, the
Republican party of Maine stands ready
TO account for this trust as it was re-
ceived into the hands of Hannibal Ham
lin, as it has since been preserved unim-
paired and unimperilled, and as it has
been sacredly guarded by the administra-
ton of Henry b. CleaveS.
But not alone the welfare of our State
summons us here today. In a larger
sense. to a greater use do we dedicate
ourselves here today.
The Republican party of the nation
summons us to a contest no more doubt
full than this of this State
Months, ago our opponents confessed
biiity of the party in power and dared
not name their candidate and proclaim
their platform until we should ours. We
do not know the issues in their despera-
ton they will seek to raise. We do not
care. The Republican party does not
wait for issues. 1t creates them. Its
very existence involves an issue of the
ways has.
Once this was the issue, whether this
government of ours should have the right
to live. Today. it is the issue whether
that Government shall have the means to
live, and whether our people shall have
the means to live in that American stan
dard of comfort and decent living set by
the Republican party and never lowered
while it was in power.
The Republican party stands for that
s,rinciple in legislation which will restore
chat standard as that party created 1t.
the Republican party never tires Of pro-
claiming its devotion to that principle
and proclaims this devotion today as it
never has before.
The Republican party Is for the Ameri-
principle of protection. We are for
it as part of the revenue policy of this
republic. We would be for 1t if necessary
for its own sake. We are for 1t as a
weapon OF defence in the hottest of all
rights, the right of self defence. We are
for it as a weapon of action, weapon Of
compensation and retaliation as Jefferson
advocated it.
We are for 1t as a weapon of action te
force from foreign nations a return fol
every concession we make to them, tt
open their ports to produce while
never Surrendering our markets to theil