The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-18
DINGLEY's SPEECH.
The Congressman From Maine Seconds
Tom Reeds Nomination.

NR. CaAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEs OF THE Con-
vESTIoS
The nominee OF this convention VIII be
the next President OF the republic. That
the Republican party IL to be victorious
in the coming campaign whoever It's can
oioate may be, has long since been set
tied by the manifold blunders, worse
than crimes, that have been committed
by the Democratic party. Ii has demon
strated it's incapacity TO direct the anairs
of the nation in full measure heaped up,
running over. It was intrusted with
power by a forgetful and forgiving peo-
pie, at a time of unexampled prosperity,
with an oyerfiowing national treasury, an
unlimited public credit, labor fully ana
prcfitably employed, wheels turning,
looms moving, furnaces glowing and
machinery humming the music that at
tends profitable, diversified industry.
These were the inevitable results of the
intelligent application of that elemental
principle OF our system OF government,
coeval with the birth agony OF the repub-
lie, protection To American labor and In
dustry. The Democratic party after hav-
ing denounced the Mckinley tariff as the
'culmipating atrocity OF class legisla-
tion," aud set forth its declaration of
alleged principles, asked for change OF
administration and party In order that
there might be "change OF system and
change OF met hod." We have had a change
system and method, and a complete rever-
sal of results. In 1896 we see the perfect
converse of the picture presented In 1892.
In that great achievement OF Democratic
statesmanship, the confessed misbegot-
ten offspring OF cowardice, perhdy and
dishonor, tarin for deficiency only
Professor Wilson declared that he had
lust begun to "shell the protected in
dustries OF the North" The opening gun
of his campaign was sufficient to drive
timid capital TO inaccessible retreats, ex-
tinguish the fires, silence the loom, para
lyze industry, turn honest labor into the
street and plunge the country into con-
dition OF business depression hitherto
unknown to this generation OF business
men. IL encouraged and cherished fore
eign and destroyed domestic industry. Ii
has fostered no industry as II has THAT OF
the sheriff" Then the sunshine OF pros
perity illumined the whole land. Now
our people grope, shiver and wait In the
benum bing shadow OF adversity and dis
aster. Even Cleveland has discovered that
we are confronted by condition OF bus
mess depression. Then a surplus over
flowed the treasury. Now deficit drains
it's wants. The stern logic OF events has
given the American people an object les
SON upon the most stupendous scale. But
one lesson is taught. Ii is so plain that
she may run that readeth it," Another
change is decreed. II only waits the
slow turning OF the hand on the dial
plate OF time TO be registered. For the
next four years the Republican party will
again take charge of the business OF the
country. Will il remain In power for de-
cades, shaping In harmony with its high
destiny the policy of the republic? The
action. of this convention In selecting q
nominee will determine.
We stand here as the representatives OF
this great party, charged with the re-
sponsibility of deciding whether the lease
Of power which an indignant. exhaused,
cxasperated people stand ready TO give
us snail be four years .or decades. We
are called upon.to act for the welfare OF
the whole party not TO express personal
preferences The occasion demands our
greatest man, our foremost leader. He
should not be the representative Of any
special policy or any single principle OF
the party. He must be the representa-
tive of all interests, all elements, all
sections. lie must know no North and
no south, no East and no West. He
record flawlcss, untarnished by suspic-
ion, unsullied by calumy, life upon
which the calcium light OF campaign
can cast no shadow. He must have opin-
ions and the courage TO declare them,
and when he has once declared them to
ssstand" like Luther, IL need be, forever.
He must have commanding ability, in
tegrity above suspicion. He must be un-
Fweryingly loyal to all the principles OF
the party. He must have thorough
knowledge of the science of practical gov
ernment, an intelligent apprehension OF
the true destiny of the republic, sincere
purpose,a manly Independence, freedom
from obligations, entanglements and
alliances. He must be unselfish In his
devotion to the welfare Of the whole
party, infiexible in determination, indom-
table in courage He must have an
Americanism broad enough and rugged
enough to maintain the dignity of the
republic and the rights OF it's citizens in
every land and on every sea--an Ameri-
cauism that, with due regard TO inter-
national duties can extend the hand OF
sympathy to our folIowmen wherever they
are struggling for freedom, an Ameri-
canism that does not look upon the flag
as o piece OF mere textile fabric, but secs
IN Il the emblem OF a great and powerful
people, consecrated TO liberty and free
dom by the expenditure OF uncounted
treasure and the sacrifice of innumerable
heroic and patriotic lives.
] come to you from State tina. has
always followed in victory or defeat the
standard OF the party; tnst ever since the
party was born of its aspirations for free
dom has cast its vote for its candidates;
that will cast Its vote for the nominee OF
this convention, whoever he may be; and
bring TO you candidate, who, by his
~ teufs OF Dhttte IOf the party lfl the
House OF Representatives, has demon
strated his possession OF these qualinca-
tions in q pre-eminent degree. He has
rendered conspicuous and enduring serv-
ice TO the party and the nation; service
that IL was not within the power or abil-
lty of any other to render. lie trampled
under foo. immemorial precedent in
order that the party thst had been in
trusted by the country with the transac-
tion OF its business might discharge its
duties and see that the business OF the
country was done The universal practice
OF the Republican and Democratic parties
had been such as TO justify the statement
OF Mills In speaking for toe democracy
that 'swe propose to exercise control OF
the House just as much as though we
were still In the majority, because we
know our minority Is still strong enough
10 make us the virtual rulers" resulting
In government OF the minority and not
OF the majority, complete subversion