Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-02-13

l II
second the supremacy of the constitution
of the United States third, the abolition
OF all sectionalism; one country, one PEG
pie. one flag fourth, u deathless loyalty tt
American institutions and "a patriotism rs
eternal as the everlasting stars.
Hon. Stephen O'Meara, editor of tn,
Boston Journal, spoke next and made @
ringing speech.
| Mr.. O'Meara addressed the assemblagt
as speaker more highly favored than tn,
other orators of the evening because he
has the privilege and opportunity of adj
dressing the Republicans of Maine every
day in the year He spoke of Lincoln as
II man among men. We honor heroes, but
we love men.
| And then passing on to the considera-
ton of Mr.. Reed he spoke of him as tn,
man OF today amcDg men. He had nc
| commission to speak for the Republicans
| of Massachusetts,, but he felt sure that he
| represented their wishes when he pledged
| their support to Mr. Reed, first, last and
all the time. Mr.. O. Meara closed with an
eloquent tribute 10 Speaker Reed s serv ices
| TO the country.
| Mr.. o. Meara was followed by Congress
man Vim. Alden smith of Michigan. who
said;
Mr.. President and Members of the Lincoln
Club:
| Permit me to acknowledge my most
profound obligation for the high honor
you have paid me in inviting me to ad-
| dress you upon this occasion. A visit t.
Maine and meeting with the Republicans
OF this commonwealth is indeed an in
spration. There are no more staunch
| followers of the Republican banner than
Maine and Michigan, who, from the hour
of the party 5 birta, whether led by the
Pathfinder, the Rail splitter" the
Silent Soldier the Boy from the Tow
path, or the "Plumed Knight. onr
| banners have never dragged, our citizen
| ship has never faltored in its constancy to
Republican principles and our drums have
never beaten Il retreat.
| Maine and Michigan have cast their
| electoral vote for the nominees of our
party in every campaign since Fremont
lifted the standard Of liberty and bore 1t
| with such signal enthusiasm 10 the fore
front-uSuaily in Victory seldom in de
| feat, Although territoraily remote from
one another, we are closely bound in the
bonds OF patriotism and loyalty to the
| country and the flag to the party and the
people
The political ideal of Michigan Republl-
| cans was, for a quarter of "A century
Names great statesman whose transcend.
ent wisdom still rules us from its ashen
urn, and in the dnrkucss Of political
ole bo. yir
the course indistincs Names brilliant
genius lights the way and his true Ameri
oansm sounds the slogan. II is indeed
an inspiration to visit the State in which
| he lived and to look into the eyes of those
who gave him all they bad to bestow
The Creator CT the universe must have
balanced accounts with this northeastern
extremity. to whom He gave the rugged
and weatherbeaten coast, by giving you II
human product unsurpassed in any Of the
more favored latitudes. AS the nation
has long drank at the fountain of your
wisdom, as it has so often turned to Maine
| for leadership and counsel, so In the pre-
sent crisis it looks confidently to you
| Trying as has been the history of our
country's rugged course. no more difficult
problems have ever heen presented thar
those living vital issues, financial and
economic, of the present hour. And is it
not indeed coincident that in this period
| of governmental disaster, when lofty
craftsmanship must guide ripe expert
ence direct, that the House of Representa-
tives, bearing new mission direct from
the people, ana the Senate of the United
states, newly organized, should turn
again to Maine for parliamentary skin ana
| guidance?
As Blaine guided national legislation
| from the Speaker chair in the gloomy
days of 1873, SO Reed. with gavel in hand
guides by his master mind, the popular
branch of Congress, today. Fortunate
! indeed is the nation that can find such
sons in time of need. and proud and happy
should be the State that can, with seem
ingly inexhaustible regularity, supply
| them.
Accident alone has mysteriously inter
posed to thwart the will of the people,
choice, or the Executive department would
have long since yielded to your charms
| Hannibal Hamlin was defeated by chicanc
| for the second Vice Presidency nomina-
tion in 1861. to which he was fairly en-
titled. or the successor Of the immortal
Lincoln would have been from this small
but potential State.
| And the history of that anxious period.
| following Lincoln's untimely death.
might have been memorable history, to
day, A trick extnguished the light and
at the same time the vote which was in
tended to nominate Names candidate in
the national convention of 1876, while n
crime robbed him of victory at the polls
in 1881. Respondent with matchless
service your sons deserve all honor Such
As has been conferred is always lavsbly
returned. Forces are now gathering for
the next great fray. Victory is sure The
| leader must be strong.
Shall it be the peerless Reed. a mind
like Gladstone's 5, the courage of Cromwell.
the nerve of an Iron Chancellor-h his poll
| tical experience covers the entire field of
political discussion, and his Americanism
is of the Maine type. The organization
that marches with him at the head needs
no other marshal. He can command. we
will willingly follow where he leads
1t Is indeed appropriate that the high
dignitaries of the State and nation should
gather upon this memorable occasion In
honor the statesman living and the patriot
dead. The issues of the Republican party
were dear to Lincoln He was the first
successful standard bearer and his spirir
hovers over and near its every final act
Fragrant, gentle, loving memory Gods
most generous gift to the age in which he
lived, much loved long -lamented br,