Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-31
REMARKS Of CONGRESSMAN MiLlikEN
At Schenectady. N. T.. Tuesday Evening
October Fl.

Ihe following report of Mr. Milliken' 5
address in Schenectady. n. ". we clip
from the report of the Gazette of that
city. though we judge. from the accom-
panying editorial comment, that it does
the effort scant justice. Mr.. Miliken
said.
Ladies and Gentlemen: | assure
you that it gives me great qualification
to be able TO speak for the first time in
my life in the good old city of Science
tady, where | graduated from your dis
tingushed and renowned institution.
under the greatest college president
that ever lived (Applause) he who was
president of this college when Abraham
Lincoln was born, and still president of
it when Abraham Lincoln was shot, he
who was president of ii when Alexander
Hamilton was shot by Aaron Burr, and
he who ceased to be president of it with
his death in 1866.
1T would give me much more graft
fcation. gentlemen. if | were in condi-
ton of voice tonight to speak to you in
manner which l think is worthy of
this great audience, and even worthy
of myself; but under the most favor
able conditions. l should not be here for
the purpose of entertaining you with
the well rounded periods of rhetoric or
the fervid appeals of eloquence. | come
rather to have a little plain. honest.
earnest. and SO far as l am capable of
it, intelligent talk with you upon the
issues which present themselves TO the
American people. and which you and !
and others must settle upon Nov 3,
next.
Now. my friends. we have great
powers and privileges in this country.
We are sovereigns. We make our own
laws. we establish our own institutions,
we formulate the policies under which
we live. These powers and privileges
carry with them corresponding duties
and responsibilities. l believe that in an
emergency like the present. which
think is the greatest that has occurred
since the close of the Civil war, when
not only the prosperity of the people.
the interests of every avocation and in
dustry of the country are at stake. but
the very existence of our institutions
Also every citizens, whether he be
Democrat or Republican. should rise
above party lines to the plane of pa
triotism and call to his aid the best
lights that he can summon, and acting
in those lights. vote as he believes in
his conscience, in his heart, will be for
the best interests of his country and
for the welfare of his countrymen.
Applause.)
Now, as Patrick Henry said upon a
distinguished occasion, 1 know of but
one lamp by which my feet can be
guided. and that is the lamp of expert
ence.' What has been your experience.
my friends. with the parties which to-
day are presented to you for your con-
fidence and your SURFACES? What have
been the policies of these parties in the
past? What fruits have those policies
borne? What results have been given
to you?
why. my friends. if I am allowed to
speak for my own party. and l wish
to do that because l know there are a
great many Democrats going to vote
with us in the coming election. and it
is fair that l should give them some
good reasons why they ought to do it
perhaps they have enough to satisfy
themselves now, howeVer-but you
know the Republican party was born
of the instinct of libery in the hearts
and minds of the American people.
tApplause) 1t made it's first fight in
1856. for the gallant pathfinder, John c.
Fremont. 1t won it's first great nation
al victory in electing to the presidency
that greatest of Americans. the grand
est character of the century, Abraham
Lincoln. (Applause)
You know we took the country when
1t was in the flames of Civil war. The
Republican party was then young. And
yet after four years Of struggle. which
it is not necessary for me to detail to