The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-06-25
ABLE SPEECHES.
Setting Forth Facts People
Should Consider.
Vigorous Arrangement of an Unwise
BIundering Administration.
Principles and Candidate That Will Receive
Endorsement OF Thoughtful Maine Voters

There has been such a demand for
the full text of the able speeches de
liVnred at the Republican Stat CON
vention in Bangor, that we present
them to our readers today in a form
for easy preservation and ready refer
ence. They are all worthy Of IA care
full reading.
Chairman Manley on introducing
Mr. Sewal said:
Under President Clevcland's first adj
ministratfon he appointed TO a high dip
lomatic office a young man from Maine
who had recently graduated from college
and law school. This young man was Al
Democrat by inheritance of three genera
lions. He discharged the responsible du-
ties entrusted to him in such manner
as to win for himself international fame
State and country. So faithfully and so
efficiently did he discharge these duties,
Notwithstanding his membership In the
Democratic party, President Harrison
sent him on two important diplomatic
missions. Upon the incoming of the Sec
ond and last administration of Grover
Cleveland, this young man, imbued with
a patriotic spirit thoroughly American,
knowing from his own experience the IN
American and unpatriotic position into
which the Democratic party had drifted,
y
and sought fellowship within the folds of
the Republican party
In the campaign of 1894 he rendered very
efficient and valuable service upon the
stump in Maine, In Massachusetts and In
New York. In partial recognition OF his
services the State committee has desig
mated him as your temporary chairman,
and know you will give him the cordial
reception he deserves, and will heartily
approve of your committees decision.
Gentlemen of the convention. | take
ftfr
porary chairman, Hon. Harold NJ. Sewall,
of Bath, Maine.
Hon. Harold NJ Sewalfs Speech
Mr.. Sewall was warmly applauded,
and spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the Conventions
Forty years ago, the distinguished
chairman OF your State committee re
minded you the other day at Portland.
the Republican party came into power III
this State under the leadership of Hanni.
bal Hamlin Forty years ago Hannibal
Hamlin, Democratic senator from Maine
rose in his seat in the Senate, and decar-
ing that he loved his country better than
his party. resigned the craftsmanship of
the committee ON commerce and re
nounced his allegiance to that party tC
which he owed every honor of his poit
cal life.
A moral issue confronted the country
then, an issue that was to become an is
sue of life or death to the country. The
II
live, live free and regenerate live In pros
perity such as 1t 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
Hamlin did
And if | interpret the significance OF
.irrhf lat 10,
meaning. that as in the days of Its weak
ness when girding itself for a mighty and
doubtful contest, it recruited it's ranks
from those of its opponents, so not less
today in the pride of its plentitude and
power as 1t marches forth to certain vic
tory, it welcomes to share its glory and
approaching triumphs all those of Its
fellow citizens who find in 1t the ark of
the nations covenant and bring to II
their unfaltering allegiance.
And in this spirit accept this honor,
and ask your cooperation and support
that l may discharge 1t worthily
Fellow Republicans / greet you!
| greet you, young men and veterans OF
n hundred fightsi l greet you as victors
already in another victory! But l greet
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
sought to serve. Only twice in forty
years! And in the face of such 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 intellt-
gent State, crowned as 1t was in the last
election by the magnificent majority OF
8, 900 votes.
Men may differ and divide among us be
national
do and must, for 1t is the glory of our
State that it Is n State of sturdy conYic-
ton whose clear and bracing atmosphere
doubts the honesty, the loyalty to her in
terests with which the Republican party
of Maine has administered her affair
during it's entire history doubts the In
tegrity of her people and ltbels the fair
name of our State herself.
And so today, as 1t has ever been, the
Republican party of Maine stands ready
to account for this trust as 1t was re-
ceived into the hands of Hannibal Ham
lin as It has since been preserved unim-
paired and unimperlled. and as 1t has
been sacredy guarded by the administra-
ton of Henry Il. CleaVes.
But not alone the welfare of our State
summons us here today. In larger
sense, to a greater use do we dedicate
ourselves here today.
The Republican party of the nation
summons us to contest no more doubt
full than this of this State.
Months ago our opponents confessed
defeat when they shirked the responsi-
blity 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 d"sPera-
fion they will seek to raise. We do not
care The Republican party does not
wait for issues. 1t creates them. lts
very existence involves an issue of the
supremest import to our people, and al
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 1t was In power
The Republican party stands Tor thaf
principle in legislation which will restore
that standard as that party created II,
the Republican party never tires of pro
claiming It's devotion to that principle
and proclaims this devotion today as 1t
never has before.
The Republican party is for the Ameri-
can principle OF protection. We are for for
II as a part OF the revenue policy of this
republic We would be for 1t II necessary
for its own sake. We are for 1t as a
weanon of defence in the hOlieSt of all