The Somerset reporter., 1896-06-25
Mr.. Powers Speech.


MIR. Powers was introduced, and re-
eeiVed an ovation. His speech. which
follows. was frequently interrupted by
applause. He said:
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Con
| Vcntion:
accept with unfeigned gratitude the
| nomination which you have SO generously
rendered me. And | thank you, one and
| all, for this marked expression of your
confidence and esteem. realize fully
| both the honor conferred and the many
duties and responsibilities which must
n6IeSSary neGomp pf the staf oce yoT
platform and the principles enunciated
therein have my hearty approval. They
stood, the sentiments Of the Republicans
| of Maine. We are all justly proud of our
State,-of it's past record,-its present
position and Its future prospects. There
are none ia which the standard of ex-
ceilence is higher. True we cannot boast
so much of wealth and of numbers as
secondary consideration in a republic
70 produce men Intelligent, virtuous
temperate. and patriotic Is of paramount
Importance, and certainly we point
with just pride and qualification to the
eminent men and brave soldiers, who
bave in the past shed lustre upon our
councils of the nation and offers to
the Republican party standard bearer,
whose conceded abilities and consistent
public acts and record are better
guarantee of the Republican principles
| than any platform that can be written
The name of this distinguished statesman
and parliamentarian-this natural leader
of men, whose Views are broad enough
| to comprehend the wants of every sec
ton OF this treat country OF ours ,a IS
| tered In a presidential year 1t has al
ways cast It's electoral vote for the Re
IA IOhn
Fremont. In 1856, and whoever may be
| chosen at St. Louis to lead the Repub-
lican hosts-we pledge to him here and
| now and to the principles of protection
and honest money, a majority SO large
| in November next that the votes cast for
other candidates may be almost denom-
There is no spot or place on Gods
| green earth where the man OF moderate
| mechanic and laborer-the man who
| earns bread by the honest sweat OF his
| own brow has more of the comforts and
| the. pleasures Of life than In the STATE Of
| Maine. We enjoy general diffusion of
education and knowledge, free TO all
| personal liberty and individual security,
| have a good SOFIA healthy and invigo-
| rating climate,-an unrivalcd seacoast,-.
| rlvers,-and magnificent forests. And in
| the settled part of our State its hills and
valleys are dotted DER with thrifty towns
and villages, and with the contented and
| comfortable homes of an intelligent and
prosperous people. Taxation is not OPP
| pressive. and It's burdens are or should be
and justly upon all the property and res
idents of the State. l believe wise and
strict economy should characterize every
expenditure Of the peoples money and
| that every dollar used should respond to
a well defined public need. Yet would
| not hesitate to appropriate willingly such
sums as are necessary to care for the un-
fortunate. to relieve the suffering and to
| educate the whole people. Our common
school system of the hghest imp0r
welfare and should be fostered with no
| grudging hand.
The Republican party of Maine
| through a long course of legislation and
| by resolutions In every platform for
| many years has been and now Is squarely
and prohibition, to use every reasonable
| effort to diminish and Danish from our
| state the blighting curse of the liquor
| traffic. All laws designed to accomplish
| this much desired result. now upon our
| statutes. have been enacted and kept
there by the Republican party, and they
| perance efforts and record; and a suf1i-
! Gent REPUTATION of all charges of bad
| faith which may be made against us. In
| our ranks are to be found Il large num-
| Der of earnest, consistent and true work.
| ers for the cause of temperance; and our
prohibitory statutes are, to a great ex,,
| tent, an embodiment of their Views and
desires df,'i est Hoy to keep 9 In check and nm
| Is problem that calls for the highest
wisdom, of legislators and the noblest ef-
forts of philanthroplsts. Good men may
honestly differ as to the best methods
| rest assured, that Maine, which was the
| pioneer In prohibitory. legislation Will
take no steps backward. but will continue
to be a prohibition State.
| | recognize the fact that the war Is
| over, and that all Its strife and bitterness
| should be forever entombed In oblivion
and forgetfulness. But do earnestly in
CT hat hn iftaAn 80 Nla mi h.,tx
| loyalty and disloyalty between patriot
| ism and treason.-should never be bridged
over or lost sight of, and that we should
never forget but ever remember that our
| nation and our State owes to its brave
defenders, both the living and the dead.
Th3 maintained lin ain o the integrity Of the
that 1t has not and can not fully repay.
More than, thirty years have elapsed
eauseless rebellion. against liberty and
popular government that history gives
any account of: During that time Grant
host of officers and privates. all heroes
have passed to the great majority be-
yond, have gone to that undiscovered
| returns" And as to those who still re-
| main; most of them have crossed the d.
vide and the shadows Of their lives have
| side. | submit then In all candor and
fairness that t is the imperative duty
adopt liberal pension policy so A that no
old soldier and no person Immediately
dependent upon him, shall suffer from
| want in their declining years. To do this
| Is not to give aims or to bestow charity
| but rather to properly recognize and dis
| charge a debt and obligation which we
| from our vast wealth can well afford to
pay.
| The Republican party will enter upon
| this campaign with well defined prin-
| ciples as to tariff. finance, currency. and
| all other important issues inscribed upon
| it's banner and 1t will earnestly appeal
| to the voters reason and Judgment, not
! 10 their passions and prejudices. 1t advo-
| Gates and believes In protection to Amer
| lean industries, American workmen and
| manufactures, against the underpaid and
| pauper labor of foreign countries, as
| fundamental doctrine essential to our
| best national development and growth.
| This doctrine had the sanction and APP
proval OF Washington. Jefferson, Jackson,
| and all the early presidents of the re-
| public. 1t was the settled policy of this
| country for a quarter of century be-
| fore the present administration came into
| power. Under 1t during those years and
| the beneficent rule and guidance OF the
| Republican party our progress and en-
| terprise were unprecedented In the his
| tory of nations. Population and wealth
| rapidly increased. New states were
| created in that part of the West. des-
| ignated In my school boy days on the