The Portland daily press., 1896-09-07

the political history of the country. The
speakers of each party app srently with
equal earnestness. assure tfeir hearers
that the success of the opposite party
means national dishonor and individual
bankruptcy. If the speakers believe
what they say, and the audiences Of the
respective parties believe their orators,
it would seem that a question of this
magnitude should be determined by cool
Judgment based upon experience rather
than hasty action based upon impulse
So far, therefore, as the platform Of one
party or the other appears to be the re-
suit of candid elaboration rather than
of rash impulse or political ambition, 1t
should commend itself to the considera-
ton of such of the voters as, from their
condition or inclination, have not ex-
mined the questions of finance, tariff
and less important collateral issues
which enter into the present campaign.
To him who takes his politics for grant
ed. after listening to the arguments of
the different speakers, and, what is quite
as important, the editorials of the differ
emit newspapers. we may well suggest that
he should carefully examine the ante
cedents of the party whose platform he
adopts. To the voter who does not make
his election until after he has examined
for himself the subjects at issue, we think
we have right to suggest that fair
conclusion cannot be arrived at upon tho
assumption OF future posi- bilities rather
than the cool logic of past events. II
the Democratic party stands before the
country today as a teacher of political
sagacity, we would suggest that this par
ty has never been success as political
prophet 1t claims proud history, but
SO much of it's record for real statesman
ship dates SO far back of the birth Of the
average voter of today that We are OBJ
iiged to make up our verdict by what the
opposing parties have accomplished with
in the memory Of men now living, OF of
the majority of those now living, for it
would seem from recent developments
that q large number Of the good
DEMOCRATS ARE DEAD.
IL oAo DoAaOoAhoAO tssAsJ AAssS SSSA ~ ouo-
cessful prophet in the part, it should
have credit as prophet now. If. during
it's administrations, it has brought good
to the country, 1t should have credit
for that. Let US examine the record
going back thirty-six years, which Is
more than the average life of man. Be-
fore the beginning of the war this par
ty had rendered the nation almost pow
erless to resist secession. The vessels of
our navy han been scattered; our treas
ury depleted. Positions of high trust
were filed by ayowsd seoessionists. In
face of all this the Republican party
fought out The rebellion and restored
the Union, but 1t did not do it, and
could not have done it, without the help
of such Union-loving Democrats as
Douglass, Dix, Butler and Shepley, who
in their espousal of the Union cause,
were aotuated by no higher motives, and
no nobler impulses, than are the Demo
Gratis of today who have boldly espoused
the cause of the gold standard In spite
of the declarations of the platform which
was forced upon the first National Dem
ooratio convention by system of fraud
and terrorism heretofore unknown in
American politics. (Applause.)
Gen. Mattooks continuing, spoke OF
the remarkable change by which the
Democratic party, the most conserva-
tive in the history of American politics,
had suddenly become the most visionary
and illogical, striking at the stability Of
our financial system end attacking the
integrity of our Supreme Court. He
then, at some length, pointed out to his
audience the advantages which accrued
to the country at large and especially to
Maine, from the provisions Of the No
Kinley tariff. He declared that it must
be one great pleasure to the voters of
Maine to be reminded that the liberal
duties on lay, lumber. lime, eggs and
many other or our products have beon
supplanted by the meagre provisions of
the Wilson bill.