The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-02-13

able and efficient leader of the grandest
and most enlightened political party
ever organized in the history Of the
world.
Abraham Lincoln was indebted to the
Republican party for the opportunity to
initiate great reforms, affecting the free
dom Of millions of bondmen, and the
peace and prosperity and material vel
fare of the whole country; but the Re-
are indebted to Abraham Lincoln for the
enlightened and courageous statesman
ship he exhibited in the most perilous
crisis of the nations history.
The Republican Party came into power
in March. 1851, finding a discovered
union, government in form only,
whose treasury was empty, whose credit
was impaired, whose navy was scattered
and whose army was weak and in
sufficient and unable to protect even our
forts from attack and capture, and yet IN
the face of all these diseouargements and
difficulties, the Republican party as
sumed the cares aud responsibilities of
government, and by wise and judicious
legislation guided the nation safely and
successfully through great and ardnous
struggle for freedom, re-established it's
credit, repleted the TREASURY, built up the
navy, reorganized the governments. es-
dom for all mankind within our borders,
and saved and preserved inviolate the
stars and stripes, the grand and glorious
old flag, the emblem of the free, that
floats today on the loyal winds of heaven
upheld and supported by over sixty mil
lion of brave and enlightened freemen.
1t was the Republican Party that sup
ported and encouraged the administra-
tion of Abraham Lincoln, from his in
auguratioD on the fourth Of March, 1861,
until his assassination on the 14th Of
April. 1866 and it is the same Republi-
can Party that is gathering tonight from
every loyal city and hamlet all over this
broad land, to offer tribute to the memo
ry of that grand and noble hera, who
was It's true and trusted leader in the
most critical period of the nations life.
Great and illustrious have been the
achievements of the Republican party
during it's past history, and the wise and
able and efficient have been it's great and
noble leaders, and as it has been in the
past so may it be in the future.
Therefore, in order that the standard
already attained may be- upheld, let the
Convention which is to meet at ST. Louis
in the coming month of June, select as
the standard bearer of the Republican
Party, IN the coming campaign, man
who Will inspire the people with conf
dence and hope and courage; one who
is conversant with history
finance and science, who has at heart the
great interests of the country who ia
both enlightened and patriotic, who will
merge his own personal interest in the
good of the people of this Republic;
whose words will be received with atsen-
tion and respect by all the nations of the
earth, and who will lead us on to re-
splendent victory; such man having all
these attributes and more already belongs
to the country and should receive the
nomination. I refer to our distinguished
fellow citizen Hon. Thomas B. Reed.
Gentlemen: Your enthusiasm will
show to the country and to the world
when the report of this meeting shall be
flashed over the wires to ever part OF the