Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-06-18

GRetmselves all the natr5tflsm Of tMe
country. Better. say fhsy.i fs q tag uRo
the poor mans suit OF eorkine -c,ushys
ana ; ! pl saalneo1 dr hssr- An eIs' ., soysrn-
ment is left without sufficient revenue.
in order that the Republican party may
play politics. E%verythint y to De su Hs
treasury is to be left in a depieted conut-
ton to afford a pretext for the imposi,
ton of higher duties; and business anu
tn, the h ,1seas o q The he s sSss,1ss 81 high aS1 prc S I
Even the friends Of honest money must
allow the temporizing policy q ,ne HTo
to continue, III order that another
ley bill may be passed; for even II a re
publican President should be elected, It y
evident thai nc high tar aae a witbo eut' a
concession to silver senators. a protec-
tive tariff anu the free coinage OF silver
both rest upon the same basis: poth are
m for the advancement of special
interests. Their idea springs. directIy IRON
the idea that government shouid give lts
aid to private interests. II me WOODEN
manufacturers receive protection n as
sistance in their business. why should not
the silver mine owners? Republican as
cendancy at the present time means the
passage of a high protective tafln, "a TEN
porizing financial policy. and CONCESSIONS
to free silver to secure the passage OF
such a tariff lay
For over seventy years the American
enunciated by President Monroe there
was some latent protection for Republic
can Institutions on this side or the Al
%lantic. 1t had never been put to the test.
Republicans had parked about the heels
of the British lion-and nothing more.
The student of history Is surprised TO
learn that Notwithstanding all the mighty
talk which they have made about our
forafpn relations tlpy have never found
a convenient opportunity TO apply the
Monroe doctrine. Once In a while a Re-
publican jingoist has declaimed about a
vigorous foreign policy. but it has all end
ed in defamation, or In assuming a Dellig-
erent attitude toward some weaker pow
er.
1t remained for n Democratic admins
tration to give the first exhibition of Il
vigorous Interpretation of the Monroe
doctrine, not as applied to any weak,
scmi-barbarous people. but as applied TO
the great British Empire. IT. remained
for a Democratic administration and Il
Democrat of the stamp of Grover Cleve-
land to squarely face the British lion and
with rod in hand, apply the principle of
that great American safeguard OF Tree
Institutions.
The Republican party stood aghast.
Nothing was more ludicrous than the ed
itorial m of their leading party
Monroe doctrine. President Cleveland
ought TO have said this; but he should
have gone off behind the barn down in
the Wood-lot and delivered a fiery decla-
nation against British aggression. He
should never have had the audacity to
step out boldly in front of the barn and
with d snapper upon his whip, demon
strate by its determined crack that he
meant what he said. He ought to have
caught up a well-blown thistle-down in
the back pasture, that would have an
swered the purpose as well as a whip
Rut President Cleveland is not Il jingoist.
The nation. as well as the world. has
learned that when he has said a thing he
has meant 1t, and his language has never
been ambiguous. He preferred to step out
boldly and crack his whip full in the
face of the British lion. and the lion
knew what he meant. And the Monroe
doctrine received its first practical appli-
cation since 1t was written in 1923.
The pages which record the history of
the present ADMINISTRATION are free from
any hlots of official dishonesty in high
places. We can with pride point TO the
fact that no credit Mobiler no whiskey
trust. no Star Route frauds make part of
its record. with their revolving details of
office to personal ends. Public office is a
public trust has been its u%nvarying
teaching. and from those entrusted with
the discharge of official duties 1t has ex-
acted the. closest and most untiring at
tention. Jobbery and dishonesty have
not been even attempted. The civil ser
vice has been extended and more Offices
included within its provisions by the pres
ent administration h by all that have
preceded it,.
am well aware that l am addressing a
convention of citizens who reside In a
State where worth and merit have had
bat little consideration in determining fit
ness for office: where the grossest parti-
sanship has always been the rule OF the
Republican party: where everything has
been subordinated to its interests: where
for nearly forty years. with but one short
interruption, that party has had almost
exclusive control of State. county n
falr,FipinJl offices and aNprciSaI a Snirit of
partiSanship which | do not believe can
he eXceiled in any State in the Union, SO
that retaliation might well be excused.
Yet | recognize the injustice which would
remove from a mere clerical position a
faithful and competent official simply be-
cause of his political views. and | am
glad that to a Democratic administration
is due the credit of AT inauguration of a
more just and humane treatment OF those
who have rendered long and faithful ser
vice. and that the present administration
has vldencd its application. While our
treatment in this State by the majority
patty has been such that Democrats
could find sufficient justification for other
feelings. | believe the great majority are
glad that so great an advance has been
made in the line Of civil service reform,
to which we were pledged in our national
platform. If there were other pledges
been the fault OF President Cleveland.
AS we. Democrats of Maine, in conven-
ton assembled, review the past. shall We
lDl Gjdult ItEISitT our dpIiONdi VI ihS
official acts? He has preserved the ma
tons credit in the face of the most vio-
lent opposition: he has given the country
an administration free from official cor
ruption; he has written into its diplomatic
history the first practical application Of
the Monroe doctrine. SO that the world
may read that this country stands as a
protector of our weaker sister republics
upon this side of the ocean. who are
struggling for the blessings of frccr insti-
tutions.
rhe Democratic party likes to honor
honest men. No Democrat straddler ever
received its nomination for the Presi-
deiicy. Seymour because of his spotless
character. his loyalty to principle. and his
rugged honesty. received the highest hon
or within its gift. Tildcn and Hancock
and Cleveland. all. because no faint of
corruption had stained their minds. were
accorded the same honor. Its patron
saints jefferson and Jackson. endeared
themselves 10 the Democratic masses be-
ment and their courageous defence of
their convictions.
1t is because of this deep admiration in
our party for its leaders of honest mo-
tives, of courage and pronounced opin-
ions. that l am led to indulge the hope
that when that great convention which is
to meet at Chicago. seriously considers
whose name it shall add to the long line
of illustrious men whom the Democratic
party has delighted to honor. the peer
less name of William e.. Russell will be
selected. because in him are united those
qualities of honesty, courage. and devo-
ton to duty, which have ever been re-
quired of Democratic candidates for the
.-.,t ,@x-. oaatt-. t1,N splAt1t raoAr1