The Portland daily press., 1897-02-13

ft!fd the annual banquet of the Lincoln
Club on the birthday OF my father, and
/ regre5 that I do not feel able to &C
ceps it,, Such celebrations as this excite
iny rnoost grateful emotions, but as
+ iii; r,eihaps saia to you in other years,
iit has seemed to me- iIetter that I should
sIot myself take part i'll them, and with
This feeling I have already refrsined
from accepting number of similar in
vitations for the same date
beg that you Will communicate to the
club the assurance Of my gratitude for
their action in doing such great honor
to the memory Of my father.
3 Believe me, very sincerely yours,
~ ROBERT T. LINCOLN.
President Libby then introduced His
Exoellency Governor Powers, who WAS
greeted with cheers.
Governor Powers said that he had
heen fortunate enough TO have attend
ed three previous celebrations of Lin
coins birth by this club and was glad
to be present at this anniversary. He
said that he was not prepared to make
ters OF: stats we're concerned he was not
as we'll informed as were some of the
members of the legislature and the third
house, who were present Qaughter) and
who were to speak after him. There
fore he would say nothing about the
affairs of state He said that he was
glad to see that the tendency of the ma
eional, state and even the city govern
ents WAS towards economy and as
there ware to be no increase in salaries
this year in any part Of the country or
m any positions in the state, he was
confident that ali of the Offices might
be filed without resorting to d draft.
He said 81 believe that A braham Lin
coin, whose memory we honor tonight,
was tho pnrest, noblest and most beautiful
character in the history of the 10Th
century"
. Governor Powers spoke of Lincoln S
love for common people and said that
this was one of the most beautiful traits
of his character. He briefly reviewed
the history Of the late war and the great
fact that Abraham Lincoln had taken
in it, He said that he recognized the
aprt that the war was over, but he could
not refrain from referring to the fact
that the great struggle through which
the country has recently passed had
been like the war in many respects,
and it was to be noted that every one OF
the states which had followed Jefferson
Davis into Confederacy had also fol-
lowed the teachings Of William Jennings
Bryan. This shows that the spirit Of
the South manifested n 81, is not yet
dead, Int thanks to the noblemanhood and
patriotism of the American people, Bry-
an, thu leader OF the party which con-
spired against national honor, had met
with a bloodless defeat which was as
overwhelming ss that which came to
Jefferson Davis and the slave-holding
.statef. Governor Powers said that re-
centlyshe had read Of q Democratic sena-
lter's htteranc e in Congress to the effect
that the . boom" in business affairs
promised by Republican campaign ora
tors had not materialized. Governor
Powers : reminded the club thar the
country was still under the ban of the
so-cailed Wilson bill, the Democratic
tarif5measure, and that hard times
would probably continue until the in
augusation of William Mckinley, and
until tariff bill was passed that would
suitably protect our industries and give
our manufacturers an opportunity of
compsting with foreign products.
Governor Powers's address was witty
and scholarly aud his utterances were
frequently applauded.
at Tho conclusion of his remarks and
as heY finished, his excellency was given
d great ovation and three cheers.
Governor Powers, as the spokesman for
the Lincoln Club, then turned to Presi-
dent George Libby and to him presented
in few well chosen words, hand
some gold-headed cane, as q token of the
clubs esteem and respect for it's presid-
ing officer.
= President Libby was much moved by
this gift, and for moment was unable
to express his thanks, but rs soon RS e
could collect himself and when the ap-
plause had died away, he made very
pretty ppeech and with the deepest feel
ing thanked the club for its magnificent
gift.
T'he next speaker was Mayor Baxter,
whom President Libby introduced as an
ideal citizen, q true-hearted Repu blioan
-