The Press., 1898-10-06

The Republican congress ,lOnaI COnVen- tiea for the First Connecticut District, which met in Hibernian Hall, Hartford, Saturday, September 24th, re-nominated E. Stevens Henry of Vernon for d third term in congress. No other name was presented, and the nomination was made by exclamation.
 The Resolutions.
 The convention passed the following resolutions:
 Resolved, That the representatives of the Republican party in the First Con gressional District of Connecticut, in convention assembled, heartily endorse the platform of the Republican conven- tion in New Haven and r1-affirm their advocacy of the principles therein set forth
 Resolved, That we record our pride and satisfaction in the splendid management of the war by President Mckinley and rejoice that the war, undertaken in the cause of humanity, has been brought so rapidly to successful conclusion.
 Resolved, That we approve the econom- ical and wise administration of our state affairs during the past two years, result ing in great saving in the state expenses without the necessity of reducing the legitimate expenditures of the state gov ernment or denying proper support to any state institution.
 Resolved, That we again record our ap- proval of the Congressional actions of our representative, E. Stevens Henry of Ver- non, and our appreciation of the value of his services in so ably representing the interests of this district at Washington; and as the nominee of this convention we commend him to the voters of the First Congressional District for reelection.
 CONGRESSMAN HENRY'S SPEECH,
 In accepting the nomination Mr. Henry said:
 MT. Chairman and Gentlemen--It affords De much pleasure to acknowledge my Obligations to you, and through you to convey my thanks to the Republicans of the First Congressional district for, their continued confidence and support.
 Two years ago a like convention was pleased to dCsfgnate me to represent this district in the fifty-fifth congress, and resolutions were passed endorsing the platform adopted by the Republican na- tional convention at St. Louis. In com p1iance with the instructions implied in those resolutions, I have considered it my duty to support all legislative meas ures offered in congress in harmony with that declaration of Republican political faith.
 
 delegation in both branches of congress has at all time, acting tremendously to- gether, labored to promote the numerous and important industrial and financial interests of Connecticut.
 During the last two years and since the last presidential election, there have been many and marked changes in in dustrial as we'll as in political conditions. When that election was held the country was suffering from a prolonged period of business depression, nearly all industries were affected; agriculture, manufac- ttres, mining, commerce, were almost unprofitable. Capital was withheld from investment, and scores of thousands of idle workingmen vainly sought employ ment.
 These conditions had prevailed from the early months of President Cleve- lend's last administration, and 1t can be sa4u that whatever may be the views of s~.ue theoretical students of political economy, the great and intelligent mass of our people firmly believe that that long continued series of industrial and financial disasters was mainly due to a practical application of Democratic free trade theories, which under the spacious and allurinG guise of so called tariff re form, was leading American industries
 
 tiInate and inevitable ruin, and as an un- avoidable sequence was fast reducing the wages of American labor to European levels.
 Causes of DiscOntent-
 Briefly stated, these were the condi- tions amid which, accompanied by wide spread popular discontent, the great ma tional political conventions of 1896 were held. Party lines were sharply drawn, minor differences were overlooked or postponed, and two great leading issues were made up and presented to the Amer ican people for their determination. One of these, involving grave financial prob lems, the larger section of the Democratic party endeavored to force to the front as the keynote of their campaign, and to that end the Chicago platform emphati- cally declared in favor of the free coin age of silver at a ratio with gold of more than double its merchantab1e value, and still further bid for Populistic support by promising almost unlimited fiat money.
 The Republicans at the St. Louis con- vention, while distinctly favoring sound money and the maintenance of the gold standard, deemed it the better policy to make the popular demand for a more protective tariff, the most prominent is- sue, and to further emphasize this policy placed in nomination for the presidency that great statesman and leading ex- ponent of protective principles, William MeKinIov