The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1900-09-06
Three Grand Speeches.
One of skowhegan's Largest and Best
Republican Mass Meetings,
held, Sept. d

Republican Mass Meetings,
held, Sept. D.
The Republican mass meeting held in
Island grove, yesterday, was one of the
great political meetings for which that
place has long been famous. 1t was one
of the largest meetings of the present
campaign in Maine and the largest in
this county.
People arrived in town in the FORE
noon by trolley lines and teams from
surrounding towns in good numbers but
not until afternoon did the greater
number put in an appearance and the
assembly amount to a crowd. The
special train from Pittsfield was late and
this delayed the opening of the meeting
about twenty minutes.
The speakers were Hon Cushman X.
Davis, U S. Senator from Minnesota,
Hon. Charles Emory Smith, postmaster
general, and Hon. Charles e. Littletield,
member of Congress from the I'd Maine
district. Gen. Adam E. King was
present out ulQ not speak.
senator Davis was the first speaker.
He briefly outlined the issues of the
campaign, reviewed the successful adj
mlpistration of President Mckinley in
performing every promise Republicans
made four years ago. He was men,
Der of the commission that made the
treaty of Paris and he gave some inter.
esting facts in regard to its negotiation
and Bryan's connection with its ratifica-
ton. He extolled the foreign policy of
President Mckinley by reason of the
wisdom Of which we are at peace with
the whole world and have become a
world power. Four years ago we were a
debtor nation. Gold was flowing out
and we could not check it's flow. Now
we are creditor nation making vast
loans to other nations. In speaking of
trusts he said that the Republican party
was the only one that, as far as federal
action is concerned, has ever attempted
to do anything to suppress trusts.
Postmaster-general Smith portrayed
the condition the Philippines would be
in providing Bryan's plan, to declare the
independence of the Filipinos and then
have our government exercise d protec-
torate over them, should be carried into
effect. They would he said be likely to
get embroiled with nations and peoples
and we would have the responsibility of
defending them and no power to prevent
them getting into trouble. He exposed
the entire impracticability of the
scheme. He alluded to affairs in China
and said that but for our standing in the
Philippines we would have had no
means to help in the advance ON Pekin
and the relief of Minister Conger, his
associates and other Americans there.
We should have been helpless spectators
instead of prompt actors Our position
in the Philippines is recognized by all
the powers of the world Our rights
are unquestioned and uuassailable. I'm
perialism is bugbear, a phantom, a
scarecrow He referred to the progress
of the past few years all of which had
been opposed by Bryan and his party,
amid prophecy of dire disaster. You
will not commit the business of the
country to the prophets of evil and the
seers of calamity.
Congressman Littlefield was received
with warm manifestations of enthusiasm
which must have been gratifying to him.
He made the point that those who
oppose the Porto Rico government
were those away from that island. 1t is
very much the same with the Philip
pines. He read from Democratic
Maine paper the statement that large
majority of Fiiipinos are in favor of the
American occupation of the archipelago
but they could not defend themselves
against Aguinaldos bands of marauders.
Their hope at this time is in law aud
order administered by Americans. He
compared the treatment of Filipinos by
the present administration with that OF
the people of Louisiana in Monroe's and
Jackson's time. The alleged imperial
ism and militarism are not such in fact.
The U. 5. government is simply doing
its duty in maintaining law and order in
the Philippines. Imperialism is nc
issue. The continued prosperity of the
people of this great nation is the great
issue of the campaign. Mr.. Littlefield
spoke with her usual fervor and rapiuity
and his audience was with him to the
close.
These few paragraphs are simply refer
ence to few of the many good points
made by these speakers. They were
three first class speeches and were given
the closest attention by the thousands
comprising this great outdoor gathering
and received generous applause. The
speaking occupied hours from 2.20 to
5 20 p. m.
Forrest Goodwin, Esq, presided,
music was furnished by Scion Cornei
band and Pittsfeld Military band, the
day was a fine one and the rally was q
grand success in every particular.
In the light of recent diplomatic cor
respondence some of George Fred vii.
liams' stump assertions look rather