The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-06-21

Philadelphia June lo.-Senator Henry
Cabot Lodge, permanent chairman of
the convention, delivered the following
address at the opening of today's ses-
sion
One Of the greatest honors that can fall TO
any American in public life is to be called 10
preside Republican national convention.
How great that honor is you know; but You
cannot realize. can ! express, the gratitude
which feel to YOU for having conferred 1t upon
me. can only say to you, in the simplest
phrase, hat thank YOU from the bottom OF my
heart oBeggar that am, ! am even poor in
thanks, and yet ! thank you. ,,-..
We meet. again to nominate the next president
Of the United States Four years have passed
since We nominated the soldier and statesman
who is now president, and who is soon to enter
upon his second term. Since the civil war no
presidential term has been crowded with
great events as that which is now drawing TO a
close. They have been four memorable years
To Republicans they show a record OF promises
kept, of work done, Of Unforeseen questions met
and answered. To the Democrats they have
been generous in the exhibition of unfulhllcd pre-
dictions. in the ruin of their hopes of calamity
and in futile opposition to the forces ot the
times and the aspirations of the American peo-
pie | wish ! could add that they had been
equally instructive to our opponents; but, while
1t is true that the Democrats, like the Bourhons,
learns nothing, it is only too evident that the
familiar comparison cannot be completed, tor
they forget a great deal which 1t would be well
for them to remember.
CLEvELAND's ADMINISTRATION
In 1897 We took the government and the
country from the hands of President Cleveland.
His party had abandoned him and were Joined
to their idols Of which he was no longer ono.
During the last years Of his term we had pro.
sentcd to us the melancholy spectacle Of a prcsi-
dent trying to govern without party. The re-.
suit was that his policies were in ruin, lcGisla.
tion was at standstill. and public affairs were
IN and
responsibility had vanished. and with IT all pos
sibity of intelligent action, demanded by the
country at home and abroad. II was an inter
estng but by means singular display Of Dem
ocratiC unttncss for the practical work OF gov
ernment. To the political student it was in
structive; TO the country it extremely pain
ful: TO business, disastrous
We replaced this political chaos with a presi.
dent in thorough accord with his party, and the
machinery OF government began again to move
smoothly and effectively. Thus we kept at once
promise Of better and more efficient admins
tration In four months after the Inauguration
of President Mckinley we had passed tariff bill.
For ten years the artificial agitation, in behalf
of what was humorousy called tariff reform, and
of what was really free trade, had kept business
in ferment. and had brought treasury deficit,
paralyzed industries, depression panic, and,
finally, continuous bad times to degree never
before imagined. Would you know the result Of
our tariff legislation, look about you Would
YOU measure its success, recolleCt that it is no
longer an issue, that our opponents free traders
that there is not state in the Union today
which could be carried for tree trade against
protection. Never policy more fully jus
titled by its works. never was promise made by
any party more absolutely fulfilled.
THE MONEY QUESTION.
Dominant among the issues of four years ago
was that of monetary and financial system.
The Republican party promised to uphold our
credit, to protect currency from revolution,
and TO maintain the gold standard We have
done so. We have done more We have been
better than our promises. Failing to secure,
after honest effort, any encouragement lor inter
national bi'metallism, we have passed a law
Strengthening the gold standard and planting it
more firmly than ever in our financial system,
improving banking laws, buttressing our
credit, and refundng the public debt at per
cent, interest, the lowest rate in the world. 1t
was great work well done. The only arGu-
ment the Democrats can advance today in their
own behalf on the money question is that Re
publican senate, in the event Of Democratic sue
cess, would not permit the repeal of a Republic
can law. This is precious argument when
looked at with Consderdtc eyes, and quite worthy
OF the intellects which produced it. Apply it
generally Upon this theory, because we have
defeated the soldiers Of Spain and sunk her ships,
We can with safety dispense with the army and
navy which did its work.
Take another example. There has been a fire
in a great city; it has been checked and OK
tinguished therefore let us abolish the fire de-
psrtment and to insure our homes Dis
trust in our currency, the dread Of change, the
deadly fear of a debascd standard were raging
four years ago and business lay PROSTATE be
fore them. Republican supremacy and Republi.
can legislation have eXtiEgushed the fires Of
doubt and fear and business has risen trium-
phant from the ashes. Therefore abolish your
hre department, turn out the Republicans and
put in power the inCendiariCS who lighted the
flames and trust TO what remains Of Republican
control to avert fresh disaster The proposition
is its own rcfutation
The supremacy OF the party that has saved the
standard oi sound money and guarded it by law
is necessary for its security and for the exist
cree of horest wages and Of business confidence
now as it was in 1896. The moment the Rcpubli-
can party passes from power, r,ahd the party Of free
silver and fiat paper comes in, stable currency
and the gold standard, the star dard OF the civil
lied work, are in imminent and deadly peril.
Sound currency and steady standard Of value
are today safe only in Republican hands.
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
But there were still other questions in 1896.
We had already thwarted the efforts OF the Cleve.
land administration to throw the Hawaiian
Islands back to their dethrOned Queen, and TO
give England fuothold for her cables in the
group. We then said that we would settle finally
the Hawaiian question. We have done so. The
traditional American policy has been carried out.
The flag Of the Union floats today over the cross
roads of the Pacific.
CUBA Is FREE.
We promised to deal with the Cuban question,
Again the reply-we have done So The
long agony of the island is over Cuba is free.
But this great work brought with it events and
issues which man had iorcseen, Tor which no
party creed had provided a policy. The crisis
came, bringing war in its train. The RcpubIi.
can president and the Republican congress met
the new trial in the old spirit. We fought The
war with Spain. The result is history known
OF all men. We have the perspective now Of
only short two years, and yet how clear and
bright the great facts stands out, like mountain
peaks against the sky, while the gathering dark.
ness of lust oblivion is creeping fast over tho
low grounds where lie forgotten the trivial
things-the criticisms and the ult-hndngs-
which seemed huge when we still fingered
among them, Here they are, these great facts
A war OF hundred days, with many victorie: