Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-06-29

The delegates began to file into Gates
opera house at l o'clock, and half an hour
later every seat on the floor of the hall
was occupied, and the gallery was crowded
with spectators. Large flags were draped
in graceful folds at the sides of the proscen-
ium arch, and over the front was the leg
end mckinley and Roosevelt"
The hum of conversation was stilled
when Moore's orchestra struck up 1.-THE
Battle Cry of Freedom" and at the close
of the selection Armory Davidson of
Craftsbury, chairman of the Republican
district committee, called the convention
to order. The other members of the COM
mittee were seated on the stage with Mr..
Davidson. Rev. A. j. Hough invoked the
divine blessing upon the convention and
on the Republican party in its "onward
march," Ira A. Shattuck of Hardwick,
secretary of the district committee, read
the call. The reading of the roll was
omitted. The credentials of all the 402
delegates entitled to place on the floor
had previously been found correct by the
committee.
Mr. Davidson named f. D. Hale of Luz
nenburg, formerly state auditor and now
an official in Cuba, as temporary chairman,
and Z. II. Crane of the Ludlow Tribune
and E. A. Mutt of the Montpelier Journal
as secretaries.
Chairman HaIe's Address.
Mr.. Hale's address opened with trib-
ute to Vermont, tone of the brightest
gems in the crown of Americas ciViliza-
ton" He spoke of the Republican party
as born with its face to the rising sun OF
progressive principle, which is all conquer
a IL, AIo lou Of
He paid his compliments to the Democrat
ic party, 'under the narcotic influence of
the dead past, and feeding on traditions
and theories"
Mr.. Hale said that nation antagonistic
to development and expansion is un-
responsive to the eternal principles of
progress. Expansion today is the question
of the superiority of civilization. The
survival of the fittest is a universal law.
That nation which is God blest with a
high civilization is cowardly if it fails to
demand and occupy its righted place at
the moment of opportunity, and exercise
the power to swell the tide of progress.
There is no individual whose rights are
superior to the highest interests of the
community. There is no nation in this
age which has moral right to hinder the
sweep of civilization across the continents
and over the seas.
England will conquer the Beers because
her superior civilization gives her the
right, and makes it her duty to the world
We, the children of progressive ideas, over.
threw and subdued the early possessors OF
this great domain, to plant higher CIVIL
cation here, and today our flag hoats over
the islands of the Eastern sea to herald
the dawn of a new and progressive era tor
her people, and there it must remain until
the work of regeneration is accomplished
and the victory for progress won. EX-
banding, as we are expanding, because we
cannot help it, is not necessarily Imperial
ism, as stated by our opponents. But, my
friends, mark my words, civilized, pro
gressive imperialism, is a thousand times
better than half civilized plutocracy, TOO
often called republic.
In reviewing the war with spain Mr;
Hale spoke of the prominent part played
by Vermonters-Proctor, Thurston, Capt
Clark and Dewey. Not ripple OF ap-
plause greeted the Admiraps name, when,
a.year ago, would have been cheered Vo-
ciferously.
Mr.. Hales reference to Mckinley was
applauded enthusiastically, but his men
ton of Roosevelt provoked much louder
outburst. Mr.. Hale, in eharaeterizlng