The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-06-27
Senator Lodges Speech.

On assuming his duties as perma-
nent chairman of the Republican ma
tional convention, Senator Lodge OF
Massachusetts forcibly reviewed the
canvass OF 1896, the events of the Nc
Kinley administration, greater than
any that have transpired since the
civil war, and referred with patriotic
confidence to the future, heavily bur-
dened with grave responsibilities I'M
portant as are the considerations the
Senator brought in review before the
delegates of his party, the question he
asked in concluding his speech will be
the one which will, indeed, "include
and outweigh all others', with the great
body of voters. 1t is this:
"But there is one question which we will
put to the American people in this cam
paign which includes and outweighs all
others. We will say to them You were
In the depths OF adversely under the last
Democratic administration; you are on the
heights of prosperity today. Will that
prosperity continue II you make change
in your President and in the party which
administers your government How long
will your good times last II you turn out
the Republicans and give political power
to those who cry nothing but Wool Wool
the lovers Of calamity and foes of prosperity
who hold success in business to be a crime
and regard thrift as misdemeanor? II the
Democrats should win do you think bust
ness would improve? Do you think that
prices would remain steady; that wages
would rise and employment increase when
that result Of the election was known2
Business confidence rests largely upon sem
timent. Do you think that sentiment
would be hopeful one the day after Bry-
ans election? Business confidence is del
icate plant. Do you think 1t would flourish
with the Democratic party9 Do you not
know that IL Bryan we're elected, the day
after the news was flashed over the country
wages would go down, prices would de-
cline, and that the great argosy Of Amer
lean business now forging ahead over calm
waters, with fair breezes and with swelling
canvas, would begin to take in sail and
seek the shelter and anchorage of the near
est harbor? Do you not know from recent
and bitter experience what that arrest OF
movement-that fear Of the future-means?
1t means the contraction OF business, the
reduction of employment, the increase OF
the unemployed, lower wages, hard times,
distress, unhappiness. We do not say that
we have panaceas for every human i'll. We
do not claim that any policy we, or anyone
else can offer will drive from the world
sorrow and suffering and poverty, but we
say that, 30 far as government and legisla-
ton can secure the prosperity and we'll
being Of the American people, our admin
istration and our policies will do it. We
point to the adversely Of the Cleveland
years lying dark behind us. 1t has been
replaced by the prosperity of the Mckinley
years. Let them make whatever explain
alton they will. the facts are with US.
ut is on these facts that we shall ask
for the support Of the American people.
What we have done is known, and about
what we intend to do there is neither
secrecy nor deception. What we promise
we will perform. Our old policies are
hoAo' oi'ot ouOooooiui anu Auii Va ViBor'
Our new policies have been begun, and
for them we ask support. When the
clouds Of impending civil war hung dark
over the country in 1861 we took up the
great task then laid upon US, and never
finched until we had carried it through to
victory. Now, at the dawn OF new CEN
tury, with new policies and new opportuni-
ties opening before US in the bright
sunshine OF prosperity, we again ask the
American people to entrust US with the
future. We have profound faith in the
people. We do not distrust their capacity
OF meeting the new responsibilities even as
they met the old, and we shall await with
confidence, under the leadership OF William
Mckinley, the verdict OF November.