Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-09-01
ALL OVER STATE
Maine Republicans Are Hold
ing Enthusiastic Rallies.
Largely Attended, Wide Awake Rally
at North VassaIboro.
Thomas Leigh. Esq. Of Augusta, Speaker Of
the Evening.

(SpeciaD-.A largely attended and wide
awake Republican rally was held in
Citizens hall in this town. this even
ing. The meeting was called to order
by w. w. Bradley, who introduced E.
III. Cook as chairman of the meeting
The speaker Of the evening was Thorn
date for the office Of county attorney
He was listened to with splendid atten-
ton as he discussed for an hour and
80 minutes the great issues involved
in the impending State and national
campaign.
The first part of his speech was de-
voted to patriotic appeal to every
citizen to weigh without prejudice and
party passion the issues which devid-
ed the two great parties. He spoke OF
the wonderful achievements of the Re-
publican party since 1860. and claimed
that in every crisis which has faced
the republic during all these years, the
Republican party has never been founi
wanting. but had been equal to every
emergency, and as a result Of its
rated in times of danger and trial had
come those results which has made for
the homer and glory of the American
nation. He said the Republican party
had always been the great do some
thing party, that it had been the great
affirmative, progressive party. It's
motto had been onward and upward. il
had been the father of laws that had
benefited the poor man, helped the
farmer. multiplied manufacturing and
built up American commerce. 1t has
guaranteed the rights, the liberties and
privileges of the American citizen
He then dispassionately discussed
the record of the Democratic party
since 1860. and stated that during that
time it had only passed one act of con-
structive legislation, thep assage of
the Wilson tariff law. which had
brought untold disaster to the repub-
lie That il had always as subsequent
years had proven. been on the wrong
side Of every great national question.
In whom can we put our trust. the par
ty that does something or the party
that does nothing, the party that builds
up or the party whose sole occupation
has been to oppose and endeavor to
tear down what the other party in
wisdom has builded.
Mr.. Leigh then spoke of the Repub-
lican administration of President Harri-
son and stated that the exchanges of
our clearing house, (Which was the best
index of the amount of business done
in the country steadily increased from
$4S. $50 SS6.S13 in 1883, to the magnificent
total of over 90 billions in 1892. but un-
der the Democratic administration of
President Cleveland. the exchanges of
our clearing houses decreased from so
billions in 1892 to 81 billions in 1895.
running as low as As billions in 1894. but
under the Republican administration
of President Mckinley we had gained
on an average more than 10 billions a
year having gone from 81 billions in
1896 to over 80 billions in 1900. He said
that from 1892 under a Democratic ad-
our exports abroad de-
creased by 152 millions going from
one billion fifteen hundred millions in
1892 to eight hundred sixty-three million
in 1896, but under President McKinley's
administration our exports abroad had
increased from eight hundred and
slXty-three million to one billion four
hundred million in 1899. He then said
Just think of this statement that the
excess of exports over imports during
President Mckinley's administration is
nearly four times as large as it was for
the one hundred and six years before
he became President of the United
States.
Mr.. Leigh further stated that although
the Democratic party was in power and
in charge of the government from 1892 to
1875, IN time of peace, it increased the
bonded debt of the country $262 900 eco and
yet had an aggregate deficit of s1S5. 600 OOO
while the Republican party from 1889 to
1892 had a surplus in the government
treasury of 500 100000. and for the four
years from lS97-19OO. within which time it
had carried on the Spanish-American war
and so adjusted the revenues to the
needs Of the government as to produce a
surplus in excess of expenditures of more
than S63,W00O0 the present year. and yet
the increase of the debt was not so great
by 49, 900 900 as during the four years of
Democratic rule. What say you to these
facts, which cannot be controverted?
Don't they conclusively prove the wisdom
IF Republican policies? Isn't it safer ana
wiser to intrust this great republic in the
hands of the Republican party for the
lext four years?"
Mr. Leigh then entered upon a discus
sion of the issues of the present cam
Daign and earnestly and forcibly spoke of
he question of expansion as applied to
he Philippine islands. He commended in
glowing terms the foreign policy of
President Mckinley and spoke of the
wonderful prosperity which had come to
he country as result of the Inaugural
ion of Republican policies. He said the
rec silver heresy was still an issue in
his campaign our financial system. the
product of the Republican party. is
threatened by the Democratic platform
n the face of the fact that the people of
this country expressed their opinion on
the free and unlimited coinage of silver
at the ratio of IS to l in 1896 and in face
IF the further fact that the enactment of
he gold standard law gave this country
A financial standing unexcelled by any
nation in the world, making every dollar
IF the peoples money gold dollar or its
Equivalent Mr.. Leigh closed his address
Continued on page 81