Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-12

acter was as rugged as the hills that kept
watch over his cradle and whose name
will ever be spoken with love and rever-
ence in a gathering of the Republicans OF
Maine, the great commoner, Hannibal
Hamlin
But that tribute is as appropriate to-
day as it was a half century ago. The
evolutions and the revolutions in the
business world have wrought great
/ of New England life, those things that
/ keep society sweet and make life in Its
larger sense worth living still abide
Honesty is still the standard of value.
Integrity is still the coin of the realm,
and civic virtue, which is only private
character applied to public affairs, still
obtains.
1t must have seemed to her sisters bit
pretentious when in 1920 this new born
State of Maine placed on the seal tina.
marked her sovereignty, the bold word
| Dirigo, Il lead; this child of the cold
northeast, great only i'm extent of terri
tory.
But it was motto wisely chosen for
as this State is first to greet the dawn
SO has she been first to welcome light
and progress in every realm of thought
and of action. Her people are high types
or the best American citizenship, free,
independent self reliant, patriotic, with
intellect trained and conscience quick
ened, the uncrowned kings of a free Re
public.
In such a community shams cannot
long survive, gilt cannot long masquer-
tluc do Solu nothing is settled until
1t is settled right. When therefore we
ind that any political party has been
able to maintain its prestige and has
been entrusted with the management of
pubic affairs for fOrty-SiX consecutive
years, with only two exceptions exceD-.
tons which but prove and emphasize the
rule, we may well assume that that party
mas proved itself worthy of confidence
For the 36th time the Republicans Of
Maine have assembled to renew acuuaiil-
lance, to catch the inspiration that comes
from personal contact, to reannounce
their creed and TO select their leader: and
by chance We are meeting where the
pioneers first met, in this beautiful city
of Portland. What changes have been
wrought since that Sth of July. 1856, How
the geographical map of our country has
Deen changed, with our flag now floating
over states that were then a Wilderness
and even over lands beyond the sea How
the moral map has been changed and that
dark area that then represented human
slavery has been effaced and forever
How the industrial map has been en-
larsed, and the waste places have been
made to blossom like the rose And ali
TINS mas been accomplished under tho
leadership of one political party; the
OF construction and not of destruction,
the party of the future and not of the
past: the party of the martyred Lincoln
and the hero of AppomattoX, of the
martyred Garfield and the Plumej knight
of Maine, of the martyrcd Mckinley and
the hero of San Juan hill; the party
whose banner we bear aloft today with
much pride as did our fathers a con
Grafton ago.
The chief magistracy of such a State
under such a party has been and still is
the object of honorable ambition. And
well it may be. Not only is the office il
self the highest within the gift of the
people but the long line of DISTINGUISHED
men who have filled it have added iustre
to the position. alone of all the officials
under our system of government tho
governor represents the choice of all the
people. Our Legislature is elected by
GOWNS or by counties; our representatives
in Congress by districts; our United
states senator's by the Legislatures; our
Judiciary are appointed by the executive:
put, the governor is elected by the votes
OF the entire State.
No scene is more impress ive than Il
free people meeting together and choos
ing one of their own number to be their
ruler. For the time they take him from
their midst, not because of royal blood or
titled ancestry, but for the more potent
reasons of character. attainment and
worth and they place him in authority + >
administer the laws which they them
selves have made. Such Il scene is the |
glory OF our Anglo Saxon civilization,
and such scene is enacted here today.
We are met to select our executive for
Inc next two years. But one name is in
all our minds and upon all our lips, that
OF our present leader who has already
honored himself and honorcd us in that
high offiCe.-his excellency, Governor Hill |
Born in the good Old county of York |
where political principles are nursed from
the mothers breast, of sturdy Puritan |
stock, which is the blood royal of New
England. educated in Maine schools, with |
boln professional and business train |
ing. he came to manhood fully tquipptd |
Such an equipment, reinforced by keen
perception. persistent industry. strong |
common sense, and answering integ- |
rity has brought him success along ev-
cry line. Wealth has come to him. but
he is devotng ii to the interests of his
native State in whose industrial future
he has the deepest faith: hOnOrs have
come to him, but he has remained the
same modest, unassumnG man. Best of
all friends have come to him, for in the
last analysis the heart, as it is the CEN
ter Of the life beats, is also the center
of life itself and in our friendships and
our homes we really live and move and
have our being.
Two years ago, with one voice he was
selected as our candidate for governor in
a convention which doubtless many of
you attended. The people of the State
ratified and confirmed your action by a
rousins majority. Their confidence was
not misplaced. He has guided the ship of
state with firm hand, stout heart and
an eye single to her advancement A
keen observer of men, with a quiet dig
nifty. that suggests reserve Of power,
genial personality that attracts and
holds, and Il happy faculty of doing the
right thing in the right way and at the
right time. he has grown in respect and
'ohlAuNiNt uiitii tOLiS lc" IltU nave
stronger hold upon the people of this
State than their chief executive.
Should our Democratic friends, (and l
have come to look upon them as our
friends rather than our foeS) wish to give
the campaign a national turn, we will
meet them on that arena under the lead
erShip of a man who was never vet de-
fcated in war or in peace, Theodore
Roosevelt; whose representative we wei
come here today most cordially; should
our friends decide to inject an element of
State issue we will meet them cheerfully
on that field under the guidance of
governor whose past is a pledge for the
future. They can have access to our ac-
counts and they will find them correctly
kept and the balance on the right side
They can probe into every department
and they will find clean. wholesome and
economical administration. We have
nothing TO conceal. nothing to excuse.
1t gives me great pleasure therefore,
Mr.. Chairman. to present to this conven-
ton as our candidate for governor and
to move his nomination by reclamation,
this man with a clear hand and clean
hands, who has been tried and found
worthy and well qualified. and whom the
people of this State will delight to honor
with a second term. for his sake and for
their own,-His Excellency, John L.
Hill of Augusta.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Cornish'S
admira bic speech of presentation, Rich
ard Webb, Esq, of Portland, in Sec
nndino nm