Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-04-20
REPUBLICANS MEET.
,rJEN LITTLEFIELD, BURLEIGH
AND POWERS RENOMINATED.
r,rr CONVENTION AT PORTLAND =
JUDGE cHAsE's BRILLIANT SPEECH
THE DELEGATES.

1 .onnblteau State convention to elect
,',.ua,,s To the national convention 10 be
ho,d In Chicago in June, aud to nominate
occidental electors, and the various dis
,v,ct conventions were held last week.
The first district convention at Portland
on Thursday renominsted' Hon. Amos
+. Alien; the second district at Lewis
ton ON Wednesday repominated Hon.
charles e. Littlefeld, the third district
a, Watervills on the same day renoml.
:, ed Hon. Edwin &C. Butieigh, and the
tourth district at Bangor, also on Wednes-
day. renominsted Hou. Lleweilyn Powers
The almost harmony prevailed at all
these gatherings. The nominations were
all by reclamation.
THIRD DISTRICT DELEGATES.
Al the third district convention the
following were elected delegates to the
national convention: A. q. Blunt, OF
skowhegan; Elmer P. Spofford, OF Deer
Isle; alternates, W. II. Davis, of Bar Har-
Dor; Byron Boyd, of Augusta.
John SumiDsby, OF Bar Harbor, was re-
elected member of the district COM
mittee.
THE STATE CONVENTION.
The State convention assembled at
Portland on Thursday. II was called to
order by Hon. f, NJ. Simpson, OF Bangor,
chairman of the State committee. After
prayer by Rev. Raymond Calkins, OF
Portland, the chair announced the follow
ing temporary organization: Chairman,
e. T.. Chase, OF BiuehiIl; secretaries, Will
liam II. Dow, OF Portland, E. II. Kelley,
of Brewer, John NJ. s Hunter, of Farm
ingtou. Elliott c. Dill, OF Augusta, F. IL.
wiuslow, of Rocklsud, and William e.
Lewis, OF Cherryfield.
Judge Chase addressed the convention
as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, Gentlemen Of The Coneentfon:
1t lie an honor which any man must appreciate
to be selected to preside over the deliberations
Of a convention of the representatives OF the
$1,000 Maine republicans, who have never but
snce failed from the birth OF the party to this
day TO return safe plurality for republican
policies, republican candidates. and republican
principles. 1 assure you, gentlemen, that I
deeply appreciate the honor conferred upon me
BY your action, and thank you for 1t.
Its now just fty years, full half century.
since little band of wings. free-soilers and anti
Nebraska democrats met It Strong, Franklin
eou ty. Maine, to protest against the further ex-
tension of slavery. This was one of the first,
II not the very first, convention of the repobli.
can party ever held in this country.
The honor OF holding the first convention has
been cltimed by Maine and Michigan alike, and
recently by one or two other states. The facts
are In dispute. but certain 1t is that these con-
ventions were held just fifty years ago. and the
dispute as to the honor only involves the ques.
ton of few days.
1t seems to me altogether fitting and proper
spon this occasion. which marks the half Gen.
fury of the birth of our party, to give an &C
count of our stewardship, to briefly review the
past, consider the present and contemplate the
future. 1t required courage and fortitude to
oppose the slave power in those days. as the
oldest delegates here can well remember. Our
fathers, gentlemen. stood for free soil, free
schools. free labor, free men and Fremont.
They never did stand. and II theiE hopored souls
were here to-aay they never would stand, for
free silver, free trade. free riot and free rum.
Durieg these afty years the republican party
has meyer stood for single measure or princi.
pie, except those which have been forever SET
aed and settled right. but Is to-day az active.
living issue, equal rights, sound money, protec-
ton, reciprocity and an honest ballot,
The democratic party during these ATTY years
has never etood for single measure or princi-
pie but that Is to day as dead rs Julius Ce ar.
state rights. the right of property in man, pay
nent of the national debt In irredeemabe paper
currency, free silver and free trade. part Of
these principles were shot to death by our
fathers under the leadership of Abraham Lin
ooln. and the others have been buried by our
ballots In every presidential campaign, save one,
since Grant, under the leadership Of Hayes,
Garfield, Blaine, Harrison and Mckinley.
have said but one; say it advisedly. While
we did not seat Mr.. Blaine in 1884, ii has teen
eoBclusiye'y proved that he was honestly
elected. We lost New York. upon which de
but few years afterwards the democratic boss
of Couey Island, John Y. McRane, was tried
convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary for
a long term of years for dumping into the bal
lot boxes, at that and other elections at that
time Whatever democratic ballots the ext
sencies of the party demanded. II Is now an
admitted fact that thousands of the votes cast
for Gen. Butler In New York that year were
counted by democratic counters for Grover
Cleveland.
Fifty years ago, then, the republican party
was born. Its mission was noble one. In III
early years liberty and freedom were It's watch
words; in later years its watchwords have been
progress, prosperity and success. Its early de
feats and successes are remembered by the
elder delegates here. How well its mission has
been accomplished. statistics, which do moi
propose to detail at lengt , will show.
Taking the reins of government in 1861, und' 1
the leadership OF the lamented Lincoln. it found
the treasury bankrupt. our bonds, bearing a II
per cent principal and interest payable In coin
were selling for eighty eight cenrs on dollar
with few purchasers, the outgoing adminstra
ton of Mr.. Buchanan having but few days
before paid IL per cent. for money. on the credit
of the government with which to close It's un
fortunate career. 1t met with, and successfully
suppressed. the greatest rebellion OF the world.
history; it inaugurated and devised great prin
cirles Of finance. of reconstruction, of resump
ton. of reciprocity. of protection. for which VIZ
stand to-day. IL assumed national debt IN
lsf5 of oyar 4 400 O0O non and raduaa,3 q. A.,