Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-27
Handsome Tribute Paid
President by Sec. Taft
At a Rousing Rally Of RepubIi-
cans at Montpelier, Vt.
A Splendid Resume Of Work of The
Republican Party and Careful and
Splendid Showing Of What President
Roosevelt Has Done.

OF War William Fl. Taft addressed :,
rally in Armory hall here in The intar-
est OF the Republican state ticket tb,s
afternoon. About 1900 persons were
present.
me meeting was called to order ar
l.3o CLOCK by j. Ct. Brown, who intro
duceG rs chairman, United States Sen
atur w. +. Dillingham;. After a brief
address by Senator Dillingham;. Sec
retary Taft was presented to the aid,-
eice. He was accorded an enthusiasts
tic greeting.
In his address he made 4 lengthy
defence Of President KnoseveIt from
the criticisms Of Democratic cam
paiGntrs and reviewed the issues and
histories of the parties. He said in
part:
THE Republican party has not
changed its platform at all. 1t stands
now for what it stood in 1896 and for
what it stood in 1900. 1t has adopted
policies with respect 10 those matters
that grew out of the Spanish war
which it announced through its admin
istration before the national conven-
ton of 1900, which We're affirmed by that
convention and which We're affirmed
by the convention which met in Chica-
go. last June. ON the other hand the
Democratic party upon the great issue
OF 1896 and of 1900 to Wit. the money
question, now says nothing, while its
candidate announces that that question
has been settled, although against his
VOTE and that the gold STANDARD has
been irrevocably established by the
~, "A ,;t-t
eight years.
The platform denOunces the policy of
protection as a policy of the robbery
of the many for the benefit of the few
and demands q revision of the tariff.
The candidate announces that such a
revision is impossible in the next four
years, because the Senate will remain
in control of the Republicans, so that
the declarations of the party and the
candidate in effect amount to a state
ment that as to the tariff no change
can be expected at the hands of the
Democratic party. In their declarations
as to the trusts the two parties do not
differ radically. but the candidate of
the Democratic party, Judge Parker.
ascribes their growth to the tariff, and
then admits that nothing can be OK
pcctpd from his party in the reduction
of the tariff during the next four years.
'rhe truth is that the Democratic
platform is mixture of moderate dec
larations, on the one hand not very
different from the Republican platform.
intended to convince the Gold Demo-
crots that the party is now safe and
sane, with a number of ultra Bryanite
or Populist declarations intended to
catch the POpulist-Bryanite vote. so
that the platform shall look one way
in the East and another way in the
West. The platform is a radical ele-
ment which believes in free silver an
income tax. the sub-treasury plant
ownership Of railways. and
everything that makes the heart of the
Porulists rejoice and the Eastern Dem
ocrats. whose leaders are in favor of
the gold standard. Of nothing which
will disturb business and of inaction In
respect to the trusts. Neither element
of the party would have a sense Of re
strong enough to overcome
its artagonism 10 the principles up
held by the other faction. were 1t to
come into power
The plea which the candidate. in eff
feet. makes is that the Introduction Of
the Democratic party into power Will
be harmless: that it's principles. in
which they differ with the Republicans,
can not he carried into effect 50 as to
disturb. the country; therefore. they
ought to he permitted to enjoy the
fruits Of Office. Even under Mr.. Cleve-
land. who's personality is so much
stronger than that Of the present Dem
ocratic candidate. the party was split
in twain. 50 that it became as helpless
as 4 sick man."
Secretary Taft then delivered de- /
fence and eulogy Of President Roose- !
y.l+ ana the administration. saying:
unable really to attack the record
IF the Republican party, unable really
to take any ground which makes a !
issue with the Republicans
m the main questions, the Democrats
now seek to attack the President ana
to charen him with violations Of the
with q headstrOng dispo-
sition to rule or ruin: with n tendency
to involve the country in foreign wars:
with being. in other words. an unsafe
man. The President has been Presi- III
dent since september. 1901-three full
years. He came into office under the
shodow Of The sorrow of great nation
in the death of William Mckinley. He
took office under circumstances which /
might well have shaken the confidence
of z. weaker man. He followed a Pres
ident whose memory is sacred among
the American people, whose capacity
for administration, for harmonizing
differing elements in the party. and for
useful and necessary legfsla-
ton had never before been known.
concerning many Of the issues Of the
campaign which are under discussion.
a bsence from the country has made me
unfamiliar with their details. but when
Theodore Roosevelt is attacked for be- i
ing strongheaded tryant, obstinate in
his pride Of opinion. and failure to-
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