Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-06-19

REPUBLICAN CELEBRATION.

REPUBLICAN, CELEBRATION.
Notwithstanding the inclement
weather over two hundred Republ
cans gathered in Culver's opera house
last Saturday evening to celebrate the
fiftieth anniversary of the birth of
their party. No doubt the rainstorm
that prevailed during the day kept
many away who had planned to be
present. But the gathering was far
greater than the committee which had
the matter in charge anticipated and
the enthusiasm from first to last was
unbounded. All parts of the county
seemed TO be represented by good.
loyal Republicans, who have been in
the forefront of their party's battles
in the past, while many new faces
could be counted among the enthusi-
astic celebrators. The speeches of the
evening were gems of thought and
rhetoric and every allusion to the
great leaders of the party from FIRE.
mont to Roosevelt brought forth the
heartiest applause.
Among those present to celebrate
the great event We're two who voted
TOR Fremont in 1856 and six who voted
for Lincoln in 1860. These old veterans
of the party were given the post OF
honor near the head of the table.
Liberal excerpts from the address
es will be found elsewhere in this is
sue and should be read by every Re-
publican in the county. The mastery
effort of Mr.. Webster the chief speak
er of the evening, aroused his hear.
ers to the highest pitch of enthusiasm.
In eloquent words he gave the history
of the party's origin, the cementing of
unOrganiZed factions OF other parties
Free sellers, Wings. Abolitionists, Dem
ocrats and "know-nothngs, under the
name of the Republican party, whose
slogan became: Free men, free la
Dor, free homes and Fremont In the
election of Abraham Lincoln great is.
sues and stirring events followed, ref
erence to which recalled deeds of sac,
ritice and yalor during the war per
iOd, and efforts to save the Union
that made every Republican present
proud of his party's steadfastness to
liberty and the rights of man. But the
speaker rejoiced that all hate result
ing from that great contest of arms
had passed away and today there was
no north, no south. no east no west
But the party has not only been
the party of freedom and union dur
ing the dark days of the nations life
but it has been equal to every emer
gency in time of peace, putting into
effect the laws and policies that have
brought prosperity to the people gen
orally. AS a party, it freed the slaves,
1t brought about specie payments,
placing the country on a sound finaE-
cial basis, it enacted the homestead
law, the tariff laws that have built up
our manufacturing industries and pro
tected American workmen against the
pauper labor of Europe. 1t has placed
in our statutes the irrigation law that
will reclaim an empire and make hap
Ply homes for millions of people. I'm
der its direction has been inaugural
ed the work of constructing the Pan
anna canal. the greatest enterprise OF
modern times.
It would require toe much time anG
space TO refer to and impress upon
the reader the salient features of Mr.
any chance TO make distinction. He
had a grand theme and he rose equa
to the occasion. In referring 10 The
great fight President Roosevelt /.
making in behalf OF the people, he
was most happy and was greeted will
rounds of applause. He was quite righ'
in saying that it required the highest
moral courage to take the stand he
has in demanding railroad rate legis
lation. in seeking to curb the power
of the trusts and in his determine
ton TO bring about system of inspec
ton that will remove the evils reveal
ed in the Chicago packing houses.
The addresses of Judge E. X. Chea
die, Hon. J. d. Waite, Hon. w. A
Hedges, Albert Pfaus, Clarence Nc
kOin and Louis Lehman were receiv
ed with the usual demonstration, az
they were all good.
The history of the Republican part,
in Fergus county as given by Hon. F
E. Smith, recalled the names of some
of its members who have crossed the
great divide and of others who are no
now residents of the county. Thu
history of the party, as given by Mr.
Smith had it's humorous features ant
provoked much merriment.
AS POSTMASTER Mr.. Henry NJ. Rat
proved a happy selection.
THEW WANT MORE PAY.