Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-04-24
State Honors an Honest Governor.

CTurf. Farm aud Homc.)
We DO not think that we can recali
any public document that has been
ISSUED since the DAYS of the famous
count-out that has attracted such uni
versal attention from all classes of
citizens, regardless of party afiilia-
tons. as did the address of His Excel
lency, GOV. VIM. II. Cobb. delivered al
the meeting of the Deerng club. at
Riverton Il few days ago. The Situa-
ton WAS such that the address WAS
not partisan in any sense of the word.
but ii was a sort of heart to heart talk
that the Governor had with the repre-
sentatives of his PARTY.
The conditions that led up to the
meeting were unusual in the extreme.
In the campaign preceding the cleo
ton of Governor in this State Candi-
date Cobb took certain advanced posi- :
tons and avowed his determination
if elected Governor to stand for them
through thick and thin. Well. it is
conceded on every hand that he has
stood for them, most consistently, and
it was charged against him in certain
sections that because of the position
he took i'll regard to these matters
his party had met with defeat i'll the
spring elections.
Was it not a unique occasion and
situation. indeed? But the Governor
never for Il moment allowed any one
to think that he dreaded to face his
constituents, or to show them that he
had the courage of his convictions.
He declared in clarion tones that he
had but carried out the sentiment of
the party platform, for 10, these many
years. And then for fear some one
would charge that he was taking
refuge under the platform. of his party
he boldly declared that in his judg-
ment the platform was right and i'll
fact the only honorable moral stand
that a great party like his could or
should take. And he also declared
that he had rather go down in defeat
with the colors nailed to the mast
head than to retract or have his party
retract one iOta. He also went 50 far
as to say that he was personally re-
sponsble to a certain extent, for the
advanced movement of his party along
these certain lines, and was willing to
abide by the result at the polls in
september, uccldTlllS lllell anu tilelc
that he should be a candidate for re-
election.
Probably the annals of political his
tory do not show Il boider. or a firmer
stand ever taken by mortal man in a
political contest when what he ut
tered was known to be displeasing
and against the Judgment of some of
his warmeSt aud firmeSt personal and
political friends. 1t is good in these
times when municipal and POLITICAL
degeneracy are so much talked about.
to hear one public official declare at
the end of his first term of official life,
that he has lived up to his promises to
the letter, and challenged the world
to show to the contrary. Yes. and to
go further. and declare that he shall
continue as he has begun to the end.
whether it means victory of defeat.
In other words Governor Cobb puts
himself in the hands of the voters.
and tells them what he has done and
why he has done it. and tells them to
go to the polls and uphold his acts or
defeat him as in their judgment seems
best for the welfare Of the common
wealth. This certainly makes the
issue plain, and the verdict of the
people in September will certainly be
looked for with the utmost interest,
not only in Maine. but everywhere
where brave men and honest. fearless
officials are respected and honored