Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-04-10
GOVERNOR coeB's SPEECH.
A Wise and Honest Leader.

cortland Express)
Since the days when Anson P. Nor
ri1l, its earliest candidate for Governor.
led the Republican party to its hrst
victory in this State no Drawer, no
more vigorous no more electrlfying
and no more timely deliverance upon a
cardinal point of Maine Republicanism
mas been uttered by "A Republlcah
candidate for Governor than was that
of Governor Cobb before the Deering
Club last evening.
1t was at once an eXhOrtatiOn, a
command, and an inspiration. 1t was
creditable, alike to the heart and to
the head of the speaker. 1t was Il
broad. statemanlike review of Il sub
Ject of vital Importance to the welfare
OF the people of the State and AS such
worthy of their chief magistrate. 1t
was also timely and sagacious as Il
matter or practical politics, and as
such puts Governor Cobb into the front
ranks as a party leader. And We APP
prehend that from Kittery to Quoddy
there is not Maine Republican wor-
thy To be called by his party name who
will not be prouder of his party and
pIouttI vi us tO-bt-c -cilulusitt loi
Governor i'm the coming campaign be-
cause of that speech last night.
1t haS\ sometimes happened that q
cauSeleSS fright among its camp fol-
lowers has threatened an army with
defeat from which it was only saved
by the arrival of some real leader up
on the field. 1t is not surprising. per-
hapS. that amid the unusual cOndi
tions surrounding them, some untried
inexperienced and timd Republicans
should have feared impending disaster
because Of the talk of some of the
party camp followers. And it is an
open secret, that some of these imag
ined that the only chance for their
party lay through path forbidden
| by It's every past utterance. And
strange as it may seem, there were
those who imagined that it would be
good politics To confess that on the
most important issue in State politics
the party had been wrong from its
birth, and TO admit that its opponents
had been as uniformly right. And some
of these were urging the party TO STRIKE
its cOlorS and To abandon the position
which its opponents had long and SC
fruitleSSly aSSailed and on which ii
had won SO many victories
But into the confusion which such
advice was likely to create Governor
Cobb dashed like a Sheridan last night
and all is changed. He has shown his
party that there is honor in being
| consistently right though defeat should
follow. AT the same time he made
success sure by making it apparent
that the most vrulent and vigorous
enemies of him and of his party in the
coming campaign will be that interest
the happiness of the people and which
| IS inimical to every legitimate line of
industry i'm the State. Where is the
Republican in Maine who will not be
prouder Of and more hopeful for his
party for those enemies of it that
Governor Cobb's consistent and sa =
| gacious leadership has exposed?
The people admire brave and hon
est man. and whey 70 bravery and hon
esty he adds sagacity and bold leader
ship they delight TO do him honor.
Governor Cobb has at once SagfciouSly
reminded his party that il is its right
TO be wise and has as hOnorably in
sisted that ii is wise to be right He
has made of his party one to which
good citizens will be proud to belong
and of himself leader whom they
will be- proud to follow.