Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-05
REPUBI ICAN RALLY.

disagreeable, the most complex task
of reorganization which has confront
ed the statesmen of this nation since
the days of reconstruction. And l nave
seen him establish there a central gov
ernment, 40 provincial governments, o23
municipal governments. complete Ju-
dicial system, an efficient civil service,
educational facilities that today care
for over half a million scholars with
5000 Philippine teachers ana less
than lO0O American teachers,-in snort
give to those down trodden and UNI
hapbv people as great blessings and as
stable a government as you good peo-
plt. %. the state of Maine are enjoying
at this present time, after 49, years OF
national existence.
| have seen him come back from
there, having ACCOMPLISHED great
and good work while Mr.. Bryan ana
his tea drinking comrades of the Bos-
ton anti-imperialists looked on with
sneering, carping, and caviling criti-
cism without ever advancing
single constructive or helplui
SUGGESTION | have seen him return
after completing that good work,
say, and assume the onerous duties Oh
the secretaryship of war and tulfllling
the responsibilities OF that Oh
flee with the highest degree or ell
cheney. | have seen him at moment >
notice leave the comfort of his secreta-
rial desk to make a trip around the
world for reasons of state. nave seen
him called at a moments notice TO
Cuba. there to suppress threatened
revolution, and start that unfortunate
island again along lines of prop
er and healthful development l have
seen him grapple the great proplehlS
inv olved in the building of the panama
canal and | say to YOU ladies and gen.
tlemen here tonight that in every one or
his MANY capacities, as lawyer, as
iurist, as an administrators. as q up
lomat. as man and as friend. VIII
linn Howard Taft has eNerlaStlnSly
made good and deserves the highest
return in appreciation which he or MS
friends may ask on his behalf at the
hands of the American people.
IT is amazing to me that with man
of this kind on one side and man of
Mr.. Bryans kind on the other, there
can be anv question between thinking
men today in this country as to who
Is pest utica " Dt L '''iN'Nht - 49,
United states. / cannot close without
giving Mr., Bryan credit for MS one
great quality, the great quality of
hindsight He knows as well as any
man I have ever encountered in pub
lie life. how and when to abandon an
issue when it is no longer convenient
to insist upon it. I have already tolo
YOU that with rapid success
sion he has advocated as the
only possible salvation OF the
nation free silver. antl-lmper1allsn1'
government ownership of railroads,
state ownership Of railroads. initiative
and referendum. and others too nu-
merous to mention. and we have seen
that with equal facility at the critical
moment he has been able to drop them
all for others yet to come. And In
leaving tonight I want you TO carry
away from here what l have no heslta-
ton in calling one of the great poems
of the English language | am sorry
to saw that | did not write it myself
T have been unable to find out who did
write it and after the lapse Of some
wears if ! am still unable to find out
who did write it. ! shall claim 1t as
NV own because as a bit of descriptive
verse it ranks with the greatest poems
of the English language And when
YOU meet q BRYAN man or Democrat
or anybody speaks to you of Mr.. Bry-
w - himself I want you to remember it
late of lote it because it applies to
Yer ir and to him SO aptly in whatever
light they are viewed:
The lightning bug is brilliant.
BIT he hasn't any n'i"''
He blIz/cS throu"h eXi"t"''""