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

under the auspices of the Saloon
League and the large audience was
rewarded by two able and eloquent
addresses by Hon. Perley A. Baker of
Columbus, Ohio, and Rev. John Wesley
Hill, D. D., pastor of the Metropolitan
temple, New York City. The meeting
was presided over by Rev c. G.. Mosh-
err Of this city and the Lafayette Band
the speaking began.
The first speaker was Mr.. Baker who
began by comparing Maine conditions
with those in his home state and in
other license states, very much to The
advantage of Maine. He paid his re
spects to Sheriff Pencil and refuted
the ISLANDERS on Maine which the Cum
bcrland county official has used in his
speeches in other states. Mr. Baker
discussed the resubmission issue at
length. declaring that only those who
want the saloon are in favor OF it. The
prohibition people, he said. have what
they want in Maine and have no idea
of giving it up. Moral issues do not
change and the saloon is the same
evil now it was in the days of Neal
Dow Mr.. Baker said that warfa. e
will be continued against those menu
berS of Congress who oppose the bill
restricting interstate commerce in
liquors until such bill is passed 1t
was a strong and earnest address
worthy of a man who has visited every
state and studied the big problem in
all it's phases.
The next speaker was Rev Dr. Hin,
tha ia Nnu- Work. 1ivina
eloquent addresses are eXerting a wide
glad that it is able to publish the full
text of his splendid effort and it is
worthy a careful perusal He spoke
as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The American people, in their great
elective tribunal are again called upon
to determine their political destiny;
to weigh in the scales of honest judg-
ment the principles incorporated in
the platforms of the various parties, to
listen to all arguments, 20 consider all
evidence and to render a verdict in
harmony with the evidence
Political conditions in this country
have decidedly changed within the
past twelve years.
Prior to that, the two dominant par
ties were arrayed against each other
upon issues of contention which were
generation old, clear, comprehensive
and comprehensive; and however
acrimonious the debate,-however for
the purposes of discussion, dire the
prophecies of disaster in case one
party or the other should succeed,-the
American people knew and felt in
stinctively that whichever party pre-
vailed, the great securities of govern
ment would continue to operate with
out obstruction.
Such is not the situation today
Democracy is not what it once was.
The old ship of jefferson and Jackson
has been captured by political adj
venturers who have turned its guns on
the bulWarks of our national existence.
and we are now called upon to defend
these strongholds against destruction.
Why my friends. the Democratic
party has lost it's identity. The old
oracles and guides of the party have
been thrust aside and it is at last oc-
cupied and Economically possessed by
a new spirit, the spirit of envy and
class prejudice, disregard for federal
authority, antagOnism of the judiciary.
and encouragement of everything CAL
culated to undermine the incompara
BILE administration of one Of the three
greatest Americans this country has
ever produced-Theodore Roosevelt.
This strange un-American revolu-
tionary spirit first possessed the
Democratic party in 1896, whcr. in re-
Spouse to a sophomore Grafton the
climax of which, You shall not
cruelty humanity upon a cross of
gold,' was plagiarized, "The boy
orator of the La Platte" was nominat-
ed to the presidency upon q platform
of the free and unlimited coinage of
silver, reputation of national obliga-
tions. the proposed revolution of the
judiciary and outspoken defiance Of
federal authority.
was not a devotee Of Grover Cleve-
land, my fellow citizens, but if there
was any one act in his administra
ton that will remain star bright in our
history it was, when the pulse of bust
ness beat low, when commercial inter
course was ruined by rioters and
when our national mails were i'm
periled, he evoked the strong arm of
federal authority to restore law and
order, arrest the destruction of prop
erty and rebuke the murderous spirit
of Anarchy
But that act of Grover Cleveland. the
only President Democracy has elected
since the Civil War, was covertly de-
nounced in the Democratic platform
of 1896 and when, at the recent con-
yention it was prODOSed by the Hon.
Alton B. Parker to introduce a reso-
luton commencing the action of Mr..
Cleveland in putting down mob rule,
that resolution was ruthlessly thrust
aside by order of Candidate Bryan.
Then again if there is anything in
this country or in any nation upon
which the stability of government de-
ponds. the very keystone of the sub
lime arch upon which the rugged en-
pire stands, the ultimate. principle Of
absolutism that must exist somewhere
in all governments. 1t Is the courts of