Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-02

Who Delivered Address Before York
County Republican Committee
amount of concrete Facts which enter
INTO every campaign. statements and
DISCUSSIONS of party policies in the
light of results as shown by figures
and conditions but also. it seems to
me. because more Of t he abstract
theories of forms of government, and
especially of the function of the politi-
cal party. are presented than for many
years before, if ever.
am no pessimist | believe that
government with all other things about
us improves as each generation of the
human race adds the results of it's
progress to the stock OF preceding
years, If it were not so. we would
not condemn today acts which went
unchaIcnGed yesterday. 1T is not be-
cause government is less honest that
we hear more of dishonesty. 1t is
because we require greater fidelity to
duty, because we are less tolerant of
unfaithfulncss.
On the other hand, | do not believe
in exploiting the evils of men and
things to the exclusion of the good.
do not believe it right to attribute a
base motive to every man who dis
agrees with me. His difference of
opinion, his desire even for some ad-
vantage that |. too, covet, does not of
itself prove him either dishonest or
untruthful
But it is well to look at things with
randor and to meet conditions just as
they exist. 1t is idle to try to con-
vince ourselves that black is white. or
That cold is heat 1t is equally idle at
inc beginning of "A campaign to close
our eyes to the strength or the nature
" the opposition that we must con-
front, 1t is no part of wisdom to try
I" conceal our Weaknesses from the
public by fearing to speak of them
among ourselves. Because many
things condemned with sufficient vigor
are accepted as deserving condemna-
tton. when a bold analysis of them or
VI the critics motive would demon
stratc the injustice of the criticism.
You are here as working committees.
not SO much to open the campaign as
10 prepare for the work OF the cam
palgn. and YOU will pardon me if !
suggest that there is no better time to
"lsabuse ourselves of any false no.
tiolS that We may entertain. Every
ohe OF us is to return to his respective
town to do his part toward shaping the
tourSe of the campaign. 1t should be
united, aggressive fight for the
principles of the Republican party.
me party needs no apologies. The
record of the State and of the nation
"ufihg the most progressive, the most
prosperous altogether the most satis-
factory era it has ever enjoyed is the
record of the Republican party. The
democratic party has had no part in
'llat record except consistently TO de-
plore and condemn it during ievery
campaign and to block it on the few
occasions when it had the power. To-
nay the mills and factories are running
TO their full capacity. mines are tgivine
up the earth's wealth, farms are bring
ing higher prices than ever before
railroads are carrying freight IN ire
nendous quantities and wages pre- be-
ing constantly increased. Everybodl
mas aready market for his c5mmodi'
ues and an increasing demanf for nj:
labor.
And yet in the face Of Those facts
winch none deny. there exists very
Widespread conviction that the Re
publican party in the nationl at least
is to be defeated in the coming cam
palgn 1t is useless to ignore thl'
conviction. 1t behooves us rather t
meet it, to understand it. and to coun
teract it if we can Because it Is.
misfortune to the party tot meet de
1eat If 1t is not deserved. 1t is
greater misfortune to the public o
which we are part, if it is to be base
onrsaasR prsnises-,pTH,> &c i
SO far as the nation is .eoncernef
and this is not altogether untrue of tn