The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-17

figures of our history. In what they
lived for. what they did they loom
the larger and the larger as the years
roll on. And yet in barking back
to the day in which these men lived
with horror, pain and pleasure we
find Washington charged with muir
der, with treason. with the betrayal
of the Republic, with peculation, with
arson. with almost every crime and
misdemeanor on the calendar; and
Lincoln with the wilful slaughter of
thousands of men, charged with the
waste of the country's resources, with
being a traitor to morals and law,
1ewd, low and vulgar. A dishonor
ponents with TYPICAL of the old days
of partisan politics such as we cannot
conceive Of let us tie thankful, Mr..
Chairmen and gentlemen. that
America in it's political morals has
at least progressed beyond those Of
the day of George Washington and
Abraham Lincoln. for in our day and
generation no man has been assailed
and no man would dare to assail an
other as the enemies of the Republic
assailed the two men, who with five
others, stand as the greatest among
human kind that the world has yet
produced.
Politics What we Make 1t.
Politics Is what we make it. The
measure with which we govern our
selves as individuals is the measure
of our ability to govern others, and
the government which we permit
municipality in state and nation is
the fair measure of our own charac-
ter as citizens.
1.-THE constitution of the United
States, the most inspiring instrument
ever penned by the hand of man, has
been. successfully applied with regard
to matters of routine government,
and has enabled us to erect an insti-
tuition, now no longer an experiment,
which will endure as long as time
endures. There is awakening in the
public heart and conscience that
spirit of revolt against law formed
Of letters alone. The American ,peo-
pie are beginning for themselves to
interpret the constitution, breathing
into 1t that vitality which will in fair
measure realize the hope of the Faith
ers that they were, here on this con-
tinent, erecting a government, of, for,
and by the people. rounding a nation
which should exist in peace and
anity with all other nations Great
ing a people who In intercourse
among themselves and with their
neighbors should be animated soley
by a desire to deal with others as
they would that others should deal
with them"
Littlefield Speaks.
Hon. Charles E. Littef1eld. a former
member of congress from Maine. de-
livered one Of the best speeches Of
the evening and kept the audience III
laughter most of the time. although
when he touched upon some of the
attempted legislation Of his last term |
in congress. He referred to the |
speech of Mr.. Clews, and said it gave |
a great deal of information. butt that |
it was lacking in one important par
ticular, Mr.. Clews did not tell how he
did it how this great wealth which |
he spoke of was amassed. He said if !
Mr.. Clews did not want to take ali
of the company he would give him
an opportunity to impart the infor
nation privately before they reached |
New York. He admitted that he did
not wish to be q Carnegie or a
indicator of great wealth.
Mr.. Clews said he could be found
at Is Wall street, creating a laugh,
his business address. quoting come
into my parlor, said the spider to the
fly and intimating that his latch
string was always OUT. After telling
a couple of stories. one of which was
at the request of Hon. Stiles lJudson,
it so he could repeat when occasion
offered, Mr.. Littlefie1d took up some
questions of legislation while he was
a member of congress. He spoke of
the campaign made against him by
Samuel Gompers, IN 1906, when he
much increased plurality, and refer
red to legislation which would eX.
empt certain classes from the opera
ton of law, the aim of labor agita-
tors, and which would exempt organ
izations from it's operation but would
leave property still liable. He con-
demned this principle rOundly as con-
trary to the constitution, equality,
and justice. He also made a strong
argument against the adoption of the
proposed amendment to the cOnstitu-
ton for the imposing of an income
tax. These two questions he con-
sidered as of very great Importance
and one in which all are interested,
as capital and labor are joined and
cannot exist speartely. He urged
American citizens to make politics
their business as the manufacturers
make manufacturing theirs. to send
men to represent them who will be
by sense and judy
ment and then to hold them strictly
responsible for thei racts.
In his references to the local trolley
situation, Mr.. Bucklsnd stated that
the local affairs, he was of the belief
that he would not receive the cooper
alton of the citizens of the city. In
this belief he has been very much
shattered. L wish to state,' he said,
that if I am permitted to have
charge of this locality for the next
six months, you will, barring accidents
and unforeseen circumstances, have
service second to none in the country.
This cannot be done all at once-a
trolley company cannot be bought
it must be built up grad
lally. Through efficient and business
like cooperation you will have no
cause for complaint in the immediate
,uture." bridgeport has opportunities
possessed by no other city in the State.
Before ten years have elapsed the
crown which now rests
upon the brow Of New Haven will be
xrested away and will be placed upon
your city. This is brought about only
through your enterprise your resource
fulness, and your insight into the flu
,ure Your advance in the commercial
world is surprising not only to those
who live within your precincts but
even to outsiders. The New Haven
road desires to do its part as people
1oing business in bridgeport to bring
about that success and to cooperate
With you to the fullest extent
The evenings festivities were closed
with a vote of thanks being given to
he speakers, and with the full body
Joining in singing America and
Aud Lang Syne."
List of Guests.