Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-13
In a Rousing Lincoln Day Speech Before the Re.
publican Club Of New York City--With Detection
Swept Away, the Republican Party Will
Again March on to Grand Victory.

New York, Feb. 12.-President Taft
brought his celebration of Lincoln's
birthday to a close here, tonight with
a political speech to the Republican
Club in which he breathed defiance To
the Democratic party. declared that i;
was his belief that the Republicans
would triumph next November at the
polls and made it plain that he had
little sympathy with those of his own
political Gath who call themselves pro-
gressiyes. but who, he said, are politi-
cal emotionalists neutrocsa This
speech took place almost at the end
of strenuous day which took him to
Newark and Orange. n. j., and gave
him six hours in New York, in which
to attend the political dinner and
spend a short time at the banquets of
the Retail Dry Goods Association and
the Graduates Club. He left for Wash
ington late at night and is due in the
capital early tomorrow.
Most of the prominent leaders of the
party in the state were at tonight's
banquet. The President particularly
attacked the Democrats for their pro-
posal to reduce the army by abolish
by departing from the time honored
policy of adding each year two new
battleships TO the navy"
President Taft came to New York
from Newark. where he was the guest
at luncheon of former Gov Franklin
Murphy. shook hands and exchanged
plea santries with most of New Jer-
sey's Republican leaders and a few
Democrats and placed a wreath or
Borglums statute of Lincoln in front
of the county court house From New
ark he motored to East Orange t.
place another wreath at the base OF
another statue of Lincoln.
In Newark and most of the way tt
Orange the President was greeted by
large crowds which faced the biting
cold and gave him an enthusiastic
welcome.
At the Republican Club banquet
Toastmaster Barnard, VINO had re-
ferred to Honest Abe Lincoln, in
troduced the President as Honest
Bll' Taft. the head of the party, and
this started a big demonstration. The
i President dropped in for a few mo-
ments at the dinner of the Nationa
Retail Dry Goods Association. where
! he got a rousing reception also, anc
gave the merchants an interesting talk
on the tariff.
| Il believe we are working in Wash
ington," lie said, lin the direction OF
minimum disturbances to business
heretofore arising from the passage OF
| tariff bills The principle we are going
on is that we ought to know the facts
and the effects of a change before we
change the tariff. | hope we have in
troduced Il system of dealing with tho
tariff that will become permanent
that of not demanding a change in The
tariff except by separate schedule. anC
OF not amending it until we know wha
what the effect of that schedule is go
ing 80 he.
This system will be permanent i
the business men of this country vii
rise and demand it. Let us know be
fore we act
I The Presidents call at the dinner o
the Graduates Club, IN the City Clul
house was brief one and he devoted
his speech there mainly to praise o
Lincoln. This wound up his evening
round of speech making.
New York Feb. 12.-In his address
before the Republican Club here. to
night, President Taft said:
Men praise Lincoln. today, and at
tack the Republican party, altogethe
forgetful Of the fact that in Lincoln
life the man and the party were s
closely united in aim and accomplish
, meat that the history OF the one is TIL
history of the other. The truth is tina
the history of the last 30 years, Wit
one or two exceptions, has been tn
history of the Republican party.
THE progress that has been mad
has been made by the RepuhicaI
PARTY in the legislative and executiv
power entrusted to it by the people a
large.
There are those who look upon tn
present situation as one full of evi
and corruption and as a tyranny o
concentrated wealth and who, in ap
parent despair at any ordinary rem
edy, are seeking to pull down thes
things which have been regarded a
the pillars of the temple of freedom
and representative government and t.
reconstruct our whole society on som
new principle, not definitely formulat
ed, and With no intelligent or intelligi
BILE forecast for the exact constitution
al and statutory results to be attained
with the effort to make the selec
ton of candidates, the enactment o
legislation and the decision of court
to depend on the momentary passion
of a people, necessarily Indifferent
informed as to the issues presented
and without the opportunity to then
for time and study and that delibera
ton that gives security and oommo
sense to the government of the people