The Idaho Republican., 1914-06-05


troit, Michigan, and it has a ring or
interest to the parties of this state:
I do not forget tonight that ! have
the honor to be the guest OF the great
state upon whose patriotic soil the re-
publican party was organized and
among whose virile and progressive
people it's great principles have
borne their richest fruit. l never
tire of reading of that gathering and
the plain, simple but powerful reso-
lutions adopted by those men gather
ed there under the oaks" You will
recall that portion of the resolution
which says: Resolved, that in view
of the necessity of battling for the
first principles of republican govern
ment. and against the schemes of an
aristocracy, the most revolving with
which the earth was ever cursed or
man debased, we will cooperate and
be known as republicans until the
contest is terminated At the time,
sir, that the resolution was written
and adopted there was scarcely an
individual connected with our govern
ment from the boot-black lettering
upon the step of the capitol to the
chief magistrat of the nation, unat-
fected and uninfluenced by that cruel
system which lived upon the wealth
gathered from other mems toll. But
those men gathered there under the
oaks appalled, to a constituency which
no system could. corrupt or make
afraid. They presented an issue
without compromise and counted up
on the loyalty and patriotism OF the
people to work out their salvation
in peace if possible, in blood and sac
rifice if necessary. The resolution
has in it the note of crusade, the
heroic tone of action and the Ola
veterans here tonight will recall how
it reverberated through out the
length and breadth of the republlc
like the sounds of stately music ris-
ing and falling in the lonely aisles
of some vast cathedral. Men felt
the touch of a new and indefinable
power in politics, the sluggish con-
science of nation was stirred by a
new inspiration, for in the wake OF
that resolution was to follow march
ing armies, battle and sacrifice, a
race unshackled and a nation olsen
thralled and reunited.
Successful Fight 80.
Since the hour of the adoption OF
that resolution the republican party
has fought its enemies from without
and it's enemies from within. 1t has
been no less successful with the one
than with the other and has been
threatened about as often by the lat
ter as the former. More than onece
men have tried to utilize its vast
power, the strength and worth OF
it's traditions and its prestige, fol
purely selfish purposes. But In every
instance, in due time, the voters have
called reckoning and the leaders
have responded to the call. ! ask
you tonight, especially the young
men eager and restless for the con
f1ict of life just ahead and who fee
that inspiration which comes from
approaching tasks to be bravely met
to remember that those who have
stood with the party and resolved
when it was weak to make it strong
when it was wrong to make it right
and those who have won the highest
honors, and above all and better
than all performed the greatest ser
vice to their countrymen.
In 1884, our brilliant leader was
charged with being a corruption1s,
and abribe taker, man gifted iI
mind but wanting, utterly wanting, II
was said, in public morals. 1t was
said that while speaker of the house
of representatives he used that great
office for selfish ends. And upon his
nomination by the party, thousands
and thousands left the party. This
was not charge of corruption, ot
bossism, upon the part of some indi
vidual, but it was a charge against
the leader, the candidate Of the party
for the presidency, and the charge
went to the very heart of the organi
zation. At that time there was JUS
coming into notice young man O
rare capacity for leadership, Of mar
veleous energy and actuated by grea
and honorable ambitions. He had op
posed the nomination of Mr.. Blaine
and then the hegira from the part,
took place because of the nomination
this young man was asked to go AM
most bitterly assailed as gutter ant
compromiser when he did not go