Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-07-09

SewaH was warmly welcomed by the
gathering. He spoke as follows:
We are approaching a campaign un-
der unprecedented conditions. For the
first time in 20 years, since Maine cast
her electoral vote for Polk, and had
John Ruggles and John Fairfield in
the Senate, and six Democratic repre-
sentatives, we have now Democratic
administration at Washington. for
which Maine cast her electoral vote,
supported loyalty, even blindly, by a
Democrat in both Houses. And yet,
with this administration already a
year and half old, there is no note
of exaltation in the Maine Democracy,
but, rather, one of querulous agita-
ton, which causes the leaders we'll
grounded fear. In fact, it is not too
much to say that with the election
over two months away they are bas-
ing their hope for success on the votes
of party as diametrically opposed
to them as is our ewn. Criticism of the
administration is made by Democrat
c leaders on the floors of Congress, and
In the ranks the murmuring of the
faithful is loud and deep. In our dis
trict names of party chieftains en-
formerly spoken of, if not with awe,
at least with the respect due to party
fealty, are now treated as lightly and
disdainfully as idols are whose feet
are made of clay. The mailed hand is
encased in the velvet glove. The stem
torian voice of command has dropped
to the dulcet tones OF persuasion, con-
cession and compromise.
Sovereignty Under Hats
With all this we have had nothing to
do. but knowing our. Democratic friends
and neighbors we are not surprised. nor
have they lost in this any of our regard.
While it is true that they are accustom-
ed to subordinate much to attain politi-
cal supremacy, when that Is once attain
ed they are jealous of their individual
rights, and have demonstrated on more
than one occasion that they carry their
political sovereignty under their own
hats. Certainly we know that intelligent
ly and consciously they never meant to
aid to power an administration which
should turn back prosperity and invite
business disaster over the land. Ger
tainly they are as patriotic as we. and
never meant to aid to power an admin
istration which would sacrifice our inter
ests even to the lives of our citizens
abroad and humiliate us before the
world And most assuredly the history
of the Democratic party shows that
Great Britain Is the last nation the
face of the earth to which that party
has ever been, until this day, subservient
to the point of surrender.
There are crises in the affairs of states
as well as nations. This State is con-
fronted by two in the issues of this cam
paign. One. a moral one. embodied in the
reelection of your Governor; the other
a very material one, and closely involved
in the election of your candidates for
representatives This latter, to my mind.
is the question as to whether or not
Maine shall consent to her elimination as
a factor in national legislation, and to
the power to protect herself.
Position of Maine
And this is question apart from
the ability of the Democrats Maine
now has in Congress, which Is con-
coded. 1t is rather a question as to
the influence they can have in the
Democratic party. constituted as it
is, as compared with the influence Re-
pubiicans from Maine have and have
always had IN the Republican party.
Consider for a moment the position
of Maine in the Sisterhood of States
small she is. the 34th in population, the
3Sth in area. great only in the quality
of her men and women. Her soil ster-
lie as compared to the rich, alluvial
lands of the West, her climate. rig
orous when winter shuts down upon
us, and along our great and rugged
seacoast, and in the Businesses of our
northern wilderness, tests the quail
ties of our hardest manhood to wrest
living from the stubborn forces of
nature.
How is Ii with these drawbacks that
our State has held and holds today
place second to none in the elements
that make 1t one of thrift and con-
tentment and the comforts that con-
duce to the joy of living? How Is it
that in population she has failed to
increase only in one decade, during
which she contributed more than her
quota in her struggle to preserve the
Union? s-saHas s~~
AAoN ~ - -loQdy with dU average
deposit of over s403 to every depositor
in our Savings Banks she outranks
Massachusetts,. all the Eastern states
as shown by the latest census, ave
New York and Pennsylvania, and the
average of the Western, Middle,
Southern and Pacific states?
How is 1t that in the last decade
her urban population has increased
over IL per cent. the value of her
manufactures over q per cent, and
thus by furnishing ready and access
IDLE markets to the farms of the State.
they have, in the same decade shown
an increased valuation of over 60 per
cent? #n e sen
Meaning Of Protection
No such development, with such nat
ural drawbacks as we have had to en-
coulter. could go on save under fostering
laws. Certainly this has not been due
to the strength of our numerical repre-.
sentation In Congress. for we have had
but four representatives In Congress for
more than 30 years, and today the House
of Representatives numbers 435. No fair
student Of our history can doubt that
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