Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-24

ness for defense against armed as-
gression That demand can be Satls-
fed in concrete form by creating
! powerful army and navy. and the nope
| is both earnest and general that this
burden will be but temporary. But the
| country is beginning to insist with
even greater force upon preparedness
of this other kind. not temporary in its
| character, and not of arms, but one
| established and maintained to SAFE
| guard IN times of peace our business
| interests against invasion and deStruc-
! ton from whatever quarter and in
| whatever guise such efforts may APP
pear.
| In no way so safe and in no way so
sure can this form of preparedness be
| guaranteed as through the success of
the Republican party in the coming
campaign. This is vital issue, and
! there bids fair to be no other upon
which the electorate will more sharply
divide. The differences are fundamen-
tai; they cannot be reconciled. and
| the result will be determined not by a
discussion of vague theories. but by a
study Of the facts and consequent po-
! litical action.
THE time has arrived when the two
great parties are to engage in force
| full struggle for supremacy in the af-
fairs of the nation. This is a govern
ment Of the people. and it is neither
unpatriotic nor unfair to criticise the
policies. or to expose the weaknesses
Of an administration which in the hon
est judgment of SO many men has
demonstrated its unfitness to be en-
| trusted with a further lease of power.
AS Republicans. we maintain that CO.
| incident with Mr.. Wilson's election to
| the presidency, the business of the
country faltered and entered upon a
/ downward course, resulting in immedi-
ate depression, and promising nothing
but widespread disaster With the as
sembling of Congress and the enact
ment of Democratic theories, the fears
OF legitimate business were more than
realized, and the situation rapidly be-
came one of actual distress reflected
in idle mills and factories. dull mar
/ kets. vanishing transportation returns
ana lessened earnings for both capital
and labor. This is all a matter OF
common knowledge, and is fully sub
Stimulated by the commercial and
! financial records of the day. The
farms, the manufacturers and the
business men of Maine have not for
gotten their own experiences during
the first year of the Wilson admins
tratlo1, nor will they fail to place the
responsibility for its results where il
properly belongs.
IL IS our conviction, too, that the
calamlties Of that unfortunate period
would nave continued with increa sing
intensity had not the European war
interviewed to afford a relief that how
ever buoyant in its present effect is
but temporary and artificial The
democratic party alarmed bv the
erect OF its policies, and conscious of
the just resentment aroused by its
attitude towards business, has even
now ostensibly modified its views on
the tarlH and Preparedness But this is
Supterfuge for political purposes
Oily ana us attempt to appropriate
ana employ Republican doctrines in
inc tllne or its own extremity will de-
celEe or confuse 10 cne If il lacks the
courage to fight this battle on its own
platform. its defeat is close at hand
IT must stand on its platform ard
abide by its record-the record of the
last lhree years; trying period
! indeed. but one made doublv so by a
domestic policy that has brought busj-
ness 10 It's knees not as a suppliant
nut as victim and by a foreign
polcy. so unsatisfactory in results that
1t has brought to an anxious country
nothing but a rising CONSERVATION and
alarm.
With the work Of this convention
before US. this address must be con-
Hhed I" an attempt to outline without
extended discussion the political stu
a'lon nom Republican standpoint
hut no one need fear that during thu
campaign the issues are to he sighted
or COMPOUNDED. They will be made
clear TO the most doubtful and the
most exacting. and a bare recital OF
the facts attending Mr.. Wilson'S
administration may well be argument
enough TO win the old-time support OF
the voters Of Maine in our effort te
restore Republican policies and con.
troll
AND 70 what better cause can tina,
support be given. You know the his.
tory OF the Republican party and its
achievements You know that from
It's olrth its principles have been vim.
dicated and its policies sustained ir
every great crisis this country has
raced and triumphantly overcome. and
YOU know that after three years OF g
governmental experiment disastrous tf
American industries and huniliatine
TO American pride, the hour of this
partys opportunity has again arrived
Maine IS Republican State. The
present supremacy of the Democratic
party mere is but political accident
we are reunited in purpose. in yipo,
and in hope. Maine speaks first anf
animated by the spirit of this conyen.
'lon. inspired by the truth and Justice
OF the cause it represents, NAV she
declare Tor the reinstatement of a Re.
puhilcan administration within he,
own borders, and may a victory fo,
our party here presage a greater fri.
umph Tor our principles in the nation
Philip d. Stubs of Strong moved
mat the State Committee be made q
committee on credentials. It was 60
voted
Amos K. Butler of Skowheean moved
that the convention take recess for
the DllrDOSe of