Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-08
REPUBLICAN
KEYNOTE ADDRESS,
Advocates Protective Policies
Which Make Americans Best
Paid Workers In World.
Wants Square Deal
For Business.

first and foremost wish in my mind is
to say that which will contribute to
harmony of effort and add to the as
surance of victory next November.
wish that because we believe Repub-
lican success to be for the best inter
ests of our common country. The al
lied hosts of the believers in Repub-
lican principles are in vast majority
in this country-when the banners of
harmony are unfurled. We have wit
messed the come back of our party in
various states. We have seen the re-
enlistment of those who believe In Re
publican doctrines, and victory has fol-
lowed. and rejoicing has attended. No
apology has been asked, no forswear-
ing required. This is not the time for
recriminaton, it is the day of reconse-
Grafton
Rededicating here and now the Re-
publican party to the progress and glo-
ry of the republic, let us bury party
prefixes with the administration which
our differences put in power. l do not
believe there is really reactionary Re-
publican bearing credentials to this
convention. If there is he will depart,
after our deliberations, solely and
proudly Republican. with heart aglow
with the party spirit of 1916. And the
welcome delegate who emphasizes his
progressivlsm is expected to do his
part in making our party reflex Of
the best thought and best intent Of sim
cere committal to the uplift and prog
ress Of the American people, thereby
strengthening party purpose instead Of
magnifying individual belief, and he,
too, will find new rejoicing in being a
Republican. No party can endure
| which is not progressive.
Representative Government.
In building the surprising temple Of
! the republic, which we have been do
ing to the establishment. sometimes
the envy. sometimes the admiration Of
the world and Ofttimes inspiring others
| by our example. there ever will be mod
ifications and additions to meet the
public need and conform to popular
ideals. We do not fear to initiate nor
fail to originate, but there can be no
discord about underlying foundations
or essential walls or proved arches or
stately columns. Mine is deep con-
viction that the founding fathers We're
divinely inspired, and the wisdom of
representative popular government is
proved in the SURPRISING achievement.
1t is not alone the miracle Of ac1
complishment which deepens our rev.
erence: 1t is not alone the conviction
that we have builded the first seem
ingly dependable popular government
on the earth and exalted all its citi-
zenship, which adds to our faith. but
we are the oldest of existing civilized
nations, with one passing exception,
continued under one form of govern
ment. and under that form we have
developed the highest standard Of liv-
ing in all the world. Surely we must
be right
Recalling that the mightier forward
strides have been taken under half
century Of Republican CONTROL after
we led in fixing the indissoluble ties
Of union, the retrospection, the con-
temptation and the anticipation com
bine to fill the Republican breast with
pride and hope and trust and faith
and magnify our obligations in this
crucial year Of our national life.
Much Of the discussion of the hour
is hinged upon q world at war. We
need not wonder thercat. because the
enormity of the conflict and the influ.
ences Of its horrors have set mankind
in upheaEal. The traditions Of civiliza
ton have been broken. and the inter
national laws have been ignored
There is tidal wave of distress and
disaster; there are violent emotions
and magnified fears. There are the
extremes of incalculable sacrifices and
measureless new fortunes, not al
American. There are new wonders
and new hindrances in commerce
changed balances of trade, new mar
wells in finance and utterly changed
economic conditions. These have at
tended embarrassments in our foreign
relations as difficult as those which. the
individual citizen experiences whose
every neighbor is involved in deadly
quarrel Everything is abnormal ex
cept the depleted condition Of the fed
eral treasury, which is characteristic
Of Democratic control and the facility
Of the administration for writing va
ried notes without effective notice.
Unarrnsd America.
Amid these conditions has stood thi
nnarmed giant, typifying the American
republic, neutral and sane, to whom
the neutral nations have turned 70
leadership. Our national unselflshnes:
had been proved, our devotion to hu
manity had been established, our com
initial to international justice had lon
been proclaimed. The world had pre-
viously heard the voice Of American
fearlessness, and all the condition
single us out for leadership among tn
neutral powers, but the administrator
at washington spoke with more rheto
rlc than resolution, and we came t.
realize what the warning powers 500
came to know-that the official Amer
can voice lacked the volume OF dc
termined expression that once demand
ed international heed, and we lacke
the strength of confidence in our ow
defenses.