Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-29


1T Portland Thursday.
This country Is now involved in the
greatest war OF all time. In common
with the rest of the world 1t is passiT Z
through one Of those tremendous ciis-
"a which lie centuries apart in world
S,s,ory Under such conditions The
oupestion Of craftsmanship sinks into ut
Tor insignifcance compared with The
great question Of patriotism, compared
with the duty of all OF us to act with
storm and whole hearted loyalty IL
This mighty republic. and to serve the
interests ~ the republic and the idcats
which make the republic the hope If
The future II mankind. come before
you Republicans Of Maine to spea <
,nly as an American to his fellow Am
orleans. as a patriot speaking to pa
trjots | mako my appeal only in the
Interest of patriotism. In other words,
I make precisely such an appeal as !
should have made here in Maine 50
wears ago, in the days of the Civil
0ar We stand for the nation now rs
Lincoln stood for the nation then. W e
stand against Germany now as ne
stood against slavery then. In those
days the men who demanded peace "r
kent demanding conferences to talk
about peacc were the foes of the
Union and OF liberty. Today they are
tho foes of liberty and civilization.
There rs but one way TO get right"-
Gus ard lasting peace and that is II"
beat Germany To- her knees. Let us
refuse 10 20 INTO a joint debate IN
I ct
US take our stand on that part of IL
President speech of December IN
which he said This intolcrable thing.
this menace Of combined intrigiI" and
force, which we now see SO clearly as
the German power, thing without
conscience or honor or capacity FOR
covenantcd peace, must be crushei;
and let us forget the peace parleyinSs
Of February, for these were in"orslSt-
ent with the words just quoted
Republican Patriotism
The Republicans of Maine and the
Republicans ~ the nation generally
have in this crisis subordinated all
ether questions to their devotion tH
the nation Not in all our history has
any political party when in opposition
fhown as fnc. as whole hearted ana
as completely disintercsted patriotism
as has been shown by the Republican
party. especially by it's representa-
fives in the senate and congress OF tie
United States during the year ana
two months now closing. Their de-
votion has been 10 the interess Cf
America. They have sought I"
IL h., nv K
serve America and they have realized
that by serving America they could
best serve the free nations of man
kind. There have been few eNtep-
tiors. bu. as a whole the 'e'nrd ar
the Republicans in congress during
this period entities them to the sup
port of all the people of the tniteh
States who piV patriotism and service
4nn Irlfvi-acn loyalty to the country
before all other considerations at this
time. They have resisted al! tenp'"-
tons 10 seek partisan advantage az
the expense OF the country; indeed
their only @ai,'nG has been tel'io-
lance to do WIG ought To be done. II
the doing Of :; might lead even 10 IN
truthful charges Of partisanihip.
In .ur history. bat so far as l:noW
in the history of any other nation
with representative government in a
q sis like ,hiS.
The Republicans. as soon as on
January 81, 1917. Germany practlca''Y
declared war upon us. abandoned 'h-
,tantIy all thought of partisanShip
nd from that moment rendered zeal
ous service to the whole pcop,e. anu
In tho administration at every point
where Il represented the whoi" n'"-
,,lc. In every important matter vital
ia the successful prosecution OF the
war, IL T. an actual fact thar on me
whole the Republicans furnisheo
la, ger proportion OF supporters for inc
administrations policies than were
furnished by the congress AS whole.
1, consequence of this at'ituc" inc
,.ccrd ~ congress during this year
and i've months has been one ~ hh-
raraI,e,ed service to the countr;.
There have been during inns peru"
very grave faults and SHORTCOMINGS
end DELAYS i'm governmental worh.
Rut they were not due 10 tn action
of congress: and the action or inc re
p,bIicans In congress was CONSISTENT
ly designed to correct them. ana WAS
sor .otimes successful in securing ~
lrae, their partial correction. l he
lte\c thai. the people of our r"un'rN
recognize this faithful stewardship OF
tn,!. interests.
The Record Of Congress
We are pledged to the hilt as a ma
ton to put this war through "i'hon.
Hinching until we win the peace 81
overwhelming victory. We owe TINS 20
our own honor and to our future welt
icing. We owe il to the iibert. 10Y
Ing ueoples Of mankind. We are
pledged to secure for each WELT"
haved nation the right TO con'roi lis
own ,,estinies and 10 live undom'hat-
cd and unframed by others - long as
II docs not harm other.
Thi, IL the people: Va. l. is 'l"t
the Presidents war. 1t "a not con-
rrcss' W., II ts the war Of the pco-
ple Of the tinted States for the lon"r
and welfare Of America ANA Of man
Kind. /; IL the houndcn duty OF TIC
Republican party to support every
public scr,ant. from the President
uown. insofar az he does good aui "t-
ficicnt work IN waging the war III
.,lpir. wage the war. and to oppose
hin exactly TO the extent OF ms Ia
Uro,to d" such work: for cur 'oyat'
- To thu people OF the United state"
and to every public servant IN cNtt'