Date: October 30, 1915
Location: Boston, MA
Context: Campaign speech for GOP candidates in Massachusetts; “Where has [the Democratic Party] encouraged or built up an industry except on foreign soil; to what American workingman has it given employment except on the public pay rolls?
(Original document available here)
Four weeks ago a Republican Convention here ratified the nomination of its candidates, here adopted its platform. The campaign has only increased the confidence of the people in the character of its candidates and in the soundness of its platform.
The charges against the Democratic Party have not been answered. In national affairs it has not only disregarded its platform pledges, but to extravagance it has added sectionalism; to failure to protect the investments and wages of our citizens at home it has added failure to protect the lives of our citizens in Mexico. Where has it encouraged or built up an industry except on foreign soil; to what American workingman has it given employment except on the public pay rolls?
We are asked to approve a peace policy. If Republicans are elected to office in Massachusetts, will any nation therefore declare war upon our country? What a mockery that those who ask us to approve the maintenance of peace by our nation make our prosperity dependent on the maintenance of war by other nations. Not the wars of Europe, but the laws of America, should insure our prosperity.
In state affairs, to an enormous increase in expense and debt has been added a growing inefficiency in the public service. The sound administration of the business of the Commonwealth under Republican appointments is vanishing. In some departments the old time standards are maintained, but political appointments are breaking down others.
Invisible government? Yes, not only invisible but purely imaginary. If Massachusetts and the nation can escape from the evils of visible Democratic government, it can endure very well any examples of invisible government yet cited.
But it is not alone by pointing out the failure of our opponents that the Republican Party seeks support. We call to witness our history, and the great names that have made “Republican” synonymous with confidence and prosperity and statesmanship. There is not a line on the statute books of Massachusetts that was not written there by a Republican General Court. But neither is it by the past alone that we solicit the future. The promise of things to come lies not only in our history; it lies in our platform and our candidates, but above all it lies in the genius of our party — a genius that builds up without oppressing, that regulates without destroying.
Massachusetts is lagging behind. The other great states of the Union have already taken up anew the march of progress. It is time here to stop tearing down long enough to begin building up; it is time here to stop regulation long enough to begin operation; it is time here to stop criticising long enough to begin creating.
This is not the gospel of reaction. It is the old Republican call to advance. We are going forward under the old leaders and the new. We are going to restore the heritage of the citizens of this nation, under a reunited party — progress and prosperity at home, respect and confidence abroad.
The Coolidge Foundation gratefully acknowledges Isaac Oberman, who prepared this document for digital publication.