And now, friends, to you men and women of Massachusetts, I wish to make
as strong an appeal as I know how. I come from another State. I have
no New England blood in me, but nine-tenths of the men in our nation’s
past to whom I have looked up most have been men of New England blood.
[Cries of “Hear! Hear!” and applause.] And I ask Massachusetts now
to stand as Massachusetts has ever stood, to stand in the van of the
forward movement and not to be dragged reluctantly onward behind the
other States that go forward. [Applause.]
Massachusetts stood by Abraham Lincoln. [Applause.] Massachusetts gave
her mighty support to the rail splitter from Illinois when he announced
as his cardinal doctrines the right of the people to rule, and their
good sense which would so guide them as to bring nearer the day when
social and industrial justice should prevail in this Republic of ours.
[Applause.]