The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-12-06
INDEPENDENT COURSE.
Gen. Fitzpatrick on "The Future Party of the
Country"

Our spacious City Hall was last night crow
ded to its utmost capacity by an enthusiastic
audience, drawn together by the eager desire
to see and hear General Fitzpatrick, the gallant
hero of a hundred fights, the terror of treason
and traitors, whether arrayed ON Southern
battlefields, or entrenched in the strong holds
OF New Jersey. The appearance of the General
was hailed with the most rapturous demonstra-
tions of applause, and his remarks were fire.
quently interrupted by similar evidences of
hearty approval. Has manner of speaking is
nervous and vigorous, his enunciation rapid
but clear, and his voice has something magnetic
in its martial ring which holds irresistibly the
attention of every listener In his personal ap-
pearance there is little which would suggest
the soldier, his slight youthful figure, fair face
and blonde hair not being quite in accordance
with ones natural preconceived notions of the
dashing cavalryman. The style of his oratory
isvivid and impassioned. He is master of
forcible expression. He wastes no words in
weak or unmeaning sentences, but every fiery
syllable Is alive with the earnest purpose and
the intense convictions which animate him.
= He commenced his address by grateful ack-
nowledgment of the warm reception accorded
to him. He was stranger TO the people of
Maine, but he claimed kindred with them, for
the sons of Maine had been his loved compan-
ions in many hard campaign, and on many a
bloody field; and he paid a glowing tribute to
the heroism and worth of such men as Howard
and Berry, Jameson and Doughty, and many
Others whose names have shed inperishable
lustre on their native State. WI
The General said that the past was clearly
written page which all might read; the future
might be predicted from it with an approx
mate accuracy, but the present is the period
most difficult to be fully understood No man
is capableof writing the history of the period
in which he lives. 1t is impossible to so far di-
vest ourselves of all bias of self-interest as to
take that cool dispassionate judgment of cur
rent events which history demands. But yet
we are not at liberty to reject the lessons of the
passing hour Its our duty to gather from it
as much instruction as We may, not only for our
own benefit, but for those who may come after
us. We are now as nation in a transition
state. Old forms of society have passed away,
and the crystalization of new forms is not yet
complete. 1t becomes us to inquire what are
the permanent principles of free institutions.
labor and capital have changed; ideas of polit-
ical reform have advanced with rapid strides,
and now force upon us questions of vast ma
tional Importance. And in the great future
that opens before the Republic we must not
forget that we belong to the one family of ma
tions. In our national life mingles the blood of
the Englishman the Irishman, the Scotchman,
the German, the Scandinavian and the French
man, the representatives of all countries are
here united in the support of republican insti-
buttons, laboring together to work out the great
problem Of mans capacity for self government.
We stand face to face with the great possible
ties of the nations future, we stand side by side
to assert the supremacy of the Union over this
entire continent The speaker took ground
strongly and explicitly in favor of the Monroe
doctrine, of the Alabama claims, and other
points involving the national honor, and then
from glance at the possibilities of the
future passed to a consideration of the party of
the future. Ours being government of the
people, our future prosperity depends upon the
parties ruling from time to time. tits amatter
of vital Importance to us that the party which
assumes the control of the country and aspires
to lead it onward should first of all be just.
The government which cannot afford to be al
ways just does not deserve to survive. Again
it must be truly patriotic. 1t must possess
such patriotism as that of Washington and
Lincoln = names equally dear to us to-day.
Washington gave to us freedom and country;
Lincoln made one universal and preserved to
us the other. The nation will place the name
of Lincoln out of the reach of time and seal it
with the stamp of immortality. 1t must be
such patriotism as that Which guided us
through this long war and saved us from en-
tangling alliances and external attacks 1t
must be such patriotism as has animated men
like Seward, Stanton, Grant, Sherman, Butler,
Hooker, Sheridan, and host of others, such
patriotism as fills the bosom of him who, I'M
expectedly to himself holds in his hands the
destinies of this free, fair land, Andrew John
son, President of the United States The man
who in the darkest hour of his country's peril
declared freedom to every man. woman and
Child In Tennessee, the man who said Treason
is crime and must be punished" and who had
not forgotten that declaration, was fit to be
trusted with his share of the great work of re-
construction. The speakers denuncation of
traitors, and of the arch traitor, Jefferson
Davis, was terribleJ The life of that man was
just forfeit to the laws Of. his injured country.
He would have no false mercy shown. Again,
the party of the future must be progressive
must never fear to face the possibilities of the
future; it must be ready to take any forward
step which wisdom may dictate; it must be re
publican in its ideas and democratic in its meth
DDS. The dogma of human inequality is the
reason for the rapid decline of former nations.
Humanity is one, is sacred. When our great
republic takes to its heart any other than the
party of justice, humanity and truth, it will
have parted with the secret of its greatness.
BY making itself thus just, patriotic, progress
sive and truly republican, the party of the
future would be pure, powerful and per-
manent. 1t would draw to itself all the best
elements of national life In this party let US
all enroll ourselves. Let us take a new vow of
patriotic devotion. Letus resolve to live for
our country and our country's flag, and let US
trampie under our feet every vestige of treason
and disloyalty everywhere. The speaker closed
with graceful tribute to the spirit of patriot
ism and humanity which had animated the
women Of our land during this period of trial
and struggle now happily passed.
The whole lecture was exceedingly eloquent !:
it was listened to with the closest attention and
was interrupted by frequent bursts of APP
plause.
r. F. ExHIBITIoN-A Chance for Repen-
tance-Such of our Portland public who were
prevented from seeing the enchanting tableauS
of Tennyson's Day-Dream Monday eve'g, from
the uniayorable weather, viii take great plea
sure in learning that the Exhibition is to be
reneatad m, "Wednesday evening Dee g. to bf