The Portland daily press., 1868-07-09
The Republican Mass Meeting.

The Republican Mass Meeting.
The enthusiasm, harmony, patriotism and
good order of the State Convention yesterday
were continued in the Republican Mass Meet
ing at City Hall in the evening, and the pro-
ceedings OF the day were gloriously capped by
some OF the most eloquent speaking ever heard
in Portland. The hall was filled to its utmost
capacity, although it had not been generally
understood that we were to have these distin-
guished speakers in the evening.
The meeting was called to order by N. A.
Foster of the City Committee, who announced
Hon. l. Washburn, Jr., as chairman.
Mr. Washburn on taking the chair, said that
the American people were equal to the exigen-
cies of the day. The people have decided that
this country shall b. saved; that it is to be gov
erned by the loyal people. Are you prepared
to believe that the American people are to be
governed by those who martyred our beloved
President Lincoln? The only issue is whether
you are to trust the government in the hands
of such men as Grant, Sheridan, Sherman,
Sickles, or whether you are to trust it in the
hands OF Southern traitors. After making
few appropriate and eloquent remarks, the
chairman introduced the
HON. JAMES G. BLAINE,
who commenced as soon as he could be heard
for the applause, by saying that he had little
taste of two conventions to-day, the damning
one at New York, and our own harmonious
Republican State Convention at City Hall,
Portland. He compared that, with Gen. For
rest as one of the delegates the Fort Pillow
murderer-with this, made up of the patriotic
people of Maine. He said Chase's bid for the
nomination put him in mind of a trained dog
that one day was being made to perform by
pauper, who, holding cracker in his hand.
got the pup to go through his different tricks,
but concluded afterwards to reserve the crack
er for some other dog. He thought this was
the way our Chief Justice would be used by
the Democratic Convention in New York He
made some sharp hits on the Democratic plat
form of this State, and thought Forrest would
never have come to New York unless he had
read the State of Maine Democratic platform
He spoke of our convention yesterday as one
of the largest and most interesting that was
ever held in this State. We would give Cham
berlain 10000 majority in September, and
Maine would lead the other States this year as
heretofore.
Gov Washburn next introduced
ATTORNEY GENERAL FRYE,
who was received with deafening applause. He
said we were left in rather critical condition as
our Moses had gone over to the enemy and was
now stretching out his hands to the New York
Convention, and saying, "Help, Cassius, or I
sink" and he sinks. He told story of man
who stole horse, abandoned his family got
drunk and became very miserable, but he
thought he had one thing to thank God for he
had never bolted the Democratic ticket. The
itself to slavery, and now slavery is dead,
thank God, as will be the Democratic party
next November. There will be procession,
and what a motley procession it will be. Who
are its leaders? Ask the Postmaster at Con-
federate Cross Roads: The principal plank in
the Republican party platform is equal rights
But we must not sleep because the chains
have ceased to clank. We must be up and do
ing, for as long as the old spirit dwells in the
slave territory so long are we in danger. Send
out no uncertain sound to Republicans in
other States. Let us learn that Christ died
for one as well as another. He thought the
Democratic reputation resolutions very dam
gerous. No reputation, pay every dollar
Show me the man who will talk about the bur-
den of taxation. 1t is the widows, orphans
and wounded soldiers who are bearing the
burden. believe have learned a lesson. 1
would rather lose every dollar of my estate
than shade should come upon the honor that
has been bought so dearly for us. Slavery
Abraham Lincoln and when for
get this and the horrors of Andersonvlle and
other rebel prisons I will join the Democratic
party.
HON. JOHN A. BINGHAM,
OF Ohio, for whom three rousing cheers were
given, was then introduced He began by re-
marking that the meeting had assembled to
take care of the liberties of the country The
American people prescribe laws for them
selves, and if they have not laws that will
bring security to the humbest in the land it
is their own fault. "None but the American
citizen should be put on guard" are the words
of Washington; not American citizen by
birth, but the american citizen. 1 ask you
men of the East to stand by the men of the
West, and let it not be in vain that 100000
have lain down their lives for us. The oues-
tlon before the people is, shall the Republic
live or perish. What would our beautiful
country be without a just representative gov
l hold him as my enemy who
would lift up his hand against the perpetuity
of the American Government. Stand by vour
Government, stand by the laws, stand by the
Constitution. Turn away from Reputation
as you would turn away from death.
CEN sJCVIEs
Gov. Washburn, in introducing Gen Sickles
said We had a man here who fights az he
speaks; every word is blow. Gen. Siekles
was received with unbounded applause and
cheer upon cheer
Gen. Sickes said that he thought his duties
when he had finished his remarks in the after
noon bad been discharged. He was reminded
of old associates tonight. While occupying q
seat in the National councils with other pen-
Time and events had shown that he was wrong
and that they were right. 1t did not take
much courage to acknowledge it, for when he
saw those with whom he had agreed defy the
fag and try to destroy the country, he would
not be worthy the name of an American 'citi
zen if he had not taken a different course.
Two years residence in the Southern States
had convinced him that there could be no sure
of peace unless the Government
was unequivocally entrusted to the Union sup-
porters. He had been in the South long
enough to know that the loyal men, both white
and black, were capable of tilling the soil and