The Portland daily press., 1868-09-05
The Grand Republican Rally at the
State Capital =

En- oScSIA, oePt D, 1000.
TO the Editor of the Press
By far the largest political gathering ever
known in the valley of the Kennebec has been
in council in this city to-day. The "oldest in
habitant" has again been invoked to prodace
parallel, all to no purpose. 1t has been be-
yond question the most imposing demonstra
ton ever seen in Eastern Maine. Candid
judges have estimated the crowd in attendance Z
at fifteen thousand. -----a=--..---
The programme was commenced this morn
ing by flinging to the breeze splendid Grant
and Colfax banner at the intersection of Bridge
and Water streets. Hon. w. A. 2. Dilling-
ham briefly addressed the crowd there assem-
bled. At an early hour our streets were well
filled with citizens of the eastern part of the
county, but at half past one o'clock procession
of one hundred and thirty-two teams, came
from Winthrop and neighboring towns with
band of music, and liberal display of ban
ners and notices. One four-horse team dis
played huge side of leather with the inscrip-
ton, "We can trust the honest Tanner who
tanned Lee at Richmond" At about the same
time similar procession of about one hun
bred teams arrived from Sidney, Belgrade and
vicinity; and at 2 o'clock the special train of
twenty-one cars, crowded full, came from
Skowhegan. Then our streets became
literally jammed. The great procession
was formed at half past two o'clock, under the
direction of Major E. F.iWyman, Chief Mar
shall, the right resting on the corner of State
and Winthrop streets. After marching to the
Augusta House and receiving the speakers of
the day and evening, Hon. VIM. Pitt Fessen.
den, Hon. r. G.. Ingersoll, Hon. Henry Will
son and Senator CONFESS of California the
column moved through the principal streets of
the city and returned to the speakers stand,
near the Augusta House., 1t numbered over
fonr thousand people, and was twenty-eight
minutes in passing a given point The vast
assembly was then called to order and was ad-
dressed by Col. Robert G. Ingersoll of Illinois
do but express the feeling of every person
who heard the distinguished stump orator of
the West, in saying that he delivered one of
the most eloquent, exhaustive and effective
stump speeches ever heard in Maine. For
two hours and a half he held the eager throng,
and could have held them another hour if he
had chosen No analysis or abstract can give
an idea of the speech. ....
But the demons tratiOn of the day has been
far surpassed by the splendor and brilliancy of
the display this evening. At eight o'clock
special train of eighteen cars, arrived from
Portland. crowded with the "Tanners" and
citizens of that city, numbering 1900 in all.
A special train also came from Gardiner. Then
was formed the most magnificent torchlght
procession ever seen in the streets Of Augusta.
A Thousand tanners" properly organized in
companies, with an infinite variety of trans
parencies and fitting notices, moved in col
umn four deep, to the music of the Portland
band, through the principal streets of the city,,
After this imposing parade. they marched to
the speakers stand, where the vast assembly
was addressed by Senator Wilson in an able
and telling speech. i87
Tue Augusta House and most of the princi-
pal streets, were brilliantly illuminated, and
decorated with flags and banners with numer-
GUS notices and inscriptions. Altogether the
spectacle in our streets this evening has been
without a parallel in the history of political
demonstration in Kennebec.
But we must not forget the meeting at Gran
lite Hall. AT an early hour in the evening the
hall was filled to it's utmost capacity to hear
the addresses of Senators Fessenden and Con-
ness. Mr.. Fessenden spoke for nearly an hour
and half, in his usual direct and statesman
like manner.i Mr.. Ingerscll succeeded Mr. Fes-
sender and made briet, sinewy and appro-
pirate speech. ii-5- .h
On the whole this has been an awakening of
the people in Kennebec long to be remember
ed. We pledge you 1000 majority for Cham
berlain, Grant and Colfax. b DAMON.