The Portland daily press., 1868-08-06
The Enthusiasm for Grant and
ColfaX Continues!
Dedication of Z0aac0s-
a ter Hall +!
Speeches by Hon. Geo. s. Boutwell,
and Hon. Il. A. StOrrs.

Hereafter let the Republican meetings be
held in the open air. So many people are anx-
ious to hear of the coming victory that none
of our public buildings will hold them. The
Commercial Convention kindly created d.
version last night out of pure philanthropy,
but it was of no use. The people went to
Lancaster Hail. They filled the seats on the
floor, and the galleries, and the standing room,
and the ante-rooms, and crowded the very
staircase. f'
Tie meerlng was called to order by N. A.
Foster, Esq, chairman of the City Committee,
on whose motion Gen. Shepley was called to
the chair. -I.1
Gen. Shepley said that we had been invited
here to dedicate Lancaster Hall to Liberty and
Union, and in behalf of the Grant Club he
welcomed all present. Gen. Shepley, alter
brief predatory address, introduced in very
complimentary terms
EX-GOVERNOR BOUTWELL,,
of Massachusetts. Mr.. Boutwell, said that the
citizens of other States looked to Maine to
lead the Republican column. It usually seems
as if each election were more important than
any that have preceded it. Whether this cleo
as1on is more importa ut than that of 1864 he
would not undertake to say, but certainly no
other that can be mentioned, except that of
1864, can be compared in Importance with the
one which will soor take place. He endorsed
the statement of the presiding officer that the
people of the United States are divided into
two classes, loyal men and disloyal men.
Ninety nine out of hundred of the latter are
Democrats, while the Republicans constitute
<ba 6 81 III.
not be so disingenuous as to deny that the Re-
publican party has made mistakes, but they
are the mistakes of honest men, while those of
the Democrats arise from corrupt and wicked
motives. ..- . . lib a..
The speaker here made correction. The
people were divided into three instead of two
classes-"loyal, disloyal, and the Blairsl" The
Blairs are the most odious and mischevous
family that has arisen since the Government
was founded.
Gov Boutwell, then commented with marked
severity upon the enormity of the Blair doc
trine that the new State Governments at the
South, which have just been established on
the basis of right and Justice, should be over
thrown. Those Governments are not white
mems government, but they have an element
of greater value; they are loyal to the Govern
rnent. 1t was on this account that Congress
concluded not to re-establsh civil government
in the South on the white basis. Such
governments would not have been loyal. Con-
gress recognized the equality of all men in
| recognizing the shattered Southern Repub-
lies They Incorporated the Declaration OF
| Independence into the Constitution. Political
equality is the cardinal doctrine of the Re.
| publican party. How, said Mr.. Boutwell,, can
any person who has fled hither from the des.
potisms of the old old world favor the estab.
lishment of white mans government? How
can he who has felt the wrongs of tyranny
come to this country and join with the old
slayeholding aristecracy in a conspiracy to de.
| grade the laborer of the South because his skin
is black? Irishmen leave England to ESCAPE
the despotism of Great Britain, and some OF
them aid in establishing despotism over
100000 blacks, who are expected to do what
the Irish will not-remain where they are Il
the subiugation of the negroes could be effect
ed, the result would be a just judgment of Hea.
ven upon those who had brought it about. The
blacks would not remain where they are. They
would come TO the North and compete with
the laborers of the free States. ft" hs
| Mr. Boutwell, said that he understood the
financial policy of the Republican party to bt
the raising of the paper currency to a par with
gold 1t must be done gradually. Since the
war we have contracted the currency $500, 900,
600. We are in favor of paying the debt a
maturity in coin. There must be no reDudia
ton on the Democratic plan by issuing two
thousand million dollars of currency. If WI
are to have any reputation let it come now
and let the loss fall on the holders of the bonds
and not be by way of an initiation of the cur
rency, the results of which would be disastrous
to the whole people, The bondholders, foresee
ing the depreciation of the currency through
imitation, would invest in everything and any
thing that promised to have value in it afte
the crash was over. The sufferers would h,
the mechanics, the laborers and women of tb,
country, who had not the means to provide TO
the coming disaster If we must repudiate, lie
the loss fall on those who have surplus. Blu
shall there be any reputation? (Cries of No
Mob Some people talk of bloated bondbold
err" but in Mr.. Boutwells State thele is n
such individual. 1t was the people of moder
ate means who had for the most part investe
in the bonds These bonds represent the live
and the blood of our soldiers; of thousands c
the young men of the country, who, going t
the war, invested their small fortunes in tn
promises of the government as a provision fo
their wives and children. Let us preserve tn
national honor. Let not our standard be low
cred to that of Austria and Spain.
One word about the candidates. The Dem