The Portland daily press., 1868-11-03
The Last Meeting of the
Campaign.
Aiming for Battle.
Republican Enthusiasm at its Gull
minating Point.
sPooehss by Shepley, Washburn, Drum
mond, Kingsbury, Webb and Read.

The Republicans of Portland, notwithstand-
ing the severe storm and the lack of contest
here on the part of the Democracy, causing
but little excitement, turned out in large num-
bers last evening, nearly filling the City Hall.
The ladies occupied the galleries in brilliant
and abundant array, adding much to the at
Effectiveness of the occasion. (They are to be
commended for their courage in Drawing the
stormy The Portland Band discoursed sew
eral choice selections previous to and during
the evenings exercises. a1
N. A. Foster, Esq, Chairman of the Repub-
lcan City Committee, called the meeting 10
order.
Gen. Geo. f. Shepley was presented as
Chairman, and was greeted with enthusiastic
applause. Gen. Shepley referred to the last
Republican meeting at the hall, previous to
the September election, and the excitement OF
that campaign. We were inspired then by the
glorious example of Vermont and we nobly
won the victory. In October, Pennsylvania,
Ohio and Indiana completed the work so no.
bly, begun. The enemy were demoralized
The party called for a change of leaders, but it
was too late-defeat was foreordained. To-
morrow we will join our brave brothers in
arms all over this land, marching elbow to ell
bow, to glorious victory, compelling the en-
envy to surrender to Ulysses S. Grant. (Great
applause)
As at Appomattox Court House, the rebels
surrendered the Democratic heresy of seces-
sion, so now they will surrender the Demo
traits dea ct theft bse reason
( AYnr1o ia ho old a orb What
tn, y failed to accomplish in war, they claim
Seymour and Blair will carry out if elected
But they give up the contest. To-morrow's
sun will set upon the failure of all such here
sy. 1t will set upon land freed from blood,
tyranny and oppression. Our success is GER
tain. The sun OF Wednesday will rise in spen
dor and glory over land of Liberty, regener-
ated and Disseminated, and from Maine to Cal
ifornia, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from
the new acquisitions at the Polar Sea to the
Gull of Mexico, will go up glad hosannas for
the victory of Pence. loud appause.)
Gen. Shepley made fine opening speech,
as he always does, OF which the above is but
an abstract, and was loudly applauded at its
close.
Ex-Gov Israel Washburn, Jr., was then in
troduced and received with hearty enthusiasm.
Gov. w. regarded it as about the hardest thing
in the world to speak when there is so little
opposition. Everybody, even Democrats re-
garded Grants election as sure. Even the
Argus. with its hundred eyes, has not been
able to see or say anything against Grant for a
long time. 1t wanted few week since to
change its candidates-as defeat became GER
tain. Gov. Washburn eulogised Grant in the
highest terms, and said number of Demo-
Gratis intended to vote for him all over the
country as the only safe course. Thoughtful
men in the Democratic party see that peace
will only thus come. and they will quietly ard
unostentatiously cast their ballots for the wise
and prudent soldier. (Applause.) The De-
mocracy hoped, by base tricks, fraud, ballot
stuffing and rufianism, to carry the election.
but the people were too intelligent and they
caused such attempts to fail. The fruits of
victory must not be lost. The glorious results
of September and October must be secured.
Until the issues of the war are settled the con-
test will not end
In conclusion, Gov. w. appealed to the vot-
ers of Portland, which is no longer contest
ed city, but Republican stronghold-the
Gibralter of the State-to rally, and see that
the vote and majority of September is largely
increased, for the influence of Maine is largely
felt everywhere. Give Grant great majority
in Maine, for the greater it is the stronger will
be his arm for good. Among the cities of the
country in Republican influence, let none be
greater than that of the Queen city of the
Sunrise State" cloud applause)
Hon.J. d. Drummond next spoke. He re-
ferred with pride to the result of the Septes1-
Der election, and was sure we would do still
better for Grant and Colfax. Pilsbury mis-
took the Republican eagle for Democratic
buzzard during the September campaign, and
the buzzard won't be able to roost at all to-
morrow. (Laughter.) If we do not propose
to go back and repudiate our noble work Of
September, let every man be out at the polls
and use his exertions to secure the glorious re.
suit. He alluded to the New York Convention
and its reasonable composition and intentions
considering it an attempt of rebels to gain
what they failed to secure in war. Letters had
been received by him from the South praving
for Grants election as the only way to peace
Names motto is "Dirigo." Let us be able to
say on Tuesday night that she leads the col
umn. Let US then work with a united will
and make Portland shine brighter than ever
before. loud applause.)
Judge B. Kingsbury, Jr., followed. MAKING
capital speech. A Democratic friend yester.
day remarked to him that it was really mean
to hold this meeting, for it was not fair to kick
at an enemy after he was down. daughter
and applause) The Republicans are gener-
Gus, and so he told his friend, "We only pro-
pose to hold meeting to arrange for mao.
nificent funeral of the Democratic marty on
Tuesday" tApplause.) Judge Kingsburv
asked the audience if any one doubted Grants
election, and one rousing "No" went up ON all
sides, the ladies in the gallery joining in the
shout. Argument is then exhausted, said he.
Now is the time to repent, Democrats. He
was afraid many read the Argus and went it
blind. (Laughter.) As the Dutchman said to
a b. other countryman, 81 thinks as you tink."
and the other said the same in reply. So MANY
well-meaning but ignorant Democrats "tink az
the Argus links" no matter what it says. The
recreancy of the Democratic party was then
alluded, to and its reasonable record during
the war and since was recited. How can auy
one reconcile present Democracy with their
conscience and their religion? In conclusion