The Portland daily press., 1870-09-08
Republican Meeting at CJty
Hall.
Speech Of Hon. sEenry L. Dawes of
MassachUs etts.

Speech Of Hon. SEenry l.. Dawes of
Massachus etts.
The Republicans Of Portland held meeting
at City Hall last evening. 1t was called to
order by M. L. Stevens, Esq on whose motion
Hon. Thomas B. Reed was called upon to pre-
side. On taking the chair Mr.. Reed mede
some brief remarks upru the importance of
the election next Monday, ard then introduced,
in graceful manner, Hon. Henry L. Dawes,
of Pittsfeld, Mass, the speaker of the eve
ming.
ADDRESS OF MIR. DAWES.
Mr. Chairman LddieS and Gentlenaen:
know that il is difficult at this time to turn
the ear away from The cable and disengage the
mind frem the conte mplatiOn of events upon
the distant theatre appalling as the shadows in
the heavens, when republics born of the shock
of arms, whose tramp is shaking a continent,
are coming before las, aud swhose existence
from hour to bour hangs in the trembling bal
ance OF paiDful uncertainty. And am here
to ask you to consider questions, the peaceful
solution of which will perpetuate the blessings
of our own republic, so dearly bought; and L
am DESTROYS of asking you plainly and candid.
ly here. although in a State election, to consid-
ct ndLlOndl issues. JITOWCn ana enterprise
have pushed the limits of the republic to the
boundaries of the continent, but railroads and
the telegraph keep alive the relations and the
symathy of the family in all of its members.
and if anything is said here tonight or else
where IN your canvass worthy of remembrance
it will be heard alike in Portland, Oregon, in
Little Rock, Arkansas, or 10 the reconstructed
Gf there any sucb) in Georgia. And a ballot
cast into the ballot box here, or a Judgment
rendered here upon the Policy of the admins
tration or the character of legislation affects
tue iron master of Pennsylvania, the farmer of
Iowa, the planter of Alabama and the W heat
grower of California as much as if they them
selves deposited that ballot at their own doors,
and IS much as, it does the shpbuilder and
Zimmerman OF Maine. 1t is the apology which
one. otherwise stranger to your local Issues
I'D interests, has for asking you to listen to
the discussion of national questions upon the
eve of another local election.
With one Of your candidates for Governor 1
am personally acquainted, and ! speak but the
sentiments of those who have served with him
i'll Congress when bear testimony to his spot
less integrity, to his untiring industry and as
siduity in the discharge OF every duty which
devolved upon him, and particularly in the
discharge OF that duty assigned him of provid-
ing for the crippled soldier and the dependent
widow and orphans of those who fell that their
country might live. Ii pensoner III Maine
forgets him now he will forget his best friend
OF your own fellow citizen, with whom also
served for six years in Congress, and whom l
am happy to see drafted again for another
term, it would be entirely superfluous for me
to say word to lis friends and neighbors with
whom he was born and reared, were it not that
had better opportunity than many OF you
to witness his devotion to your interests, his
Efforts to revive your dropping industries and
secure for your pursuits better remuneration
than they now receive. You cannot afford to
spare him now. Better than cohort of new
men, he has experience and influence and
knowledge which his past services enables him
to bring TO bear upon the work still before
him. (Applause.) And although legislation
for the revival of American commerce failed at
the last session, through no fault OF his, it will
be your fault if you permit the enemies of that
cruise to triumph over its abIest and most
efficient champion. (Appause.) If you per-
NIT hIm to be stricken down who will rise up
IN season and out of season, at all times aud
under every fitting circumstance and occasion
to agltate in the halls of Congress the revival
OF that commerce which has been heretofore
your wealth, and which hereafter must be
your support.
1t is not of men merely that have come
here to speak tonight Mich as l would de-
sire TO press upon the people of this district
and this State ii thought it was necessary,
the claims OF public servants for support, there
are considerations higher than these that clus-
ter around single individuals, which dema ID
on the return of each election day the calm
and deliberate Judgment of every voter in the
land. That day returns to you earlier than to
the most OF the States, and again are you call
ed upon to pass judgment anew upon great is
sues which separate this country into two great
parties.
Fourteen years ago after long and patient
trial Cong suffering, L was about to say) the
people of this country brought the Democratic
party to the bar Of public Judgment and nut
it on trial for its past deeds and rendered a YER
dict aga nst that party, which has stood the an
nuai return of that trial for fourteen years
Year after year has it come again before the
people demanding judgment again upon its
past record, its personal character its promises
for the future, and again and again have the
people OF this country repeated the judgment,
that it was no .onger safe to trust that party
with power ia this land; and now at the
opening of the fall campaign they come before
the people again. demanding a new hearing of
their case before the people of the United
States, and calmly and truthfully and can
didly L am disposed to give them a hear
ing, and to ask them in plain and simple Ian
guage on what it is they ground their rehear- 4
ing lsIt because in the beginning they
had not fair trial, that they were unjust
~ condemned, that they have repented
ana zone works meet for repentance and come
III uhoer new agreements and new promises,
and ask that the power taken away from them
by the people may be restored TO tb.m bacause
misused by those to whom it was entrusted |
ana assuring the people of their better use of
il? Which is it? On what ground ia il that
the Democratic party, beginning here in Sen
TEMPER, the opening OF the fall campaign. ask |
the people OF the United States to reverse the |
judgment repeated year after year since 1900 |
What was the condition of the country that
caused the people to take the power from the |
hands of the Democratic party in 1860? 1t is
not necessary so near are we to all these events,
for me to delay you here to rebearse the cause
of the verdict of 1860. Too vivid are they in
the mind still, for us to require their rehearsal
at this time. The long administration OF the
Democratic party for forty years, with scarce
an interruption, had so corrupted it and SO
Frustrated it at the feet of the slave power that
she question in 1860 came before the American
people to be settled. Will yoncontinue tn party
n power, and through this, surrender the Con-
'titution of the United States and all the Anc-
ions of the government to the behests of the
slave power The Missouri compromise had
been then abrogated, slavery had been pushed
INTO the territory by the Dread Scott decision |
ana every function of the government was |
Joupd and fetterel in the train and service of |
ne save power through the Democratic party |
~ power t, They began to talk about counting |
and calling the roll of their slaves unler the
shadow of Bunker Hill. and thew staiL al into
me nails OF Congress rattling the chains of |
Ineir slaves n the ears of the freemen nj tho
NORTH, until forbearance ceased to be a virtne
ana .nu oounsry rose In Its might aud wrested
me power from the Democratic party and nlac |
I'D it in the hands of the Republican nartu T.,
1850. (Applsuse) 's :"
The consequence was bloody four vears
war. And who is responsible for that biondv
our years war, in which this nation was in
yolved, the like of which even in this hour the |
nations of this world have never seen, in mag |
litude in cost of treasure and OF blood? 1t |
certainly did not originate in the Republican |
PARTY, and while do not mean to say that |
very man in the Democratic party was a trait |
'r through that war, do mean to say that the |
var originated in the Democratic party. And |
any man within these walls dares stand up |
lere and tell me that what 1 saw to. night Is |
1ot true l will thank him to show his head.
La9gnter The war originated in the Demo-
,rauc party; The men who thrust upon the |
, n the horrors and burdens and mourn
8 u VI q -FOUR years war were leaders in the |