Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-17


has returned and resumed his official duties
Speaker Blaine's Speech at Saratoga.
Saratoga, N. Y, 16. Speaker Blaine was
serenaded at the Grand Union Hotel this
evening, 10000 people being present. En-
thusiastic applause greeted Mr.. Blaine who
was introduced by VIM. A. Sackett of Sara
toga, and spoke as follows
GENTLEMEN To so much of this grafton
as may be personal to myself, tender you
my most grateful thanks. | came here as
you all did, to enjoy rest and recreation and
the IMMIGRATION of this most delightful re-
sort, and am very sure that the quiet of my
stay Is not broken by this vast concourse of
people, for the purpose of paying personal
compliment to so humble an individual as
myself, holding as l do at present a position
of responsibility in connection with our ma
tional government. / am forced to infer that
the mere fact of your assembling is an invi.
| tation for me to speak to you, however brief,
upon the political questions and issues of the
hour, and yet at the very outset gentlemen,
l feel compelled to say that there never
seemed to me to be time in our history,
| when there was less need Of a speech, or
when the facts of public record carried with
them as potent to every one so fully their own
argument, and enforced so clearly their own
| conclusions. Two great parties between
whom the American people divide their SYM
pathy and their support must be judge, not
by their professions, but by their actions,
where each is in authority. The republicans
are in full honor at Washington, and the
democrats bear undisputed sway in New
York. Need l draw the picture which this
brace OF facts suggests to every intelligent
mind? In Washington every dollar that can
/ IS 60;
fully applied to the reduction Of the national
debt. In New York, every dollar that can
be raised or wrung from the groaning tax
payers, above the current expenses, is faith
| fully applied to the benefit of private ring
| OF political spectators. In Washington we
have witnessed with amazement and admira-
ton the payment of our national debt at
rate Of 100000, 900 per annnm. In New
York we have seen with CONSERVATION and
alarm an increase of the municipal debt at
such rate as would involve at no long period
the bankruptcy and ruin, even of that gigantic
metropolis, with its immense resources and
fabulouss wealth. 1t seems but yesterday
that General Grant was inaugurated, and yet
in the brief period that has since elapsed,
$3.50, 900, 900 of our debt have beee paid,
sum equal to more than one eighth of cur
entire bonded debt, as it exists at this hour
and this payment be it remembered, in the
Presidential contest of 1872, would not be
worth reckoning, and they well know it.
go further gentlemen and aver that the power
OF Iammany with its money in the north,
and the power of terrorism in the SOUTH are
weapons relied upon by democratic leaders
to carry the national contest next year, and
If it were not fol. this, we should have to-day
absolute peace throughout the length and
breadth of the land. Why, l ask is there not
as much supremacy of law, as much civil
order, and as thorough protection of life and
property in the south to-day as there is in
the north? Why is there more disturbance
between the Potomac and Rio Grande than
there is between the Potomac and st. Law
renee? l answer, simply because it is not
for the interest of the democratic party to
have it so. l answer, simply because it is
for the interests of the democratic party that
such condition of affairs shall be MAIN
tanned in the south, as shall prevent fair
and unrestrained vote of the whole people, >,
and do not charge this responsibility wholly
upon the democratic party in the southern
States. They are the immediate actors, but
the responsible endorsers are in the north. If
in the north the democratic party day sim
cereiy, honestly and earnestly ruled it, there
would be an end at once of ku-Klux out
RACES in every southern State. Nay, gentle
men, as in the olden time, ten riotous men
might have turned the wrath OF God from the
doomed city of the plain. So this day and
this hour, believe could name ten leading
aspirants for the Presidential nomination of
the democracy, whose united and righteous
appeals for peace in the SOUTH would pro-
duce peace in the south, and this brings to
the test the sincerity of the new depar-
ture. And what is the new departure?
Why, certain constitutional amendments
being adJudged necessary to secure the full
fruits of the victory of our rebellion, and these
amendments having been regularly adopted
by the requisite two,thirds in both branches
of Congress, and the ratification of three
quarters of the States, the democrats refused
to abide by them IN several instances. Every
democratic member in Congress voted against
resolutions in the House, declaring these
amendments to be of binding force, the last
vote of this kind being given so lately,
think, as April of the present year, but the
late Mr.. Vallandigham, and few others
discovering that this attitude of the democrats
was incipient rebellion, called halt, and the
party in the north generally obeyed, resolv-
ing that upon the whole they would agree to
submit to the constitution of the United
States, and this lawabiding spirit being SO un-
usual with that party and the sensation of
constitutional obedience so novel with them,
that with keenness of wit and reactve sar-
casm, apparently not appreciated by them
selves, they with one consent called it
new departure; but we must be pardoned for
a little incredulity as to the full sincerity of
the newsdeparture until we see it bear fruit,
when every man in the United States enjoys
his full rights to property, his full protection
to person, and his undisturbed right of suf-
frage, and all this by cooperation of the
democrats, we will begin to have some faith
in the purity and sincerity of the sudden con-
version of that party. Until then we will
pray, and hope for the BEST and yet all the
while be tortured with distrust