The Portland daily press., 1872-08-01
BridgtOn Fires its First Gun for Grant
and Wilson.
BRIDGToN, July 81, 1872.

BRIDGT0N, July 81, 1877.
To the Editor of the Press:
In politics, in business enterprises, Brdgton
is never behind the times, as is evidenced by
the fact that the campaign which is to termin-
ate in the triumphant election of Grant and
Wilson has already been opened here by large
and enthusiastic Republican demonstration, in
which from 400 to 800 persons participated, and
during which much enthusiasm for our candi-
dates was manifested.
Tuesday, the 3Oth, being fixed upon for the
organization of Grant club, it was proposed
to throw out the campaign flags, indulge in a
little music and listen to addresses from some
of your Portland orators, though the most san
guine of us did not anticipate anything like the
grand demonstration which was witnessed last
evening. .-.-.-.-
During the day large and beautiful campaign
flags, bearing the names of our standard bear
ers had been thrown to the breeze by w. w.
Cross, ESQ.,, E. A. Gibbs, Hon. C. E. Gibbs,
VIM. f. Perry, Esq, Augustus Perley and
George G. Wight, from the headquarters of
the club room, Gibbs Hall and also the large
and beautiful campaign flag thrown out by the
Town Committee from the Luther Billings
store, and by Rufus Gibbs, Esq. This, with sew
eral smaller flags, makes total of a dozen
Grant and Wilson flags now proudly floating in
this village! I'D t
In the evening the Republicans of Bridgton
assembled at Gibbs Hall at an early hour for
the formation of Grant Club, the call for the
same having been signed by about 800 Of the
legal voters of town whose total vote last year
was only 496. The organization of the club
was speedily effected by tho election of the fol-
lowing officers:
President-B. G. Stone
Vice Presdents-!Thos II. Mead, John B.
Pray, Henry d. Coursoa, George G. Wight,
Ashabel Chaplin, e. R. Staples, Geo. S. Farms
worth, B. +. Whitney, Z. J. Leighton, N. p.
Potter, Byron Kimbali, David 2. Chaplin, Jo-
seph L. Wales, jeff. G. Gallison, Edwin ingalls,
and Albert Gould.
Secretary-H. A. Shorey. At1.-t- a
Executive Committee-Luther Billings John
2. Perley, ]. S. Webb VIM. F. Perry, George
H. Brown, VIM. w. Cross and M. Gleason.
Marshal-H. A. Shorey. ~
Immediately following the organization of
the club procession was formed under the di-
rection of the Marshal, and under the escort of
the Bridgton Brass Band it was marched under
| the campaign flags, which were saluted with
cheer upon cheer by the assembled multitude.
After this the procession marched to the Town
House, receiving Hon. Thos. B. Reed and VIM.
W. Thomas, Jr, Esq, the speakers of the eve
ming, at the Bridgton House. @
The Town House was literally packed by an
audience which numbered at least 500 persons.
B. c. Stone, President of the Grant Club, pre-
sided, who introduced as the first speaker your
townsman, w. w. Thomas, Jr., Esq. Mr..
Thomas made a. capital speech, presenting in
an interesting manner the issues of the day.
He took the position that the battle was but
another engagement with the old Democratic
party, the supporters of slavery, corruption, re-
bellion and all other forms of wickedncss, dis
guised however they may be. He eloquently
reviewed the history of the Republican party
with its splendid achievements, and ridiculed
the idea that the friends of reform were to go
back on the party which has accomplished SO
mucha and turn over the Government to the
very men who have opposed all the reforms
which the party of progress have established.
MI. Thomas spoke shout three-quarters of an
hour, and his speech was well received.
Hon. Thos B. Reed, of Portland, next fol-
lowed, with an able and effective speech, re-
plete with the keenest satire as well as argu-
ments which are unanswerable As the stage
is about leaving we have not time even to allude
to the many capital points made by Attorney
General Reed, and can only say in general
terms that it was rich, entertaining acd effec-
tive
On the whole the demonstration was a grand
success, and our "first gun" creates no little
futtering among the unterriied, who now I'M
derstand that their hitler game of 'brrg'' has
not produced the desired result.
Bridgton will give good account of herself
at the approaching election
Heartily yours, PoNDICHERRY.