The Portland daily press., 1872-06-08
OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN.
Enthusiastic Endorsement of Grant and
las Wilson by the Republicans
Of Portland.
CAMPAIGN FLAGS RAISED.
A Grand TOrchlight Procession.
Music and Speeches.

| the Philadelphia Convention met with hearty
and enthusiastic response from the Republicans
Of Portland; and but for the very severe storm
of Thursday evening they would have given a
proper expression of their appreciation immedi-
ately ON the reception of the news. Last night,
however, the skies being more propitious, they
responded to the invitation to unite in proper
demonstration and open the campaign of 1872
with an earnestness equal to that of 1868, and
in manner that should betoken equal success
AT half past seven the different organizations
tegan to gather at theRepublican Headquarters
at Lancaster Hall. First came the Republican
Artillery of Ward 1, followed by the Clubs of
the different wards, and by 8 o'clock Lancaster
Hall was completely filled. Col A. M. Ben
son was appointed to act as Marshal with w.
H. Motley as Adjutant, and Matthew Adams
and Sterling Dow as Aids. The procession was
formed in the following order:
Republican Artillery.
| - Portland Band.
| Marshal and Aids. JESS
Grant and Wilson Club of Ward l. Charles c. Chase
| Marshal.
Grant and Wilson Club of Ward 2.
Grant and Wilson Club of Ward 3, j. F. Land Mar
Grant and Wilson Club Of Ward 4, A. M. Sawyer
| Marshal.
Grant and Wilson Club Of Ward 5, T. A. Roberts
..-.t- Marshal.
Grant and Wilson Club OF Ward g.
| Grant and Wilson Club of We d Z, William o. Fox
- Marshal -..'t
The Club turned out well, and it is estimated
that there were 700 in the procession proper,
more than half of whom carried torches, which
added to the effectiveness of the spectacle. At
least 1000 persons gathered in Market Square,
and joined the Clubs in their march, complete
! ly filling Congress street. At the head of Stat,
| street the procession halted, where flag was
| furled upon rope stretched across from the
residence of VIM. Hammond, Esq. to that of
James N. Winslow, Esq. The widest enthr-
siasm prevailed along the route. The cheers of
the people, the music of the band, and the fire.
wo,ks which lighted up the scene along every
foot of the way made the event one of the
mos imposing, for an impromptu affair, that
ever was seen in Portland. At given signal
the flag was loosed, and as it fell from its folds
it was greeted with cheers the band playing
Hail Columbia. Hon, J. HI. Drummond, then
addressed the multitude substantially as fol-
| lows: aH lFt- fHl ...f t.ll.-
| Fel,cD Cisi-esc:-I have been invited to as
sist you in inaugurating this Presidential cam
paign. congratulate you upon the glorious
auspices under which it opens Four years ago
a traitor sat in the Presidential chair. We re-
member the condition of the country at that
| time and we had doubts of his integrity. The
result of his administration showed that we had
reason for our fears. The rebels and the friends
| of the rebels in the North united to defeat the
Republican party, but the party has made
noble record for itself. 1t is proper then, that
after great reduction of the national debt,
and release from the burden of taxation, the
man who has carried the country through its
greatest trials should be called again to the
Presidential chair. The adherents of the rebel
lion are again carrying the flag of disunion. I
have referred to the old files of the Tribune
almanac to find something Greeley had said
against the Democratic party, but found so
many severe things that have not the hear to
| quote them. Itelieve the Democratic party de-
serves punishment, but cannot desire to in
| fiict severer punishment than to swallow
Greeley. As Maine leads in the campaign, it
is proper that you should astist in flying again
TO the breeze the flag under which we shall
again march to triumphant victory.
The Band responded with the Star Spangled
Banner, and after saluting the flag which Mr..
Eben Corey had thrown out from his residence,
the procession marched to Deering street, and
through Cumberland, Smith and Congress
streets, to Munjoy. All along the route the
same enthusiasm was apparent Many houses
were illuminated, windows and balconies were
filled with fair women, who greeted the Repub-
licans with bright smiles and waving handker-
chiefs
Arriving at the Ward room on Munjoy, the
procession halted and the Band played med
ley, in the midst of which a splendid flag was
run out and greeted with the cheers of the
crowd; the Band changing the music to the
Star Spanged Banner. Three cheers and
tiger followed, and Col. Geo. w. Parker was
introduced He congratulated the Republicans
of Ward One for the honor of displaying the
second flag of the campaign. Horace Greeley
once said that u. S. Grant had never been
beaten. So Ear 1 endorse Greeley. (Cheers.)
The Republicans of Ward One will march
shoulder to shoulder and win glorious victory
in November. He called for three cheers for
the moui lers, which were given with VIII.
The clubs then started on their return to
Headquarters, in the midst of shower which
had begun to fall. They marched steadily on,
the crowd in attendance by no means diminish
ing. Assembled in Market Square the great
| flag WINS run out from Lancaster Hall, and two
smaller ones were displayed from the tops of
the fag-staffs The same ring of cheers and
| jubilant notes of assured victory were observed
here as elsewhere, while the square was blaze
Cf light from the bursting fire works. The as
sembly then gathered inside, filling the room
completely full. The meeting was called to or
| der by w. G. How, Esq, who nominated the
following list of officers for the evening:
Presidential. A. Blanchard
Vice Presidents-Geo w. Beal, r. s. Maxcy,
T. S. Jack, E. p. Talbot VIM. Senter, G. NJ.
j. d. Fessenden, Major G. Walker, James Bal
| ley, Henry Fox, Gen. G. p. Mattocks, Charles
| Perry.
Secretaries-Benj Barnes, Jr., Geo. H. Alb
bott, Geo. c. Burgess.
Mr.. Blanchard, in taking the chair, Thanked
| his fellow Republicans for calling him to pre-
| side over the opening meeting of the campaign.
| They had met in response to the call of the
| Philadelphia Convention, which was formed by
| representatives of the Republican party from
nominated, with great unanimity, the illustri-
GUS U. S. Grant (cheersl and coupled with his
name that of the honOred Wilson. 1t was fit
ting that they fling to the breeze the banner of
our country, around which we love to cluster
the emblem of power and the protection of our
citizens at home and abroad. Paying beauti-
full eulogy to Gen. Grant, he spoke of Senator
| Wilson as the representative of the working
classes of the country; who had worked his way
from poverty to the second place in the nation
by his indomitabe energy, and we recognize
him as self-made man. These men are our
| representatives in this campaign; and we have
| arrayed against us-what? The old copper
| head party in all its different forms. Ever
since 1860 it had been seeking for some Repub-
lcan to dig its grave, and had chosen Horace
| Greeley. If he is to dig it let him dig it broad
and deep The campaign is hardly open. 1t
will not be fully open until after the Baltimore
| Convention. Who will be nominated, no one
can tell. They may throw overheard that
great and good man." Horace Greeley, and
nominate some at present unknown. If they
put Gratz Brown on the ticket it will be sure
of DEATH Referring to Horace Greeley and
| Charles Sumner the speaker said they had at
tanned all their greatness in the Republican
party. He had read Mr.. Summers speech with
sadness He did not recognize any mans right
to turn round and abuse the means by which he
reached greatness. There is too much at stake
now to acknowledge the right of Charles Sum-
ner to murder the Republican party No mat
ter how high or low the man may be, the Re-
publican party forgives no detection, and is sure
to punish the man who attempts to cut its
throat.
Mr.. Blanchard then introduced Hon. Thomas
B. Reed.
Mr.. Reed said the present campaign open
under more favorable auspices than any he had
ever known. He remembered that in the cam
asm. The enthusiasm of tonight promises a
greater success than 1868. If any man pretends
not to believe in progress he had better look
back four years. Then the country had just
emerged from the war, and the Democratic
party who had fraternized with rebels, had
nothing to forgive or forget in those who brought
the war to a successful conclusion, now are
ready to swallow the 18th amendment and re-
| caiye the votes of negroes if thew lead to vic