The Portland daily press., 1872-08-08
The Enemy's Fire Drawn.
THE CHARGE OF THE REPUB.
LICAN FORCES.
MASS MEETING AT CITY HALL
Speeches by Secretary Boutwell, and
Hon. James G. Blaine.


slow in opening the campaign. Apparently
they have, but they have had an object in ST.
lence They have drawn the fire of the enemy
got out the worst things the opposition can say
OF the Administration; got display of their
whole stock in trade and are going for them
with purpose. There was demonstration
last night at City Hall which elated the friends
of Gen. Grant and was little discouraging to
| his opponents. And we warn the latter that
there are some more of these demonstrations
coming, and they will find the temperature for
the next ninety days exceedingly uncomforta-
| BILE.
1t was announced that Secretary Boutwell,
would spe ak last night at City Hall, and the
people turned out well, completely filling the
room. 1t was one of the largest audiences that
has been gathered this season, and far exceed
ed the great Fitzpatrick raid. To the great sat-
isfaction of the people, the solid arguments of
the Secretary were supplemented by one of
James G. Blaine's terse, caustic and ringing
efforts and the enthusiasm of the evening was
immense, both speakers being frequently inter-
rupted with cheers and shouts of laughter.
Previous to the meeting at the hall new
campaign flag, bearing the names of the Re
publican nominees, was hung out from the
PRESS Office and greeted with the noise of can
non and the united voices of a great multitude.
The Continentals and Republican Artillery in
full uniform, with the Portland Band, made a
street parade and escorted the people to City
Hail.
The meeting was called to order by Hon.
Josiah H. Drummond, who gracefully intro
duced Hon. George S. Boutwell,, Secretary of
the Treasury. The appearance of Mr.. Bout
well was the signal for hearty and long con-
tinued demonstrations of applause, which the
band aided by playing Orally round the Flag"
Mr.. Boutwell, said:-I see in this vast assem-
bly, that the fires of freedom still burn brightly
in the leading State of New England. In the
pending election with you it is only question
of majorities. He trusted the people of Maine
would strive by all honorable means to make
that majority large. 1t is attempted by our OPP
ponents to saow that this issue is only one of
preference between persons-that the platforms
were identical. Should this be the case, which
It is not, could there be any hesitancy with the
American people as to the choice? But it is
not the fact; the issue is the same in effect as
in 1860, 1864 and 1868. The issue in these me-
'tADAssDAS
that have marked the Republican successes
The contest now is all the more important be-
cause it is to retain and make effective the great
results of the past.
Mr.. Boutwell, said he was under no obligation
to President Grant. He occupied the place he
now holds at the Presidents and not at his own
solicitation; and if he was not thoroughly con-
WINGED that Gen. Grant is an honest, efficient
and conscientious officer, he would not support
him. The Office of President was never held
by more patriotic and careful man. In the
discharge of his duties he considered the public
good without personal consideration or preju-
dice 1t is now too late to question his execu-
tive capacity. The man who has commanded
million of men on the widest field that an army
ever operated on without dictation from the War
Department, must be a man of capacity. In
all coming time he will be ranked with the few
great commanders of the world. A hundred
years hence thousands of children in this
country will know his name and group the
name of Grant with that of Washington and
Lincoln.
Referring to his recent visit to North Caro-
lima, he said he did not see a black man who
would not vote for Gen. Grant As lately
emancipated race they were ignorant, but upon
three or four points about which centered their
future, they had clear cut ideas. They knew
Lincoln, the Emancipator; the Republican
party that brought them out of the house of
bondage; Gen Grant, the great soldier who
commanded the armies of Freedom; President
Grant, who had been their friend in his office
In this contest the condition of the Democratic
party was that of a hopeless Spectator, who
was willing to engage in the most hazardous
scheme, else it would not join the Cincinnati
movement. Mr.. Boutwell, then proceeded to
state the confidence that Mr.. Lincoln and Sec
rotary Stanton had in Gen. Grant-that he was
the greatest Obstacle to Andrew Johnson's in
trigueS.
Mr.. Boutwell, next noticed the two resolutions
of the Baltimore Convention relative to the
amendments, ETC., the first of which declared
the equality of all men before the law. He
thought this question was safer with the Re-
publcans who had accomplished that result
than with the Democracy; for really the infiu-
ence and power of that party in the new COM
bination would be as ninety-nine to one. Who
doubts but what the ninety-nine will control the
one? The other resolution, said the speaker, is
significant" Local self-sovernment with uni
versal amnesty and impartial suffrage will
guard the rights of all the people better than
any centralized power" 1t was necessary he
said to speak of universal amnesty, for by
President Grants recommendation it was all
but universal now. But why speak of univer-
sal amnesty and omit to insert universal or I'M
qualified suffrage? What does it mean? 1t
means that suffrage may be impartial in GER
tain sense without being universal. 1t means
that North Carolina or any State may put quail
ificatons upon voters which, while they
are impartial, destroy the principal of universal
suffrage. They may require as qualification
for suffrage the possession of a homestead or
one hundred acres of land. This is the mean
ing of the expression; and it is base treachery
to the Republican party. The phrase is snare.
1t is not personal contest; it is the attempt of
the Democratic party to nullify the consttu-
tionai amendments by declaration that local
governments can best manage the question of
suffrage-that no legislation of the general gov
ernment is necessary to vitalize and give effect
to the three amendments to the Constitution.
You who have poured out your blood and treas
ure to secure all that has been gained for equal
rights are called upon to surrender to party
that has no constituency which in turn has been
swallowed up by the party that has desperately
contested every new advance for human free
dom. They say they will not disturb the
amendments; but these are unimportant without
Congressional legislation, and this they de-
clare against. They would have left the pun
ishment OF the Ku Klux to local governments,
when in North Carolina some of the local
officers were Ku Klux leaders. The local leg
islation of Georgia may under the Cincinnati
resolution establish a system of peonage and
slavery. Cancellation is the cry of our oppo-
nents Surrender is a better and truer term
Cancellation may take place between two men
who have quarreled but between the Govern
ment and the people the term is not applicable.
Give all equal justice and equal rights
Mr.. boutwell, proceeded to notice the charges
against the President, one of which was he ac-
cepteu presents. w men ne was General OF
the army he accepted presents as did other gen.
erals, but that was long before he was cand-
date for the Presidency. 1t was simply silly to
charge him with repaying the donors with
Offices The next leading charge was that of
giving offices to his relatives and friends If
he has a weakness, it is in that direction. He
remembers his early friends and desires that
they may share his prosperity. But the public
service has never suffered to the extent of
dollar by any relative or friend of the President.
Mr. Boutwell, next noticed the story of the
immense defalcations in the internal revenue
amounting, as shown by the books, to 500, 000,-
600. AT no time was it in any real sense de-
falcation. The assessor makes up q list of
taxes. One list is given to the collector, who
receipts for it, and the other is sent to the
Department. The collector is charged with
it until all is collected Should q successor
be appointed before the whole list is col
lected, by the peculiar way of keeping the
books he is charged with the whole list again,
and it often comes about that several collectors
are charged with the whole amount before set
Element is reached, so that before the whole
collection is made by the last all the others APP
pear delinquent. The real amount of defalca-
ton in the internal revenue bureau has been
| 50 7000 600; of which 100000 was by officers
| appointed by President Lincoln, $1,700,00O by
| Mr.. Johnson's appointees, and $64, 900 by Pres
| ident Grants officers During the twelve years
| of Republican administration, it has handled
| "a per cent. of all the money ever in the Treas
| ury since the establishment of the government,
and the losses by defaication or other Irregular
| tiles have been less on the "a per cent. than on
| tha parpa IF no al a1p mi