The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-08-29
The jolly Tar of the Navy Department in
Belfast, with Senator Morrill,.

After the County Convention had finish
ed its business on Saturday. an adjourn
ment was had to Haytord Hall, to hear
Secretary Robson. The hall, notwith-
standing the Convention, was very far
from being filed having an audience no
larger than that which met to hear Sena-
tor Doolittle. Mayor Marshall presided,
and in introducing the Secretary took oc-
casion to say that as Mr.. Doolttle had
made disparaging allusion to Mr.. Robe
son, the audience would now have an OPP
porunity to Judge of his abilities as
speaker. And they certainly did have it
in great abundance.
If Mr.. Pickwick, of Dickens inimitable
sketch, had appeared before the audience
i'll modern costume, he would have re-
sembled Robson. The same round, apple
face, the innocent looking glasses, and the
belly suggestive of good living AS a
speaker, Robson is so laborious that it is
hard work to listen, and the nearer pres
pity as for one struggling with terrible
task, With his connection with the navy
he seems too, to have endeavc red to put
ON ''salt' appearance, much such as the
aforesaid Pickwick would have borne had
he shipped for coasting voyage The
speakers gestures partook Of the same
lndicrouS character. Arms, head and legS
We're in continual motion. At one time
he seemed to be dancing hornpipe then
% he tagging at the braces in obedience
10 "let 90 and haul" then to heave the
lead; and anon to brace himself rs though
At the wheel in gale all the time hitch
ing at the waistband Of his trowsars, in
old tar style His plug hat was planted
on the table, like the heavy gun OF NOR
tar boat, and into it he from time to time
tossed his handkerchief rolled into a ball.
as though he was loading his artillery
The Secretary's elocution was not of an
attractive kind, his voice being heavy and
thick, and badly modulated
The Secretary began his remarks Us tar
back as the landing of the Pilgrims, and
in an hour and 4 half hadn't got up to the
independence of the United States, but
was still wandering among the stars and
clouds, and myslifyin@ his hearers in an
astonishing manner. lie dissected the old
Puritans, talked OF the tendency of prin-
cIples, The race of races, -roamed with old
Romnlns and socked with Socrates, until
his hearers looked at each other in won
der In the two hours and a half that he
bored that afflicted audience. there was not
one sound connected and passably fair
argument. There was a sigh OF relief
when he got exhausted and sat down.
At the conclusion Of the Secrctary's ex-
traordinary speech. Hon. Lot NJ Morrill,
spoke for the little remaining time. 1t
was one of his best efforts and we are
compelled to testify that as a speech for
the occasion it compared with the preced-
inc one as light compares with darkness
He made the best possible use of the ma
terial at his command, was witty and
argumentative by turns, and held his au-
dience to the end. If our sincere advice
is taken, the radicals will keep away their
Robesons and send such speakers as Nor
rll TO this vicinity. We can enjoy good
speech, even il we fail to agree with its
arguments But from Robeson, good
Lord deliver us