The Portland daily press., 1872-08-28
THREE GRAND MEETINGS.!
Splendid TOrchlight Procession.
ssThe Woods are Full OF 'eln."

.sThe Woods are Full of 'eln."
The soldiers of Portland and vicinity have
for several weeks been looking forward to
conference of old companons-in-arms relative
to the great questions which now agitate the
public mind, and upon the settlement of which
the future success of the country so largely de-
ponds. Yesterday was the time fixed upon,
and the preceding days of bright weather gave
hope of bright skies for the meeting. Old
Probabilities, however, interfered somewhat
with the arrangements. He promised a rising
barometer and clearing weather in New Eng
land, but ten o'clock brought rain, which in
creased until soon after noon, when it fell in
torrents, and many of the thousands who were
upon the street were made very uncomfortable.
Notwithstanding the rain, the regular trains on
the varioue railroads were well filled with peo-
pie anxious to participate in the great demon
stration while the special trains were crowded
to overlooking. The first train to arrive was
that from North Conway, on the Portland and
Ogdensburg railroad, which consisted of eight
cen cars and contained 400 passengers. The
Portland and Rochester train arrived promptly
on time at 10 P. NJ, and added 500 to the
crowd which was rapidly assembling Later
in the afternoon the trains on the Maine Cen
trail from Bangor, and on the T., s. and F.,
from Kittery, brought 1000 passengers, while
the Augusta and Lewiston trains, which ar
rived at about P. M, swelled the number of
persons brought by special trains alone to over
5000 This does not of course include the
large number of persons from the surrounding
towns who came in by teams and private con-
veyances and added their by no means inconsid-
cradle quota to the immense multitude. The
various companies and delegations were met
upon their arrival by members of the Republic
can City Committee, and escorted to the Re
publican Headquarters at Lancaster Hall,
where they received a generous welcome and
were treated to bountiful collation. provided
by committee consisting of Messrs. Franklin
Sawyer, John M. Stevens, K. p Chase John
Cousens and John Brewer There was enough
and to spare, and the Committee are entitled to
great credit for so successfully providing for the
wants of the hungry multitude. The first
meeting was called to assemble at City Hall at
81 o'clock, and the rain by this time had pretty
much disappeared, allowing the ladies to be
present and listen to the exercises The hall
was well filled half an hour previous, and when
the Committee and speakers assembled the plat
form, every part of the room was filled to over
flowing. Among those on the platform were
Gems. Burns de- Harlau Caldwell. Frank Fes-
sender, Senator Wilson, Hon. Joel Eastman of
Conway, N H., and Mayor Kingsbury. They
were greeted with long and hearty cheers, the
band playing Hail to the Chief"
Gen. j. w. Starbird called the meeting to
order, saying that they were called together to
consider and talk over their duties in this cam
paign He then read the call, and was twice
interrupted by the entrance of Gen. Butler,
Hon. John Lynch and Frederick Douglass,
who were each welcomed with great applause
The portions of the call referring especially to
jeff Thompson was received with cheers. He
then introduced Gen. Selden Connor as Presi-
dent of the meeting, who was warmly well
coined. He spoke as follows:
thank you, comrades, for the honorable
post to which you have assigned me. l re-
joice with you at this glorious muster of the
soldiers of Maine, rallying now, no less than in
the old days, for the welfare Of our country and
the honor of our flag.
Sabre and musket have been rusting on the
walls of your peaceful homes for many a year
but in the breasts of the men who welded
them, the glow of patriotism burns With steady
fervor, and shines forth with all the old-time
splendor whenever country and comrades are
threatened and assailed.
/ am sure utter the sentiment common to
the soldiers of Maine now before me, to the
thousands of others who are with us to- day in
spirit, and the hundreds of thousands of the
defenders of the Union throughout the land, in
expressing the deep joy that thrills me at the
evidences of which this gathering is one that
the old Guard stands firm in its alignment, and
faces all one way. Our noble leader, turning
to the men he directed to victory over an infa-
NOUS rebellion, sees no scattered and confused
host flying from him in the face of the enemy,
but solid phalanx of freemen answering his
mute appeal with look. of assuring regard and
trust-ready to give him their voices as they
were to support him with the strength of theil
arms in the fullest faith that they thus contin-
ue to serve the cause of country no whit less
faithfully and effectively than when they gave
proofs of their devotion in the shock of battle
on historic fields.
We come together to-day, fellow soldiers, tC
do whatever may lie in our power, to aid il
keeping the government of the country in the
hands of the men whose acts declare theil
worth and faithfulness, and in retaining in hi
office the Soldier-President, whose deserts il
war and peace find but one paral lei
tory This assemblage is in itself a powerful
agent As we look around and see the face
of comrades, good men and true, once famil
lar to us in camp and field, and on the march
we catch anew the spirit of those days wheI
love of the Union and anxious solicitude, AM
toilsome service for its preservation b
together as brothers. In this presence each in
spires the other and all inspire each, witt
fresh determination to move upon whateve
works stand in the way of law and order, an,
dispute the dearly bought supremacy of tn
Natianal Government
You hear objections murmered and outspokel
to the assembling of soldiers for political pur
noses-to which we answer that we do no
come together as a body apart from citizens :
promote separate interests and peculiar aim.
In ali hat concerns the soldier he is willing t
trust his felow-citizens who babe him Go
speed when he went to the front, followed hir
tbitber with steadfast support by word an
deed. sympathized with him in disaster an
reioiced with him in victory. But is it to L
wondered at is it not pardonabe, if soldier
having within them enduring memories {
loved and honored comrades stricken down |
their side, of lab0rious duty and sieepiess ylgll
of wearisome marches and hard fought held
of cruel suffering from wounds and disease,
the multiplied torments of Southern prison
and of all the sharply-cut experiences OF the
military service,-should feel that their cou
try, whose preservation was the c0nsummatlt
of their tolls and sacrifices, has therefore
special DEAFNESS to them, and binds them to
self with ties of strong attachment that othe
cannot know? Since in acting in concert Wi
the loyal people we rendered special service,
1t not permissible that we should retain Il
special associations CONNECTED with that sc
wee, while continuing to be thsiF co-worker
hold the fame and honor of the soldiers
the Y mon in Jealous regard, and would cou
tehance no attempt to draw them to any cour
of action inconsistent with their mast. or to q
tach them to any cause having no relation to
would not see them answer any appeal
range themselves with this or that polite
party upon any occasion of less import Oh;
the maintenance of every inch of erou,
gained by the war, and the security of its be
efcal results But so long as there are Al a,
questions affecting the unity and supremacy
cry American citizen, and its right to his IA,
mount allegance,-I do not believe the defer
ers of the Union will regard themselves
mustered out of its service.
''when all these sums is done and nothn' missed
An not afore, this school will be dismissed"
The question Of the day that is presented
us, is one of surprising moment. Shall we