The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-09-07
Meeting at City Hsn.


Gen Milan an Irishman and a soldier of
distinction, and Mr.. Costello, who participated
in the yicissitudes of Col. Warren's Band of
Hope in Ireland, addressed their countrymen at
City Hall last night. The attendance was quite
good and the interest taken in the speech was
deep and gratifying Mayor Kingsbury presid-
ed and introduced the speakers in short
speech in which he presented the Republican
view of the rights and duties of adopted citi
zens, and the position of the party OH the labor
question. Gen MILAN remarked that he came
in the interest of the Republican party and to
show why Irshmen should identify themselves
with the Republican party The issue is not
between the candidates but parties. The Dem
ocratic party has always been the friend of
slavery and the enemy of labor. Proceeding to
show the position of the South upon this gues-
ton and to discuss the tariff and the home
stead bill and their connection with the labor
interest, he then proposed to consider the rela-
tive position of the two candidates for the
Presidency. As he pronounced the name of
Horace Greeley the crowd on the front seats
and around the doors began to applaud, and
called for "three cheers for Greeley" and the
call was responded to. well known Republ-
can jumped ON his seat in the middle of the
hall and called for ''three cheers for Grant,
and they were given vigorously. The Demo-
Gratis called again for cheers for their candidate
and when the Republicans called for three
more for Gen. Grant the Democrats responded
by Kissing Gen. MILAN succeeded in restoring
order and resumed his speech, first reminding
those who were disposed to create a disturbance
that by their conduct they essayed to deprive
an American citizen of his right--the right of
free speech. He resamed his remarks, but
when he mentioned the name of Mr.. Greeley
the Democrats began their kissing. A commo-
ton took place around the door. accompanied
by cries of "Put him out; choke him." The
Mayor interposed and remarked that he did not
attribute the difficulty to the Irish. He had
too much faith in them to believe that they de-
sired disturbance. cam mistaken in them?"
he asked. Voices, ''No! Nor The noise at
once subsidized and soon the disturbers of free
speech left the house in body. While the
disturbance was at its height the police arrest
ed James Kennedy for creating disturbance
and locked him up. Gen. MILAN proceeded
with his argument, and reviewed the political
history of Horace Greeley for the past twelve
years, touching chiefly upon his well-known Sc
cession sentiments in 1860, his treatment of the
currency question and his love for Office. The
speaker then reviewed the public career of Gen.
Grant and sketcked the achievements of the
Republican party. He considered some of the
charges made against the Administration by its
opponents, and closed wi h an earnest advocacy
of the Maine Law, urging his countrymen to
sustain if both in theory and Dr9ctice
Mr.. Costello was suffering from hoarseness,
occasioned by speaking in the open air, and
spoke briefly. He urged his countrymen to act
independently and manfully in political affairs,
to consider the issues of the campaign and the
position of the tive parties, and upon the evil
dence before them vote for the measures that
would best advance their interests and the
nrOSnerity of their adonted country.