The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-09-11

The closing rally of the Republicans of Port
land at City Hall Saturday night was one OF
the largest and most enthusiastic gatherings of
the campaign. Despite the circus outside and
the:absence of the campaign clubs who were
doing good service at Biddeford the hall was
packed by multitude anxious to hear the dis.
tinguished orators who were announced to
speak. Frederick Douglass, the consummate
flower of his race is always received with en-
thusastic homage in Portland. His simple
eloquence, the perfection of Saxon speech, and
his voice as that angels whose heartstrngs are
lutte, thrill Republican audience as the
words of no other speaker can. He is the type
and living embodiment of the work of the par
ty of freedom, the representative of the great
achievements of the last quarter Of century,
The disappointment was great when it was an
nounced that he was too ill to speak; for tina
audience was not content even with the feast
which Gen. Woodford spread before it; it count.
ed on royal banquet.
The meeting was called to order by the VEN
cradle w. w. Thomas, who introduced with
fitting words Gen. Stewart T. Woodford of
New York as the speaker of the evening. Those
who have had the good fortune to hear Gen.
Woodford can realize the delight of his auditors
at the admirable speech which fell from his
eloquent lips. His splendid diction, his polish
ed satire, his impassioned delivery, attractive
as they are, are but the accessories to states
manlike. generous and uobly courteous presen-
tation of the issues which now divide the coun-
try, representation from the loftiest standpoint
and appealing to the thoughtful men and wo-
men before him as no other speech in this cam
paign has. 1t was received with enthusiastic
delight, and every golden sentence was punct-
uated by tremendous bursts of applause We
shall not attempt to give the points of the adj
dress as the ground covered was substantially
the same as that in the speech at Gorham re-
ported in these columns last week. The au-
dience was quick to observe the points made,
and prompt and hearty in its demonstrations of
approval. The picture of the translation of
Tilden borne up on one hand by the Angel
John Kelley and on the other by the Angel
John Morrissey was received with unbounded
merriment, and the splendid peroration called
forth cheer upon cheer Gen. Woodford closed
with these words: SIT is related in an old
legend that when the brave King Robert of
Scotland died he gave his faithful lege Doug
las charge that he should take his royal heart
to the holy Land and lay it there at rest.
Douglas undertook the task. The heart of'the
dead king was placed in golden locket, which
the brave lord bore next his own living and
loyal breast. Going to the East he passed with
his followers through Spain. Engaged in bat
tie with the Saracens he was well nigh over
powered. But as the in6dels closed around
him, and in the desperate fight hope seemed
gone, he seized the casket, flung it forward in :
to the thickest of the fight with the words, go
thou on brave heart as thou ddst always go,
beforew Then with new life his followers
pressed on, and fighting up to the golden heart
they won the doubtful day. So in these dark
hours of disaster and depression, when the in
fidel hosts of doubt and Encouragement force
US back, let us fling forward into the most des-
perate fight our dead Lincoln's golden memo
ry and fighting up to this we shall get victory
for honor, victory for manhood, victory for alb
solute honesty"
The only fault to be found with Gen. Wood
ford's speech was its brevity. But he was so
hoarse from long continued outdoor speaking
that Che could trust his voice no longer.
The people would have listened an hour longer
So enthusiastic were they that they responded
with laundering amen to the aspiration with
which the venerable chairman closed the meet
ing, "God grant US success at the polls.''