The Portland daily press., 1876-09-22
THE CAMPAIGN.
Speech of George William Curtis
at Concord.

CoNcoRD,I N. H., Sept. 2l-The Republicans
held meeting in Phoenix Hall tonight which
was addressed by George VIM. Curtis of New
York, who missed some railroad connection
and did not arrive iu time to address the mass
meeting in the afternoon. The hall was crowd
ed with people and the meeting opened at G. 80
o'clock with music. Hon. Charles P. Sanborn,
the chairman, with appropriate remarks then
introduced Mr.. Curtis, who was received with
cheers.
three-quarters and was greeted with the utmost
enthusiasm. He discussed at length the his
tory of the Democratic and Republican parties,
dwelling upon the. connection of the latter with
the government. "Men still remain Republic
cans r. said "because the party that opposed
the Republicans before and through the war is
still the great obstruction to the progress of the
government" He believed the government
could not be safely trusted to the old copper
heads and rebels because all the issues that can
be discussed today by that party are only those
that spring from the war and the conclusion
reached by the war.
81 believe" said he, that the only basis for
this country is specie one, gold and silver, land
am opposed to entrusting the government TO
party which last June voted to oppose the re-
sumption act. am opposed to the democrat
ic party because they have nominated hard
soft money ticket In this ticket we have seen
the head surrendering to the tail and the latter
wagging the former most vigorously.
II am" he said, with all the profoundly of
my faith, in favor of civil service reform, but
do not look'to the party which in the last Con-
gress turned out 81 Union soldiers to give places
to confederate soldiers, to accomplish it. The
Democrats tell us that the issues of the war are
ended, but if so is the Democratic party dis
banded? Is there single issue of that party
that does not spring from the war? During
the war the Democrats were for peace and after
the war they opposed the whole scheme Of re-
construction.
He then spoke of reform and economy, but
said that the country could not determine as to
the validity of the claims of the Democrats
that their Congress had cut down the expenses
of the government $3S 100000 until the def
cheney bills can be seen as these will show how
much has been saved. In speaking of Cover
nor Tilden he said that it was claimed that he
had decreased the taxes of New York 5000, 900
but he argued that this was simply accomplish
ed by the extinction of debts and this bad been
managed under the administration of Gov.
Dix. "Gov. Tilden must show decrease in
the running expenses he said, sin order to
demonstrate that he is entitled TO the claim, for
he has nothing to do with the extinction of the
debts of the state.
1.-THE Democrats of Massachusetts," he said,
'havo nominated man for Governor whose
name is dear to the Republicans of the whole
country. L speak of a man that and all who
hear me ought TO honor, man of absolutely
spotless character and the most unquestiOned
dUlllty, b uudE tOWdTQS WHOM CQo WQOlo COuu-
try looks with gratitude for his eminent ser-
vices in the past, but he has not drop of Dem
ocratic blood in his veins. His nomination by
the Democrats was made for export trade and
not for home consumption. 1t was for outside
effect. When the Democratic party want
power they go outside to nominate their candi-
dates and choose men who were never in the
party The Democratic proposition now is that
the unchanged party of the North and South
shall be called to administer the government
and that it shall be handed over to the party
who fought against it in the South and the
copperheads 10 the North who opposed it."
He then discussed the Southern question and
said the real difficulty 10 the Southern states is
not due to the Republican party. but TO the
white population there. He attacked the polit-
ical record of Gov. Tilden and Gov Seymour
most severely and spoke in high terms of Gov.
Hayes. In closing he predicted success for the
Republican party in November.
A torch-lght parade took place this evening
in which organizations from Manchester,
Nashua, Bristol, Warner and this city partci-
pated. The procession was imposing, there
being some 1900 or 1900 men in line, each orga-
nization being in uniform and equipped with
torches and transparences. Many buildings
were Illuminated and decorated, and as the
march was made through Main street fireworks
were discharged. The procession marched
through the principal streets and was cheered
en- Enthusiastically along their route. The orga-
Hizations from out of town returned home by
special trains after the parade.
Hon. James G. Blaine left for Boston on the
d. m. train