The Portland daily press., 1876-08-15
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1iiI1
GRAND REPUBLICAN RALLY !
The People Turn Out by
Thousands.
City Hall Three Times Full and
the Streets Crowded.
The Largest and Most Enthusiastic ReDub-
hGan Meeting ever held in Portland
ENTHUSIASTIC OVATION TO
MIR. BLAINE.
Splendid Turnout Of the Republic
can Organizations.
City Hall Three Times Full and
the Streets Crowded.
The Largest and Most Enthusiastic Repub-
hGan Meeting ever held in Portland
ENTHUSIASTIC OVATION TO
MIR. BLAINE,
Splendid Turnout Of the Republic
can Organizations.
The Woods Already Full Of 'um.

Those who have been familiar with every
Republican campaign since the organization of
the party, assert that in point of numbers en-
thusiasm and real downright earnestness, no
opening meeting could compare with that of
last night. Three City Halls would not have
held the people that strove to enter. Indeed,
long before the uniformed companies arrived,
City Hall was full to overlooking and hundreds
had left in dispair. When the companies ar
rived, they were followed by crowds of people
which literally blocked the streets. They
poured in at every door, crowding the stairs
and lower floors in three minutes. Hot was
no good name for the condition of the atmos-
phere
The uniformed companies were formed as
indicated yesterday. They made magnificent
appearance, and in point of numbers must have
surprised the most sanguine. Capt Beams
Pioneers are magnificent body of men. The
Continentals ELECTED lots of praise Capt
Marston's Washington Guards, with their
quaint Brother Jonathan suits provoked con-
slant merriment. Chambers Band and the
Continental Band furnished music for the occa-
sion.
The meeting was called to order by c. j.
Chapman, Esq, Chairman of the City Commit
tee, who nominated Hon. Nathan Webb for
chairman. Mr.. Webb informed the audience
that Mr.. Blaine would be in the hall in season
to make his address. Mr.. Blaine's name was
received with applause. Mr.. Webb then intro
duced Congressman Pratt Of Iowa.
MIR. PRATr's SPEECH
Mr.. Pratt began by saying that the con-
test between the two parties assumed an
Importance greater than that uf any Presiden-
tial contest since 1860. 1t is not whether
Hayes and Wheeler or Tilden and Hendricks
shall be selected for the highest offices in the
gift of the people. The question to decide
is whether or not the Democratic party, with
its terrible history behind it and its principles
condemned and repudiated, shall be entrusted
with this government.
Mr.. Pratt then proceeded to give some reas-
ons why it would be unsafe, unwise and disas-
trous to entrust the Democratic party with the
Government.
Mr. Lamar, he said, was to-day the represen-
gress. In his recent speech in the House, Mr..
Lamar admitted that the Republican party had
made great reforms. 1t had abolished slavery,
it had enfranchised the negro and established the
equality of man in the constitution. Mr. Lamar
said one party begins reforms, another COM
pletes them. The Democratic party acquiesces
in the reforms instituted by Republicans. 1t is
only question of time between the parties,
The Republicans have only been little ahead
OF the Democrats in time 1t is true, said Mr.
Pratt, that the Republican party has acted the
part Of teacher to the Democratic party which
has, however, been willful and vicious pupil.
We cannot complain of what the st. Louis plat
form declares about the Federal union, but
that lesson of faith was taught the leaders OF
that party by long and bloody war. They
assert faith in the constitutional amendments.
Who taught item to believe in them? Would
these amendments ever have been adopted if
the Democratic. part yshad had its way? They
fought, step by step, every reform instituted by
the Republicans and the Democratic pupil
shows such signs of wilfulness that it is hardly
safe to entrust him with the control of affairs.
Mr.. Lamar is right The Republican party
born for freedom, Its first yell was for freedom.
When did the Democratic party begin it work
for freedom? When it was old, grey and
decrepid-if at all.
How has the Democratic party kept its prom
Uses in its platform of 1872? Has it followed
have Democratic legislatures done in the South?
All of them have passed laws practically null-
flying the constitutional amendments and plac
ing the colored man in a state OF serfdom.
of returning sense. They decla red in favor of
uni suffrage and equality before the law
How have they kept their pledges? We have
an almost unbroken Democratic delegation
from The South in the present House. Over
sixty members served in the rebel army or gov
nrnr Ilnxrr Il ii <1ax,
and impartial suffrage on the platform of 1872?
No, by organized terrorism in several states; by
political assassinatons which kept thousands
from the polls. Mississippi is a Republican
state, yet Democratic terrorism made it Demo-
cratic.
Mr.. Pratt closed by declaring that the civil-
cation of the country, its aims and mission
could not be entrusted to the Democratic par.
ty.
OVATION TO MR. BLAINE.
Before Mr.. Pratt had concluded his speech
the shouts from the street and corridors an
nounced that Mr.. Blaine was coming. Mr..
Pratt suspended. When Mr. Blaine made his
appearance be was greeted with immense cheer
ing and Chandler's Band gave its greeting. 1t
was some minutes before quiet was restored so
that the speaker could go on.
MN. BLAINE REMARKS.
As Mr.. Blaine rose to speak, cheer after
cheer was given, and the whole vast audience
rose to its feet and gave prolonged shout of
welcome. He essayed to speak, but for min
utes the applause, ever renewed, would give no
chance to hear word from him. At last his
voice was heard. He at once proceeded to a
discussion of the issues of the campaign, and
ontorod unon q oop, nc ricon of Tho rortto, IN, .
Democrats were fond of saying that the cleo
ton involved only the turning out of one set
of men, getting in another set
honest Bat, in reality, the issues have never
been more clearly defined since 1881. The
dogma of State rights is once again on trial,
and Samuel j. Tilden is the most decided advo
cate of that dogma for twenty years. Neither
Franklin Pierce nor James Buchanan were so
strong advocates nor SO faithful opponents OF
the doctrine as is the New York governor.
Here Mr. Blaine read from Tilden's Infamous
ly celebrated letter of 1860:
Each section is organized into States with com.
plete governments, holding the power and welding
tne SWORD. They are held together only by a com.
pact OF confederation. The masters in DO
the state Governments as bulwarks of the freedom
OF individuals and localities against oppression from
centrahzed power They recognized no right of con-
st tuional secession; but they left revolution organ
lzed whenever it should be demanded by the pubic
opinion Of State,-ieft it, with the power to snaI
the tie OF confederation nation might break ;
treaty, and to repel coercion nation might repe
invasion. They caused us to depend in great meas
ure upon the public opinion OF the States in order t
| maintain confederated union.''
MIR. Blaine proceeded to show that Mr.. Til
den simply echoed the sentiments of Calhoun
and ne read the eloquent denunciation of null
LITIGATION and its parent doctrine delivered b,
Daniel Webster in the Senate in 1888, shown,
how closely it anticipated the arguments of MI
Tilden, how it led inevitably to the doctrine o
secession, and how tIiumphantly the argument
were refuted by the great expounder. Tn
issue of the campaign is the old issue betwee
Daniel Webster and John G.. Calhoun, tn