The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-08-23
Once MOre!!
The Second Grand Rally of the
Campaign.
A Most Enthusiastic Meeting.
City Hall Crowded to Hear Gov. COnnOr
and Col. Ingers0ll.

attentive and appreciative audience Every
seat in the hall was full, and hundreds filled
the spaces at the sides and rear of the hall
Chambers Band furnished the music for the
| occasion.
| The meeting was called to order by Charles
j. Chapman, Esq, Chairman of the Republi
can City Committee, who nominated Hon.
| John B. Brown for the President of the meet
| ing. The announcement of the chairman was
received with applause.
Without remarks Mr.. Brown introduced Gov.
| Conner, who was received with hearty demon
| stratons of applause.
Gov. COAnor's Speech.
When the applause had subsidized Gov, Con.
nor addressed the meeting twenty minutes.
| commanding the closest attention and exciting
frequent applause. Alter thanking the audi
| ence for their hearty greeting, Gov. Conner
SAID mat ne did not propose to speak of state
affairs. The people of Maine, proud of their
state as they might well be, have never held
that regard in any narrow sense. This was
national contest, and before all things else,
Maine people remembered that the state be-
longed to the Union. They would subordinate
the welfare of the state to that of the Union
the Nation. We have not only to elect state
government in September, but we have to indi.
cate our will concerning the national govern
ment. The Republicans of the country look to
Maine for the key note-for an indication of
the mind of an intelligent people in a most i'm
portant national crisis
If the Republican party raises the same old
war cry. it is because the same old foe is threat
ening. Long and faithful have been the SER
vices of the Republican party. 1t has saved
the Union from destruction; it has given lib
erty to the bondman and clothed him with the
dignity of citizenship. 1t now proposes to con-
firm upon every American citizen, however
humble, all the rights of citizenship 1t is, in
deed, matter of humiliation that citizenship
with all that term implies, is held to be of so
little worth in some sections of the country,
What means this cry of a solid South for the
Democratic candidates. solid South in states
where the Republicans in an untrameled cleo
tion have decided majorities? 1t means that
those Southern men who failed to destroy the
Union by war, now seek by violence to trample
upon the rights of weaker citizens-now seek
to stifie the majority by intimidation, by out
rage and murder The Southern leaders pro-
pose to give Mr.. Tilden solid South by organ.
lied intimidation. They may not use the shot
gun. They may not re enact Hamburg and
Colfax, but by secret organization they will
carry out their purposes. A solid South for
Tilden means that the Republican organizers
on the peril of their lives dare not undertake To
take the measures necessary to bring about a
full vote. They will know the past the slaush-
tiers, the midnight murders, the political sssas-
s.nations. These recollections, with the threats
OF continuation, keep American citizens from
exercising the precious right of suffrage,
The government which is now celebrating its
Centennial anniversary, is not a good govern
ment if it does not fulfil the prime functions of
government by maintaining law and order. 1t
is not free government in which citizen can
not cast his vote without fear. 1t is not lust
government if every man cannot be protected
in his dearest rights We who fought in the
late war fought to save a country which was
forever to be the asylum of the oppressed. We
followed flag which was to be through all
time the glorious emblem Of freedom. These
men who are now being deprived of their most
sacred rights by Southern Democrats, were
our comrades, Their skins were dark, but thew
had red blood to shed for national existence,
Tor treedom. They were ever patriots. Tell
us if you can, when they failed to show their
devotion to the Union.
We cannot countenaIce an oppressed class in
this country. 1t touches our honor that the
black man, who was ever true to the couptry's
cause, should tad the gift of freedom a fatal
one. High above all other considerations we
must place that of security to life.
Inc democratic party boasts that it is the |
party OF the constitution. Examine the record |
and see II the Democratic party has been a
more Jealous defender of the constitution than
the Republican party. The preamble of the |
constitution declares that it ordained, first
undertook to take states out of the Union? Not
the Republican. Which party brought back
those states? Not the Democratic, Second,
the constitution was to establish Justice. The
Republican party seized the opportunity and
the great Llnceln, with a stroke of the pen.
wiped out the foul reproach of slavery. Which |
party was it that established Justice, and has
undertaken to promote domestic tranquility?
Not the Democratic party which fought step by
step the constitutional amendments, giving to
every man the browning glory of manhood-the
ballot Not the Southern Democracy, which by
violence deters American citizens from exercis-
ing the right of suffrage, and organizes outrage
upon defenceless race. The tranquility the
Democratic party would give the South is the
tranquility ofslethargy and despair.
But it is urged by DIRECTORS that we have con-
terred the ballot upon the colored citizen, it is
time that we should attend to matters nearer
nome. we don't want any more sentimental
politics. This has always been the cry but our
forefathers would not have become an indepen-
dent nation if the grand sentiment of justice |
and opposition to oppression had not led them
to oppose British taxation It is the sentiment
in politics at all ages of the world which has
resulted in the greatest reforms. |
By still pursuing the sentiment in politics
that is BY securing to all parts of the country
all the blessings of freedom and Intelligence
we shall surely bring about the best practical
results
There are three stages in national progress
First, when it produces food but imports all of
its products of skilled labor; second, when its
skilled labor supplies the home demand; third,
when skilled labor furnishes goods for other
markets. We have reached the last stage,
Our present stagnation arises from the fact
that we want a market for our supplies
Where shall we get 1t? In the South there are |
100000 of people who are but small consum-
ers. They have been slaves. They do not ap- |
precate the blessings of civilization. Educate
them; stimulate them by teaching them to |
accumulate property; inspire in them self-re- |
spect and they will become consumers of the /
products of skilled labor.
We must also come to use the money Of the
civilized world. Until we do so, we cannot ex- |
pect prosperity. The Republican party has de- /
clared TOR redemption in 1879. When Hayes is /
elected resunption is begun.
We must reform the civil service of the ma
ton. The present system is the legacy of the /
Democratic party The Democratic party in /
the House of Representatives has shown the |
nation that it will only turn Union soldiers out
OF place to fill the same with ex rebels. We
must have system which will keep honest |
and competent men in Office We can thereby |
reduce the number of officials and teach Con-
gresham to attend to their proper duties
These reforms Gov. Hayes promises to bring
about. He is man of integrity and will keep
his pledge. We in Maine would have pre-.
ferred Mr.. Blaine, but we bow to the will of
the Convention. Gov. Common then thanked |
the audience and closed with graceful alusion
to COL IngersolI.
Col. Ingersolps Speech. |
The Chairman then introduced Col, Robert
G. Ingersoll of Illinois. He was received with
applause. We can give no adequate idea of his
speech of nearly two hours Indeed, full re.
port could not do the speaker justice. 1t is in
the man as much as in the matter
His remarks were frequently interrupted
with applause. Sometimes every sentence
would be followed with burst of applause.
1t was doubtless one of the most brilliant
stump speeches ever made in this city, The
audience would have listened until midnight.
The following is Co. Ingersoll's speech con-
densed. A great part of it is omitted but