The New York herald., 1876-08-15
BLAINE'S SPEECH.

OPENING OF THE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN IN
MAINE-rHE Ex-sPEAKER on GOVERNOR TIL
DEN AS THE CHAMPION OF STATES RIGHTS
ARE WE A NAT1oN?-THE ACTION OF THH
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, REVIEWED AND
CRITICISED.
PORTLAND, Me- August IA, 1876
The republican campaign in Name was opened here
tonight Nearly 1000 people crowded into the City
Hail. many ladies' being present, while as many more
on tho outside failed to gain entrance Hon. Nathan
Webb presided and introduced as a native OF
Maine Hon. Henry o. Pratt, of Iowa,
who spok for hour, reviewing the acts and plat
forms OF the two parties according tho credit OF rc
forms to the republican party, and insisting that the
completion Of The reforms should bo entrusted to the
party which conceived the and not to the democrats
BIAINEs ESTRANcE
At quarter nine Mr. Blaine entered the hall and
was received with tremendous cheering, the band
playing Hail to the Chief" Ten minutes later ne
and spirits but carefully husbandcd his strength.
Mr.. BLAiNs's SPEECH
Hc commenced by sayng:-
One of the chief arguments of tho democrats that
there Is little difference between the two parties.
II he thought IT, was only turning out
in another he would concern timsclf but
little, but he thought there were never more inn
putting forward Mr. Tldcn are putting forward
SPECIAL CHAMPION OF STATE RIGHTS
MT. u
Keut IN which he clearly announced tho strongest
doctrines Of States rights. He made the distinction
between confederation and the nation, and said
that each State had the right to sccedc n it chose He
then quoted Webster in declaring that the United
States is not confederation, but nation, deal
ing directly with individuals and that
S,ac could dissolve the Union; that the consL
tuition Is supreme and thai the Supreme Court is final
interpreter that any state opposed to this is
oulon This nc would put against Mr. Tilden's
letter He quoted George T. Curtis culogy Of thiI
speech Websiersl as the ccarcs and best exposition
orp ryOvpr rnme mt avOrip ada Novv
this speech Is in direct opposition "a the position OF
which the democratic party has planted itself in III,
He quoted Mr. Rock, OF Kentucky in spurning tho
word '.naton and MIR. Eaion of Connecticut, In say.
This tendency OF the democratic party to take thu
State rights side of the question is SO widespread that
In most of the democratic speeches and
sion that this is the nation cannot be
found This is mere splitting Of hairs about torm
The very first point their creed Is that OF
conflict they allegiance TO their State rst He al
ded 10
vIncINIA's DOCTRINE
that q State could decide what matter. should pass
through post Offices. mr. Lamar, ono OF the ablest Of
Southern men, voted for the Centennial appropriation
simply the ground that the power OF dealing with
foreign had been delegated to the general gov
ernmcnt. which ground he could Justify his vote
to read nll the inaugural addresses and mes
sascs OF all the Presidents from Washington
lime. and found this government called nation
bv our first three Adams and
JoiIcrson--il5 times and Washington thanked God
that we were an independent nation. You do heal
conicderacy mentioned until Frank Pierce and Bu
clanan Ar. 1ilden, too, calls it confede
racy Now do you expect nything OF the democracyi
THE CURRENCY QUESTION
What has this Congress done OF general legislation
except repeal the OF resumptionY When II was
passed Mr. Tildcn pleased with IL that he in.
tuccd the State OF New York to make all payments
conform to It, But there was mighty Western dcnoe
racy who believed in imitation, aud they
mot at St Louis and there did not give VI
their convic,ions but simply harmonizcd
their differences by gong to inttatf0n Now, Mr..
Tilden and immediate fricnua zHQAetructed that
platform aud sent II ST l.outs.y e ugson which
got of tho track OF specie ymentS efer got thor.
oughly back without fixing date. We are shrinking
from tho remedy and until rise 10 thS
courage OF our English ancestors We
shalt never hear tho gold eagle and
silver dollar clinking upon our counters Whom
legislative body indefinitely p0stpones thing II Il
considered dead and The ST. Louis Convention, speak,
ing the democracy, indefinitely postpones specie
payments He then reviewed the action OF Congress
in investigating
rnR NAVY DEPARTMENT..
and declared that every individual right which frco
citizen possess trampied in the proceed
ing against Secretary lobcson. lie said that such
violation OF private rights would in England q
mob ana destroy ministry. Tho alton oi Congress
relative TO tho Appropriation bills was next severely
criticised.
Mr. Blainc's speech occupied about an hour and at
its conclusion "a immense procession, with torches,
music fireworks and saues OF light artillery, escorted
the speakers to the Bangor boat, an immense con
course thronging the streets