The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-09-07
GEN. woopFoRD AT GoRHAm.
Large and Most Enthusiastic Meeting
Am Eloquent and Timely Speech.

| HiSus AhO NodpiuCuVdtSt SiASy-uFO
| and the Gorham Cadets, a uniformed compa-
ny of lads with the Saccarappa Band, received
| the General at the residence of Major Robie,
| and escorted him to the Town Hall. The resi-
| denees] ons The route were illuminated. and a
| large crowd accompanied the procession, filling
| the hall Immediately and obliging still larger
numbers to be disappointed, The baud played
an excellent selection and the meeting was
called to order by Lewis Mcclellan, esq.,, who
nominated Col. Robbie to preside. Loud calls
| were made to bring the speaker outside. which
was compromised by opening all the windows
so that the outside crowd could hear.
Col. Robbie congratulated his fellow citizens
on the large attendance and briefly alluded to
the experiences of the past. He complmented
the Continentals on their fine appearance and
the zeal which they had shown for the cause +,
in emulation of the example Of their ancestor S
OF Centennial fame. He then gracefully intro
duced Gen. Woodford who was received with
round of applause. He regretted that his
voice would not allow him to speak in the open
air, and continued:
Ladies and Gentemen-Y our very presence
assures me that you at least comprehend the
political situation and are resolved to do your
part in answering its demand. L need, there
fore, spend little time, nor waste even few
words in reminding you of your personal duty
as citizens.
Believe me, speak the words of soberness
and truth, when tell you that the chief dan.
ger to this people lies not in Democratic sue
cess, not in Republican defeat, but in the GRIM
NAL neglect of their personal political duty by
'he educated and the good. Educated brain
and Intelligent virtue always rule among men
when they will. When they do not, it is sim
ply because they are too cowardly or too indo-
lent. To admit anything else is to deny the
very foundations on which all popular Cover n
ments rest.
These gathered hundreds, these earnest faces
upturned to mine in an swering sympathy, this
cordial welcome, all prove that you are not
above nor yet below being the voting, working
faithful citizens of repu Bile, whose people
must vote honestly, wisely and bravely, if we
would keep our place and fame and do our
appointed wo:k among the nations.
The discussions of this canvass all group
themselves around three central problems.
These are, first, the question of civil service
reform Gas it has come to be technically styled
second, the financial situation; and third, the
Southern problem.
As to each of these let me speak directly,
briefly and without reserve.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Our Democratic friends in their St. Louis
platform, with one breath praise the good old
days of the .Jacksonian time, and with an
other bemoan the evil custom that now re-
wards partisan service with public office. Do
they forget that with Jackson came the party
cry: TO the vctors belong the spoils?" That
was good Democratic doctrine then, IF we
could turn inside out the patriotic and unselfish
hearts that were gathered at st. Louis few
weeks, and read their inmost hopes and fears,
fancy we should find it sure article of the
Democratic faith to-day. Do they forget that
with the incoming of the Jackson administra-
ton there followed the first general turning
out of Office of all political opponents of every
grade from the village postmaster to the Cab
iret adviser? They bewail the working of the
official guiliotine. So do l. DO they forget
that it was Democratic invention for whose
patent Democrats applied, for whose renewal
Democrats are responsible, and for whose ex-
tension Democrats are to-day striving?
The absurdities of our civil service system
are self evident The method of appointment,
the tenure of retention, and the conditions of
discharge would not be tolerated in any kind
of private business Both parties, nay, we the
people ourselves, for we constitute both the
parties, are responsible for this condition of
things. Reform in this matter must begin
with US rather than at the White House. So long
as we ourselves regard the the post office as a
proper reward for local political service, SO
long we shall elect Congressman whom we ex-
pect and intend to see that the post offices are
properly distributed to the most efficient party
workers. So long as we do this, or tolerate
this, the Congressman will naturally think
that the patriot who works most efficiently for
him. works most usefully and wisely for the
party and for the people. So long as this sys-
tenn obtains, just SO long will our CoDgressme en-
be so many brokers in patronage; Just SO long
will the larger opportunities of craftsmanship
be swallowed up in the petty details of par
ceiling out places.
upon our Representatives and Senator'S they
in self-defence must press them on the Pres-
dent and heads of Departments. Efficient
cure must be very radical. Radical cure will
only come when we. the people, have decided
that public office is for public service and not
for party use and party help. The cure will
come when we shall thus believe; for then and
then only will our agents in the House, in the
Senate, in the Cabinet, and in the Presidential
chair reflect our belief and do our will. This
education is going on. This people are too
practical always to submit to system of
official appointment and official tenure so cum
bersome, so expensive, so full! of Temptation
to dishonesty, and SO full Of opportunity for
| inefficiency as that we now employ
Meanwhile, our President can do mucbs to
reform abuses, to improve methods, and to
| guide public opinion Alright In such service
and to secure such result let me plainly saw
| that believe we can more safely trust Gov.
ernor Hayes and the Republican party than
GOV. Tilden and the Democracy.
Such reform as that we seek in the civil ser.
vice is only possible by by party and through
a party that fully believes in school houses. in
ideas, in loyalty, in equal justice, and in hon.
| esty. And such party has the Republican
| party ever been. Such party is it to-day.
HONEST MONEY.
| Now let US turn to the matter of finance /
| shall not weary you with long details>of argu.
ment nor with bewildering array of statistics
| We Republicans believe that nations, like men,
should keep their word and perform theil
promises. We believe in truth and honesty.
| We believe that pledge kept strengthens
! credit, and that pledge broken destroys credi,
and invites bankruptcy We believe in dollars
| that are dollars worth to-day what they were
worth yesterday, what they will be worth to.
morrow. We believe that labor should be
| paid in honest money, in money that is money
| the wide world over. We believe in taking
care of the bil-holder as well as the bond-hold.
er. We know that we have taken care Of the
bond-holder. We know that we have made
| our credit SO good that whereas we could only
once borrow greenbacks at seven per cent,
interest, we can now borrow gold at four and 9
half per cent. And now we deliberately intend
to take just as good care of the bill-hoder, and
| pay him the coin that his bill promises. We
know that the first law signed by President
Grant in 1869 pledged the payment of oul
| greenbacks as soon as we should be able. We
| know that in 1875 we fixed that date for this
| payment of the greenbacks on the 1st day Of
January, 1879. We know that if the nation
keeps this promise to the b!ll-holder we shall
tell the truth and do the truth. We know that
| If the nation breaks this promise we shall tell
| lie and act lie. Because we believe in