Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-08-15
MIR, BLAINE RECEIVES A PERFECT
OVATION FROM THE AUDIENCE.
THE SPEAKERS ESCORTED TO TIE BAN
COR BOAT BY A PROCESSION.
Music, lire Works and Artillery added
to the Splendid Demonstration.

IoftIahu, august Ia. Inc republican CahPaisn
was opened at Portland tonight by Hon. james
&. Blaine and Hon. H O. Pratt of Iowa City
| Hall was dcnsey packed at an early hour.-save
the seats that were saved for the uniformed clubs
and an equal number unable to get in great
number of ladies were in the audience.
At ten minutes to eight the distinguished guests
| arrived and quickly packed the platform, and i'm
medatey after them followed the political soldiery
whose varied uniforms excited much attention
| and considerable amusement. When the Wash
| ipgton Light Guards entered with white bell
crowned hats and striped trowsers, like the en-
blamatical Brother Jonathan, Chambers Band
played choice selection, and Hon. Nathan Webb
was prese nted as chairman. He announced that
| Mr.. Blaine was in town and would be here at
later hour. He then introduced Mr. Pratt as
native of Maine. Mr.. Pratt was warmly received.
He commenced by speaking of the Importance
of the struggle impending 1t is not whether
Hayes and Wheeler shall be elected, but whether
the great republican principles shall be sustained
| or repudiaed. lie then sketched the reasons why
| the democracy shout Id not be restored to power.
| He spoke of Lamar Of Mississippi as the repre-
sentative southern man and called attention to his
acts and utterances that the republicans had ac-
complshed great reforms which the democrats
would completes but Mr.. Pratt believed the com
pletion should be left to the party which conceiv-
ed them. He reviewed the St. Louis platform and
contrasted their previous acts with the declara-
tions there made. Lamar said there was hardly
any difference between the two parties except a
little difference in time, but Mr.. Pratt didn't be-
lieve the democratic party on the road at all.
| At twenty minutes of nine chez rs on the street
and all along the corridors announced that Blaine
was coming, and few minutes after the speaker
| was interrupted by tremendous cheer from the
| audience, as Blaine came mp the platform, while
| the band struck up "Hai to the Chief" When
| order was restored Mr. Pratt resumed and spoke
| fifteen minutes longer.
| Mr.. Blaine commenced speaking at five min
utes to nine, and was received with repeated
cheers. He appeared in good spirits and health,
Blu, carefully preserved his strength. He COM
| menced by saying that he came here to speak, if
| these noisy gentlemen would give him opportu-
| nifty
He said ore of the great arguments urged by
our opponents is that there is but little difference
between the parties; if he thought it was only a
question of turning out one set of office holders
and putting in another. he should concern him
self but little but he thought there were never
more important interests involved, since the dem
ocratic party in putting forth Tilden are putting
forth an especial champion of State rights. In
| 1860 Mr.. Tilden addressed letter to VIM Kent,
| in which he clearly announced the strongest
doctrines of State rights; he made distinction
between a confederation and q nation, and that
| each State has a right to secede if she chooses.
He then quoted Webster, in declaring that the
United States is not q confederacy, but nation
dealing directly with individuals. and that no
State could dissolve the Union; that the consttu-
| ton is supreme and the Supreme court the final
interpreter; that any State act opposed to this is
revolution. This he would put against Tilden.
He quoted Geo. Ticknor Curtis eulogy of this
speech as the clearest and best exposition of the
doctrine of our government ever made. Now
this speech is in direct opposition to the position
on which the democratic party has planted itself
in the person Of their leaders. He quoted Mr..
Beck of Ken, in spurning the word "Nation ;
and Mr.. Eaton of Conn.,, in saying that this is a
gov eminent Of sovereign States. This tendency
of the democratic party to take the State rights