The Portland daily press., 1877-07-04
THE WOODSTOCK CELFBRA'
TION.
A kGaihering of Distinguished Men-
Brief SPECIFIC by ex-Gov. Chamberlain
and Senator SIaiue

N kUatneflES OIL DIsunEulsheu HleH-
Brief speechss by ex-Eov. Chamberlain
and Senator Blaine.
WOODSTOCK Conn.,, July 3.-The celebra-
ton of the first Fourth of the second century of
the republic at Roseland Park and the resi-
dence of Henry 9. Bowen of Brooklyn, n. Y,
promises to be an event of national interest,
not only from the fact that some of our most
distinguished statesmen are to speak, but also
from the fact that it is expected that the adj
dress of ex-Gov. Chamberlain will consist of an
assault upon the present administration. The
celebration really began this evening. The
$50 train from Boston brought to Putnam a
large party which arrived at $50 and there met
the train from New York, which brought
among others the following named who are to
take part iD the exercises tomorrow: Hon.
James G. Blaine, ex.Gev. Chamberlain of
South Carolina. the Rev. DR.. Cuyler of Brook
Ign, the Rev. James M. Buckley and Others.
At Putnam the party started for the residence
of Mr.. Bowen and arrived there about O. clock.
Supper was served to such of the party as Mr..
Bowen'S house would hold in his rooms and the
rem ainder of the party was accommodated at
the Elmwood House.
Mr.. Bowen's residence, the grounds in front
of the house and the beautiful park which
faces it were decorated with flags, streamers
and Chinese lanterns, and presented beauti-
full appearance during the evening In the
park the Eagle brass band of East Woodstock
performed some excellent music After several
standard musical pieces had been played and
the assemblage had witnessed the ascension of
several fire balloons, Gov. chamberlain was
loudly called for and spoke as follows:
FellOaD CitizenS-You will hardly expect me
to do more tonight than to return to you my
thanks for the honor you do me in calling for
me tonight. [ am here to speak to you to-
morrow and have but word to say now and
that is, l rejoice to be here again in New Eng
land, again in Connecticut, and let me add that
l rejoice especially to be here in this good and
true old county of Windham. trust that to-
morrow we shall meet the good people of that
county and take counsel together upon these
subjects which are uppermost always in the or
der on thelanniversary of our national inde-
pendence, but must not anticipate tomorrow.
1 thank you for the honor you have conferred
upon Inc and I beg to remind you that the re
are others here with me tonight whose voices
you will be glad to hear, with whose caresr as
public men you are more familiar than you can
possibly be with mine because they are larger,
higher and nobler, and 1 trust that you feel as
do that word from them tonight would be
heard with pleasure and delight. thank you,
fellow citizens, and bid you good night.
After Gov. Chamberlain had concluded, Mr..
Blaine was called for, as the next President of
the United States, and he responded as fol-
lows:
| engaged in Southern politics by his efforts to
throw the responsibility on somebody else,
and that is what Governor Chamberlain has
| tried to do this evening in calling on me for a
| speech. He was booked for it and promised to
make it before he left New York, but he
attempted to dodge in the presence of wit
nesses, and put me as his substitute. I am not
| willing to stand in that relation.
come here with a little bit of postscript to be
added to his Grafton tomorrow, and there is not
| force enough in Windham County to extract it
| from me tonight 1 am very glad to see you
| and very sorry that Governor Chamberlain has
| refused to address you.
Other short addresses of thanks were made
| by DR.. Cuyler and Hon. John T. Wait. 1t was
a late hour before the festivities closed