The Portland daily press., 1878-08-12

at 7.4O p. m. the evening session commenced
IN charge of Rev. o. NJ. Cousins. who made a
few remarks in opening.
Prof. Foster, of the University of New
Brunswick, was presented as the first speaker
and made very interesting speech. Mrs.
Yeomans of Canada followed with an excellent
address.
Mrs. Fitzgerald closed the speeches of the
day with an earnest appeal for signers to the
pledge.
Coambia's Own Quartette was present dur
ing the day and rendered some choice songs,
which were well appreciated.
To-day is Woman's Day and Mrs. Sargent,
President of W. G. 7, U. of Maine, Miss Fran
ces E. Willard of Chicago, Mrs. HART of
Brooklyn, N. N, Mrs. Yeomans of Canada
Mrs. Fitzgerald of Brunswick, Mrs. Barrett of
Boston, Miss Lucia Kimball, d. W., and Mrs.
Hunt, Superintendent of the Portland Friendly
Inn, and other prominent temperance workers
are among the speakers of the day.
Tomorrow is the closing day of the CONVEX
ton and addresses will be made by the Hon.
BENZ. Kingsbury and Others
At 10 o'clock in the forenoon the annual
meeting of the Women's Christian Temperance
Union will take place in the Biddeford tent.
Hon. j. HI. Drnmmond i'm Deeribg.
Saturday evening Hon. j. Ell. Drum ond of
this city spoke upon rhe political issues of the
day, at the new hall, Woodford's Corner to
highly interested audience, considering the
very limited notice given. The audience was
composed of members Of all three political par
ties and all listened with marked attention,
l1od
Smith, who introduced Capt J. B. Coyle as
the chairman of the meeting. Capt. Coyle
thanked the audience for calling him to pre-
side, and made few remarks touching the
dangers from Communism. Those who know
the speakers attributes know that he says on
this subject is good sound common Esense, and
he was listened to accordingly. AT the close
Of his remarks he introduced j. Fl. Drummond
as the speaker of the evening.
Mr.. Drummond commenced with a
sketch of the causes of the present financial
embarrassment. The war largely increased
the consuming class and greatly reduced the
products. AT the close of the conflict many of
the consumers turned to producers and the
mills and shops were run to the top OF their
speed to supply the demand. In this haste the
pueiucSo was OVeruOne anu HOW CUuoSd IedC-
ton which is but natural The initiation of the
currency to supply the demands made what APP
peared to be an advance of prices, while it was
really depreciation. Now as we near hard
money basis the reaction comes perfectly natur-
al. Property is seemingly to fall but it is real
ly worth more. This condition must bs borne
until the gold basis, the only sound basis is
reached, when prosperity will again come.
He also spoke of the property put into rail
roads in flush times and of the barreauess of
such an investment. Towns had loaned their
credit to railroads when money was cheap and
easy, but now IL is hard to get, it is felt sorey.
He referred to the financial history of several
countries. especially France, and all of them
spoke in unmstakeable terms for hard money.
Anything short of this is dishonest This talk
of paper money means reputation andenothipg
else.
He made very striking comparison between
the two chief candidates for Congress from this
district. In the course of his remarks he SAID
that Portland was now laborlng under very
oppressive debt caused by a loan to the Port
land and Ogdensburg railroad Company. This
loan was steadily opposed from the first by
Hon. Thomas B. Reed as being impracticable
and unsound policy. Gen. Anderson on the
other hand fought for the project from first to
last, and it is easy for anyone to see who show
ed the more sagacity and better Judgment.