Daily Kennebec journal., 1878-09-13
Close up the Ranks!
PrFCH OF REPRESENTATIVE REED.

On the night of the election, Hon. Thos.
b. Reed made the following ringing
speech to an enthusiastic crowd that
packed City Hall. Portland:
FELLOW CITIzENs,-I am glad TO appear be-
fore YOU to- night not on account of the personal
honor which your faithtulness has done me, but
on account of the triumphant victory in this dis
trct Of sound principles, suitable for the conduct
and welfare of the nation, (applsuse) We have
fought the good fight, and we have not lowered
the flag, and We have been victorious beyond our
utmost hopes, (applaGse). We have acted in the
way sound New Eoglsnd district ought to act.
But, my friends, in the midst of all these congrat
ulations we must not forget serious duty that is
before us IN the future. 1t is apparent that GER
tain views have made great progress in our midst,
views which, in my judgment. are more danger
Gus to this county than either war or pestllence
Now. say 10 you. have been through this CAM
paigD with feeling that | was doing duty TO
my country, that the republican party was stand
ing by something which we could stand by for
ever, (applsuse). think we have all been imbued
with something of the missionary spirit, and this
is the time need it. We must 20 on in the
advocacy of sound principles. FL Is sad be fore,
for the conduct aud welfare of tue nation.
The democratic party has proved in this crisis
what it has proved in every crisis.-a wre,ched
failure. They ought TO have been fortified by a
century OF honest and honorable tradition. What
spectacle you have witnessed during the last few
months You have with, ssed them abandoning
their principles, turning their backs upon their
history, and illustrating once more how entirely
weak and feeble they are, when it comes to a con-
test between principle and the desire for power,
gotten no matter how. 1t is only six years since
the democratic party presented a spectacle of un-
psrailed abasement. After the war closed,
under the guise-and surrounded by the old white
hat and coat OF Horace Greeley, they attempted
to steal into power, abandoning everything they
had advocated before, and TO day you have the
same spectacle repeated, only in q worse form.
The republican party has come up solid and sound
in tins chaos, has stood like q rock, aud the waves
have beaten against IL, thus far in the endesvor to
destroy IT, 10 vain.
Nov what Is the lesson Of duty we must learn
1t is very clear aud open, that have got to fight
this contest for honest financial msnag ement of
the county, we have got to fight 1t upon sound
principles; aud we need men of nerve to sta nd up
TO the work; and it Is apparent tina the only party
that can be intrused with 1t is the republican par
ty. (Applause.) We have fought the battle well
thus far, but our duty does not end here. We
must close up the ranks and march forward to
that victory which sound principles always give
to party in this country. (Applsuse.) The
democratic party, as . party, has turned It's back
upon ITSELF but there are some democrats, faithful
found among the tsithless, who have stood by
their principles. 1t is hoped that they may be
found stepping forward as some of them during
the period of the war, stepped into the ranks of
the army, and that they will realize the true ques-
tons for discussion 10 the next campaign. CAP
plause and cheers.)