The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-09-26
RATHER LATE.
Greenback Celebration at City Hail.

I
Greenbacker would have ever conceived it
But Greeubacker is equal to anything. A
wasteful display of fireworks, too, was hardly
| worthy of party that has been shouting al
| summer that there were millions of tramps il
| the country crying for bread. As to the rest Of
| the celebration it reminded one of Greenback
convention. Everybody that could say any
thing and many that couldn't were called to
the platform. The performance in the hall be.
gan promptly at s o'clock. About all the
statesmen except Scion Chase, who is edifsing
the West, were there.
Mr.. Spencer Rogers called the meeting to
order and introduced Mr. A. Fl. Waite as
President. Mr.. Waite said they we're called
together by remarkable occasion, which occa-
sion he proceeded to explain at some length was
the result of the Greenback success not only in
the eastern part of the state, but throughout
the whole state. This said he introduced Mr..
E. H. Cove of Biddeford.
Mr.. Cove said, that tho Greenback party was
disposed to do about the right thing was shown
by the men it will send to Congress. 1t will
send doctor to administer soothing potions to
the Republican party in its last hours, and also
stone cutter to prepare grave stone. Mr.
Cove would have been glad to add that
q deacon would be present to assist 10 the
funeral services, but election returns prevent
ed. Mr.. Cove thought that the irresponsible
speeches and letters of MI. Gorham showed
that the Republican party is thoroughly
alarmed. He lkened hard money advocates to
Pagan and his pickpocket gang aud said Sher.
mans financial policy steals land and
houses and railroads with greater facility than
even Charley Bates or che Artful Dodger ever
stole pocket handkerchief. Mr.. Cove said
many other things equally sensible, among
them that the Pittsburg riots wers but move
ments on the part Of the people to assert their
rights Defeat has not chastsned Mr.. Gove's
spirit, or rendered his notions of political
economy less wild or dangerous.
Next followed letter from S,lon Chase in
which he says: "We can't ord to waste our
powder on the old Democratic party, bat must
pour the hot shot into the Republican camp"
The enthusiasm which Solon's letter aroused
among the Democrats in the audience was not
alarming.
Mr.. T. B. Swan INDUCED in a rosy view of
the future of the Greenback party. 1t was
to elect President in 1880. majority of the
Senate and House of Representatives, and the
Millennium was to dawn Immediately. One of
Mr.. Swans predictions deserves to be put on
record for future reference. He prophe sled
that the Eastern Argus, the leading Democratic
paper of Maine, will proclaim the principles of
the Greenback party within year.
. O0e of our esteemed townsman's, John Nj.
Todd, eoogs, composed for the occasion, was
then sung by aquartette.
Mr.. 7. M. Plaisted of Lincoln, let off
speech which he has doubtless had prepared
for some time, bat has been without opportuu-
ity to oliver. 1t was an argument to show
that the depreciation of greenbacks did not
result from an excess in issue aud was meant to
be en- answer to Mr.. Blaine's argument on this
point. He advocated the interconvertible bond
scheme aud defended the Greenbackers from
the charge of Communism. The mention of
Mr.. Blaine's name created so much applause
that Mr.. Plaisted's eloquence was checked for
five minutes.
The ut xs member of Congress from the
Fourth District was introduced as the Ladd
who laid low the Powers of that District Mr..
and his followers had been styled tramps
Down in Penobscot the people had suffered
more than anywhere else because property had
shrupk more. He stood in 1868 on the same
political platform as now. He endorsed PEN
dleton's scheme then aud he endorsed it now.
He denounced the financial legislation since
the war in vigorous language, styling the au-
thors of it scoundrels. The country couldn't
be run while there was class in it (the bond
holders) who did not bear the burdens of taxa
tion. He ridieuled the idea of teaching the
Greenbackers anything. "We like to read
Senator Hoar's talk about French assignats
and antediluvian currency, but it amounts to
nothing. The electricity of the people would
lind ideas to run the machines. He had
good deal to say about electricity as panacea
for all our troubles. He believes in it TO regu-
late our financial affairs as much as Daniel
Pratt believes in the sun as the regulator of
science. Indeed, in several other respects he
resembles the Great American Traveller. His
talk is Just about as disconnected and senseless.
He closed with the familiar
''Sound the loud timbrel,''
which he changed, probably to show that be
was not stuck-up literary fellow. to
Sound the loud thimble."
Another song by our beloved townsman, en-.
titled "Carry the News to Sherman" and set
to the music of "The Wearing of the Green,'
of which the following is stanza followed:
Well break those chains from OF our hands, and
justice will be here,
The poor with plenty shall be blest, the rich may
And with the ballots we will drive from freedoms
temple door
The money changers, as of old, Christ drove then
once before.
Mr.. William NJ Rust, editor of the Belfast
Age, INDUCED in long and rambling speech
He announced that for two days his cup Of joy
had been full. 1t was generally supposed tina
nothing but an election to Congress would fill
his cup, bat perhaps recently be has got
smaller cup which is filed with something less
than M. G. He told how the Greenback vic
tory was won in Waldo or attempted to. He
predicted that Butler would be the next gov
ernor of Massachusetts and rather hoped b,
would. As sop to the Democrats in the an
dience who were rather melancholy at being
| ignored by Solou Chase and Dr. Ladd he pro
posed that the great Greenback party after i
had swallowed the Democracy should take tn
name of National Democratic Party.
Mr.. f. M. Fogg of Auburn was announce,
as the next speaker. The audience wanted t.
have Murch trotted out however, and shouts O
"Murch," church." arose all over the hall
They were pacfied, however, by promis
that Fogg should be brief and Murcl
appear next. Fogg is long haired in
dividual resembling Theodore Tilton
His voice is as loud az fog horns and tn
| workings of his mouth remind one forcibly Q
| the pitching of ship In heavy sea. VIVA
| he talked about we have a very slight idea
full as much we venture to say as he did him
self. If Mr.. Fogg wants his utterances record
| ed he must speak into photograph.
| Mr.. 7. Fl. Murch was received with perfes
storm of applause. He apologized for nc
| appearing in the feathers in which he had BEEF
| painted and for having eyes as mild as Jun
morning, He undertook to describe how til
Greenback campaign was waged in the FIT
District, but the confusion caused by th
stampede of the audience, which had seen MI
Murch and was satisfied, caused him to s.
down.
There were several more speakers on the prc