The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-07-26
by TELEGRAPH.
BRIDGTON.
A Notable Meeting in Northern
Cumberland.
SPEECHES BY HON. D.F. DAVIS AND
HON. T. B. REED.
BRIDGTON.
Enthusiasm which Presages Victory.
Especial Despatch to the Press.l

lopecldl DeSpaUcn TO The HreSS.
| BRIDGToN, July 25.-Politically this has
| been gala day for this and the surrounding
towns Since the campaign of 1860 there has
been nothing to equal it N this section. 1t
really seemed as though everybody was here to
hear the first gun of the campaign in northern
Cumberland for honest money, for honest vot-
ing, for honest rights, for honest laws and for
honest Frank Davis. Early in the afternoon
the people began to gather in our streets from
Otisfeld, Raymond, Hiram, Fryeburg and all
the intervening towns in Cumberland and Ok
ford counties, fifteen towns sending delega-
tions. The first gun was fired by the raising
OF seven campaign flags, six of them with the
heading For Governor, Daniel F. Davis
and the seventh at the Republican head
quarters with "Our Soldier Candidate Daniel
f. Davis.''
At half-past six the Davis Guards of Bridg-
ton, to the number of 1856, armed with torches
and headed by the Bridgton brass band, and
the Davis Cadets of Bridgton, to the number
OF 30, armed with torches and headed by the
Bridgton cadet band, formed at the head
quarters and marched to the Cumberland
House, where the members were individually
-%NNONAN'SSN w NAV
to Congressman Reed. In the procession was
the original Wide-Awake banner of 1868, with
the inscription, Republican Wide-Awake
of Bridgton, 1860" and ''More Helpers for the
Crisis" also two new banners, one with ''Davis
Guards, 1879, Bridgton, and on the reverse
side "Hardtack wonld do for Daniel f. Davi is
and he will do for u.s. the other, "Davis
Cadets, 1879, Bridgton,' and ON the reverse
side "We do not belong to the Whatocratic
party" also two large transparencies with the
following notices, "We are for Honest Frank
Davis, Resumption took effect January LIST,
1879, and we have had no riots.' "The Cor
poral's Chevron," with chevron on which
was Petersburg and evidences" ''That
War Record, Bottom Bridge, Weldon Rail-
road, Stony Creek, Bermuda Hundred, Peters
burg, Yorktown, Reams Station, &c. &C."
"Greenbackers, how do you like your Port
land Convention and ''To our Political OPP
ponents, with a small Democratic snake and
small Greenback snake, the tail of each in
mouth of the other, with the inscription "Take
a swallow.
With banners flying and martial music our
veterans and our citizens escorted the speakers
OF the evening through crowded streets to the
town house, the largest hall in town, which
was crowded to overlooking.
Rev. o. NJ. Cousins was chairman of the
meeting, and in a brief and telling speech in
troduced the Republican candidate for Cover
nor, Hon. Daniel f. Davis. The appearance
Of Mr.. Davis was greeted with storm of ap-
plause. His speech, which was devoted al
most entirely to the financial question, was
listened to with close attention and its telling
points warmly applauded.
After Mr.. Davis concluded Hon. I. B. Reed
was introduced. Mr.. Reed received an ovation
and it was some time before the applause sub
sided sufficiently to make his voice audible.
His speech was exceedingly strong and effect
i've, and the only fault the audience found with
it was its brevity.
AT the close Of the speeches the procession
was re TO rmed, torches lighted and then came
one of the most brilliant torchlight professions
through our principal streets, after which the
speakers were serenaded at the hotel and
briefly responded. The effect of this grand
and enthusiastic meeting will be felt till long
after election and the effect on our opponents
is fully expressed by the remark of one of
their leading men, ON it, these Davis |
Guards are worse than those ID Wide
Awakes.'
The Argus of Wednesday, in its purported
letter from Bridgton said, "Look out for Sat- |
urday's PRESS" We trust the Argus and its
correspondent (?) will look out for it and that
they will understand and appreciate the
effect of this most brilliant and successful po-
litical meeting that has been held in this sec
ton for years, and also that the soldiers of
Bridgton, who largely compose the Davis
Guards and who are officers of the same, cam
not be inundated by the ISLANDERS upon them
of any of its correspondents from this place.