Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-10-08
+ Coy,ssoon1suef of Ner York Tribune. |

correspondence OF -NtF fOfh fft0""e'J
CLEVELAND. Oct Just at present the
most striking feature of the Ohio campaign
is the extraordinary popular ovation which is
marking Senator Blaine's tour across the
State. That veteran stumper, General W.
II. Gibson, who has taken part in every can
vass since can remember, says he never saw
such a remarkable series of meetings as Mr..
Blaine has held during the past week. Evl-
IDENTIFY no man has stirred the masses in ONO
for long time like the brilliant leader of the
Maine republicans. At Bellaire, where he
made his first speech, there was an enormous
demonstration at Steubenvile there was an
other; at New Philadelphiahis meeting was
the largest ever held in that town; but Can
ton surpassed them all. People who were ut
the Canton meeting have not yet recovered
from their amazcmcnt ut the acres OF voters
and the miles Of procession they saw there.
Mr. Blaine himself says that in all his public
career, during which he has spoken IN more
than half the States of the Union, he has ad-
dressed only two meetings as large as that oi
Tuesday. Canton is the home of Major Me
Kinlcy, the popular young member of Con-
gress who overcame heavy majority last
Mckinley's victory made it fighting ground,
and the republicans mean to carry II again
this year II was largely settled by people
from Washington County, Pennsylvania,
where Blaine was born and educated, and III
the audience of $4,000 people were hundreds
who came to claim remote kinship or boy
hood acquaintance with him. Mr. Blaines
remarkable memory was more than once put
to severe test, but it never failed him. In
one case it was better than that of one of the
men who came to jog it.
If the Canton meeting was the largest IN
numbers that at Bellaire was the most de-
momonstrative. The people would not leave
Mr. Blaine alone after he finished speaking,
they were so eager to show their liking Tor
hun. He extricated himself from the crowd
with good deal of trouble, and rctreatcd to
his room at the hotel with the intention of
changing his shirt. He only managed to get
his coat and vest off and his collar unbuttoned
however, when the door was burst in and the
room was flooded with men and women deter
mined to shake hands with him. TO matter
what damage might be done to the door-fas-
Jennings or the rules of politencss.
| got a glimpse to-day of Mr.. Blainc'S
meeting at Elyria, the county-seat of the
staunch republican County of Lorain. Ii re-
minded me of the meetings of the wonder
full demonstrative campaign the Ohio Union
men made in 1863 under the lead of John
BrougI against Valandigham and the Cop
perheads. All the morning big professions
headed by bands came pouring in from the
country towns, and when the meet
ing began the public square was full
of people-more than twice as many as
could get within good range of the speakers
voice. The number of old men in the audi
4 H..
shake hands with Mr.. Blaine at the hotel said
they had not attended political meetings for
many years, but that it seemed to them now
rs if the old fight with the South was to be
fought over again, and they wanted to bear
their part in it. This is the spirit which ami
mates the whole party. The feeling in Lorain
is undoubtedly no more intense than that
which prevails all over the Western Reserve
at least; and when the Reserve is aroused,
and gets out its full republican vote, the
State always goes right. Mr. George G..
Washburne, the editor of The Elyria Rcpub-
lican, tells me he has not seen man who
ever had bit OF republicanism in his heart
who does declare that he is ready to vote and
is eager for election day. This is substan-
tally the testimony of every republican |
have talked with since | came into the State.
1t is not easy to overlook the fact that the
popularity of Mr. Blaine as a possible Presi-
dental candidate in 1880 has something to do
with the great size of the gatherings that
greet him and the enthusiasm his tour has
called out. All republican meetings this
year are largely attended, but Mr.. Blaine's
are phenomenal even in a State where big
outdoor gatherings are the ordinary features
of exciting political contests At Canton such
notices as these were borne in the process
sion: eastern Ohio is for Blaine of Maine
It's all the same for 1880" 'Welcomc to
our next President "For President in
1880, James G.. Blaine" This in a State
which will have candidate of its own next
year is certainly significant 1t does not,
however, mean that Ohio will not support
John Sherman in the National Convention,
but it shows that Mr.. Blaines popularity is
very great, and that he is the first choice of
many republicans in Ohio.
Mr. Blaine speaks in Kenton tomorrow and
then goes to the extreme Southern point of the
State to make two speeches in EwiDg's Con-
gressional Distrct-at Pomeroy and Ironton.
Afterward he goes to Iowa to speak three
times. Then he will give his services to the
New York and Massachusetts, canvasses until
the November elections. There are few bet
ter campaigners. He talks with everybody,
has a marvellous stock of anecdotes to eniven
the conversation, knows the history of every
community he goes into, recollects everybody
he ever saw before, and without making the
least effort to attract attention is always the
centre of an admiring group of listeners. He
knows how to economizc his strength and
take care of his voice and general health,
however. No amount of persuasion will in
duce him to speak twice a day. lie sleeps
late mornings, eats sparingly, shuts his door
and locks ii when he needs rest, and avoids,
when possible, long journeys between speech
es. Thus he manages to keep his voice fresh
and clear, his temper sunny and his physical
vigor unmpaired. His hair is quite gray
now, but he is M older a man in spirit than
when he first went 10 Congress in 1868.
+. Y. S.