Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-08-18
Republican Rally at Gardiner.
SPEECH BY HON. EUGENE HALE, OF
ELLSWORTH.


come from neighboring towns, had the even
ing been fair, were compelled to stay at home
Yet. Notwithstanding the storm, there was a
respectable audience, numbering four or five
hundred. Only eight or ten ladies bravcd
the incemency OF the weather, and were in
attendance. The Gardiner Band played sew
eral pieces at the opening and close of the
meeting, adding much to the interest of the
occasion.
The meeting was called to order by +. W.
Atwood, Esq, chairman Of the City Commit
tee, and David Dennis, Esq, was appointed
President. Mr.. Dennis thereupon presented
Hon. Eugene Hale the speaker for the
evening, who was greeted with rounds of ap-
plausc. Mr.. lIale's address was logical and
candid, holding almost the undivided atten-
ton of his auditors for two hours, presenting
an argument convincing and conclusive. His
speech was entirely free from political mud
tinging and personal abuse of party oppo-
nents, which seems to be the stock in trade of
most grccnback orators and oracles. The
verdict of the many intelligent people who
heard Mr.. Hale is that it was one of the best
speeches of the campaign thus far delivered
in Gardiner. We give an cpitome of his adj
dress:
The republican party in the State of Maine,
said he this yeaI finds itself confronted NOM
inally by two organizations. 1t both gives
and takes blows to and from both. But if it
should get sick of receiving blows, and wish
to retreat to some secure place, the safest po-
sition it could take would be the open ground
between the demScratic and greenback camps
Where in all this campaign can you find a
democratic gun trained on the greenback
camps, or a greenback column charging on
the democractic line? These two parties
have no blows for each other.
But my friends, this can do no harm. |
had lief fight the two parties under two
smes as under one name. Because real
ize that we've not only got to fight them both,
hut to beat them both. Applause. And
this commonality between the grcenback and
demo cratic parties is driving back hundreds
of men, in every county, into the republican
ranks.
There is nothing so attractive in politics
as the formation of new party. Last fall,
when the greenback party in this State started
out, it promised TO fight both parties, to eff
feet great reforms and to be a peoples party
The people see that this promise has not been
made good that the greenbackers are being
swallowed by the old democratic party, and
that the republican party is fighting both par
ties.
There are only two things worth talking or
thinking about in this campaign. One Of
them is the question Of National supremacy.
Whether this country is a nation or a confed-
cracv of States-a question which we thought
settled by the war. This is the most impor-
tant question 1t is the question of the life
of the nation. The other question is that of
the honor of the nation.
What ahouf this fryt m ion Of
the life of the nation, of the powers of the
nation. Have we a nation. Did we earn it
in the war: five have nation, it has pow
'ers. wouldn't give fig for nation which
is powerful in Maine and powerless in Ala
bama, which is honored in Massachusetts
and despsed and spit upon in North Carolina.
Such nation is anomalous. The dearest
right of the citizens is the right of suffrage.
1t is the duty of the republican party to make
that right good everywhere. The republican
party in its magnanimty took rebellion in its
arms, amnestied whole States, and placed
those who had been in rebellion even in the
race with Union men in the SO nth. Now if
the republican party can't protect those Union
men in the race, in which it placed rebels
even with them, it is not worth existence.
The republican party has been endeavoring to
crystalize these principles Of protecting the
rights of citizens into organic law for the last
thirty years, ever since the reconstruction
period. And it has everywhere been opposed
by the democratic party. We don't begin to
appreciate the rapid and sure growth Of State
sovereignty in the South. ! am not talking
with fantasy. | shall speak in regard to the
present danger, as things that seem to me to
be standing menace. am not speaking of
the dead past. ! am speaking of things that
have occurred within the last ten DAYS. Alex
ander H. Stephens known as a moderate lead
err in the South, only few days ago declared
that the principle of State sovereignty was as
firm and embattied, as political principle,
as ever.
| saw this thing illustrated at the close of
the 45th Congress, of which was a member.
There are different ways of breaking down "A
government. 1t may be done BY foreign oc-
cupati0n, by division. 1t remained for a
Democratic Congress, in 1879, to attempt to
hamstring and break down the government
by refusing appropriations. The speaker
gave a clear and candid review of the meas
ures taken bv the democrats in Congress to
deprive the President of his rights to use the
army. or to starve the army, by refusing to
pass the appropriation bills. My candid
friend, what would You have had the republi-
cans do in this emergency? The republicans
would have been glad to have passed the APP
preparation bills and go home, but the demo
Gratis said no. we will not pass these bills un.
less we pass their laws with them. We found
ourselves confronted by fifty brigadiers,
whom we had amnestied and let back into that
House irving to force that issue down our
throats.
But they didn't succeed! When the next
Congress assembled, the fight was commenced
again. Then came out openly the princi-
pie Of State sovereignty, upon which this is.