The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-12-22
Maine AROUSED.
Indignation Meetings at Bangor,
Ha|IOWeII and Sk0WhGgaD.
SPEECHES. BY SENATOR
HAMLIN AND OTHERS.
The Great Crime and its Perpe-
traitors Denounced.
General Determination Not to
Submit to the Outrage.

trihing cause had called them together 1t
comprised the leading citizens OF Bangor,
young and old, and citizens of the vicinity who
had come in to join their voices in. the great
CRY that is rising up in indignant protest at the
action of the Governor and Council in count
ing tie votes thrown for Senators and Repre-
sentatives. The deep feeling of indignation was
shown, not onlv in the looks Of the vast gather
ing but also in the prolonged and laundering
applause which greeted the most radical utter
ances of the speakers, whose words rang out
in the most scathing condemnation OF the
action Of the Governor and Council. at an
early hour the hall was packed to suffocation,
and, as his honor Mayor Brown came forward
to call the meeting to order, the great assembly
became at once still and listened attentiyely to
the reading of the call for the meeting, which
being done, he spoke as follows:
Speech Of Mayor Brown.
We meet tonight to denounce the blacklist
crime ever perpetrated in the United States.
The plottings of the seven conspiratorS at Au-
gusta the past year have defeated the will OF
the people as expressed by the ballot. This is
not time when any honest man can take
neutral position. He must either condemn or
endorse this act 1t is but the first step in
pressing myself too strongly in saying that 1t
may end in the destruction of the Government
of the United States of America.
He then nominated F. A. Wilson, Esq, for
chairman of the meeting. Mr.. Wilson, on as
suming the chair, spoke as follows:
Speech Of F. A. Wilson.
Fellow Citizens: The bill of rights contained
in the constitution of the state of Maine guar
antees to the people at all times the right, IN
an orderly and peaceable manner, to assemble
to consult on the common good, and | suppose
that it is for this purpose that this assemblage
is convened in this hall tonight, an assemblage
of calm, thoughtful men, who reverence the
constitution under which we live, and who
yield ready obedience to law, who believe in
the prevalence of right, and in the immutable
principles of justice, older than constitutions
and laws, coeval with the Deity itself, and the
essence of all good constitutions and OF all
wholesome laws. The men here tonight are in
earnest but they are not fanatics They are
conservative citizens, who believe that their
liberties are in danger. The greatest outrage
that can be inflicted upon free people has
during the past week. been perpetrated against
the people of this state by those in authority
over US. The will of the people, calmly ex-
pressed at the polls in time OF peace, has been
subyerted. Think of it, my fellow citizens!
In government "of the people, by the people
and for the people, the will of the people is
nullifed and, if this action is unchecked, it is
notice to the world that the badge of servitude
which we wear is our just desert, and here
after the voter will understand that less de-
ponds upon an honest vote than in pettifogging
sharpness in official canvass. This wrong has
been perpetrated in part within the letter, but
without the spirit, of the constitution, but IN
greater part, 1 believe, by resort to methods
new strange, unfair, unprecedented and partl-
san, at the expense of personal manhood and
in manner preiudicial to the good name
and fame of the state. AS this world is constl-
tuted, different conditions of men eXlSt-the
learned, the ignorant, the rich, the poor, the
wise, the simple-but always heretofore in this
state, on one day in the year, we have met on
an equality. AT the ballot box each mans vote
has counted one, regardless of his condition,
and when by any possibility that vote can be
deprived of its virtue by chcanery in the can
vass of votes, the liberties which we inherited
from our revolutionary sires are in danger. L
counsel prudence in your action, but believe
that the voice of this people should give no
uncertain sound in expressing its Indignation
at this attack upon the very foundation OF re-
publican institutions and political liberty.
AT the close of Mr. Wilson's address, the di-
vine blessing was invoked by Rev. George W.
Field, ID. D., of the Third Congregational
church of this city His prayer was an elo-
quent and earnest invoking of guidance from on
high, and the blessing Of God on the delibera-
lions of the assembly. After the prayer the
chairman nominated a list of Vice Presidents
and Secretaries, and then Capt G. A. Boutelle
of the Republican state committee was intro
duced and received with great applause.
Speech Of Capt. G. A. Boutelle
In his address he went over the ground from
the time of the rumors that the Governor and
Council intended to defraud the people of
their rights until the present time, when the
great wrong had been perpetrated In the
lort oJa ati xrr1aio pOnduptpd hOnlSfIV
as any election since the formation OF the gov
eminent, the Republican party, for the second
time in many years. failed to elect their. Gov
ernor but had majority in both branches of
the Legislature. This fact was universally
conceded by men and press of both political
parties all over the state after the election. But
after a time it began to be whispered about
that there were some Irregularities in the re-
turns, and that the Governor and Council
would count out the Republican majority.
These rumors gained strength and the Repub-
lican press SO began discussion OF the pro-
posed intentions of the Governor and Council
who seemed determined to defraud the people
of their rights The action at the State Capt.
tai so aroused the people that on the 18th OF
November, a large and distinguished body of
Republicans assembled at Augusta with
view of defending their rights. 1t was under
stood that the Governor and Council would be
in session at o'clock in the afternoon, but
when the large committee of Republicans Wis
bluntly informed that the Governor and Coun-
Gil were not in session. Afterward ex-Gov.
DingleY sent message to the Governor that
he desired an interview, and was admitted, but
was not received with the dignity and courtesy
due, and the Governor and Council have con-
tinued in their outrageous scheme, going con-
trary to all law and precedent, until they have
carried out their original intention OF over
throwing Republican majority in the Senate
and House, and counted in fusion legsla-
47,ro orIa To app or11S thew
have resorted to the most desperate and dis
honest measures ever known in the history of
this country. Fifty days ago if l had said
that this body of men would disfranchise five
cities and boldly declare that twelve Repu bill
can Representatives should be denied seats to
which they were honestly elected l should have
been called insane but they have done this
very thing, monstrous as it is. Now that there
remains no doubt as to the result OF the action OF
the Governor and council what are you going to
do abut it?'' No such. usurpation has ever occur
red in this country. You have come tonight
to answer the question flung out by the Gov
ernor and Council, "What are you going to do
about it?. The people will find out what to
do about it.. (Applause) The speaker said he
was no prophet, nor the son of prophet, but
the plain logic of events showed plan that
extended beyond the possession of the COVER
norship of Maine.
Next year occurs our national election, and
we hold remembrance OF the election OF 1876,
day threats that carried out,would pale these
corruptions into insignifcance. We must look
in the face the fact that, if we submit now to
this usurpation, we must submit further, and
give the poTer into the hands of such men as
have the will and will carry out the pro-
gramme laid out, regardless of the majority
against them. They intend to get possession
of the executive and judiciary, and, if they are
permitted, there will be no end to the villainy
they will commit. If they succeed in the next
year, no matter how great is your vote, they
will smilngly tell you, "We count the votes"
If they have the power they have the will to
throttle the will of the people. The speaker
then went on giving details of the method by
which the will of the people may be over
thrown, not only in the State, but in the ma
tion by the fraudulent action of State execu-
tives, saying: "Have you any doubt, if this
usurpation is allowed to succeed, that, should
demand be made for the seven electoral votes
of this State, that they will be given, regard
less of the will Of the people? If it succeeds
the State will be redistricted by these COM
munists, who would largely hold the power.
Next year five Congressman are to be elected,
and of what avail are your votes if they go in
to the hands of these men to be counted? A
Legislature is to be elected next year for two
years, and they will count in whom they
choose. If this action is allowed to go on it is
not the beginning of the end, gentle
ic tha a,aI This