The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-08-02
REPUBLICANS WIDE AWAKE.
Organization of the First Cam
paign Club.
ROUSING SPEECHES BY MESSRS.
sTRoUT, DRUMMoND AND
THOMAS.
A Splendid Flag Thrown to the Breeze

There was a very large and enthusiastic
gathering of Republicans at old City Hall last
evening at the organization of the Campaign
Club. Among the more prominent gentlemen
present were Hon. j. II. Drummond, Hon. w.
W. Thomas, Jr., District Attorney Lunt, Col.
Mattocks, Col. F. N. Dow and ex-Gov. Per-
ham.
Mr. w. M. Marks called the meeting to Or
der and proposed the name of A. A. Strout,
Esq, as president, which was accepted by the
meeting On taking the chair Mr.. Strout
made an effective speech, attacking the prin-
ciples of the Greenback party as shadowy and
uncertain so far as they have any principles.
They demand in their platform, said he, an I'M
limited coinage of gold and silver, supplement-
ed by full legal tender money sufficient to
transact the business of the country
This declaration is meaningless. What shall
be the measure of the volume of the circulat-
ing medium and who shall determine the ques-
ton of what is required to transact the bust
ness of the country? Shall Congress, shall the
Secretary of the Treasury, shall the Executive
for the time being, shall the several States or
the general government? What amount is to
be issued and when? To what purpose shall it
be applied and when? If it is said that we
have not sufficient circulating medium for the
transaction of business the answer is that
money can be obtained for all legitimate bust
ness for four or five per cent, and that too now
that under the influence of a certain and uni
form currency business of every description is
receiving new impulse all over the country.
The claim that more money is needed to pay
off the bonded debt is nonsense, because you
cannot compel payment of a debt until it is
due, and no bonds are due to be paid.
Beside it is pretty clear under the decisions
of the Supreme Court that no issue of money
can be made in time of peace which is legal
tender for debt. The honest men of the
Greenback party have been led away by these
delusons and are excusable. But they are not
all of this kind. The men who do not believe
these dogmas, but who have gone into the
Greenback party for Office or to control its or
ganization in the interest of the Democratic
party cannot be honest in their action. We
have another party to fight. 1t is said that
the Democrats and Greenbackers are to fuse
Can anybody believe that this action ON the
part OF the Democrats arises from any convic-
ton in favor OF soft money? All the teachings
of this party from the times of jackson and
Benton until today have been in favor of hard
money. If the Democrats in the fullness of
their power had one principle ingrained in
their very being it was hard money and honest
money. For what purpose are they now strik-
ing hands with the Greenback party? Only to
defeat the Republican party who ON this ques-
ton are right, unless the Democrats have been
wrong all their lives Well they have the
right to beat the Republican party when that
party shall be wrong and they shall be right,
and not until then. In the South Democracy
means, as it did before the war,-as it has
shown itself in the extra session, rule or ruin.
In the North it has shown its old habit of join
ing hands with any party that offers the
slightest prospect of victory. But it will
probably result i'll the contest next year that
this qualification of the South against progress,
in favor of states rights, and against the SUI
premacy of the nation will lead to solid
North for the principles upon which the Re-
now are fighting. To us then, said the speak
er,is the duty devolved of opposing these falla-
cies SO foolish, and this fusion so unnatural
OF sustaining the principles upon which the
prosperity and safety of the country depends.
We have every thing to encourage us. From
business, and returning wealth. On every
hand are heard the chickering's that may be
expected from this unnatural union. Let us
sink all personal considerations and make
struggle for victory. This club, said the
speaker, will be large enough to embrace
every man in favor of honest money, honest
elections, and the supremacy of the Union.
He wanted all men who believed in these
principles, young and old, to become members.
A list of three hundred signatures of Re-
publicans desiring to join the club was handed
in, and the following officers were elected as
the permanent organization: