Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-24
GRAND MEETING At GARDINER.
Plain Talk to the Conspirators
Stalwart Resolutions
Adopted.
Great Indignation AWOng
the People.
GARDINER Dec. %.

I
| her citizens last evening. The same digni-
fed and intelligent assembly which has
marked the meetings throughout the State
| collected at the call despite the bitter cold
ness of the weather and the storm which pre-
vailed during the day. No profession was
unrepresented. and large numbers came from
Pittston, Farmingdale, West and South
Gardiner No unwarranted excitement pre-
vailed, but each speaker boldly and decided
ly declared himself in favor of peaceful
remedies, vet il these were Intellectual then
our rights must be maintained at any cost
The round applause which greeted these SEN
timents and the earnest looks of the hearers
bespoke a responsive echo in every one
Come what may Gardiner will evidently be
willing to support her institutions and rights
The meeting was called to order by Hon.
James Nash who said We are assembled
here at this time to consider questions that
never before came before us. Previously
national questions have presented themselves
to the people of Gardiner and the State and
been promptly faced: but now officers in our
State whom we have placed in power have
seen fit to thwart the will of the people and to
disfranchise large portion of them. This
was the question for us to face and it was for
the purpose of considering this that they had
assembled tonight.
Rev. A. L. Park then offered prayer: Since
God had given us such a distinct form of
government that now when it was in danger
he would direct us how we might safely avert
this evil and secure to us again our liberties
and rights.
The following officers were then chosen:
Prcsident-Major John T. Richards.
Vice Observation-Disclosures James Nash,
Joshua Gray, Il. NJ. Wentworth, J. b. Ding
ley, Mayor ID. C.. Palmer, Hons. r. H. Gar
diner, Thomas s. Paul, Gustavus \. Colburn,
L. Z. Seavey.
Secretaries-G. W. IIeselton, Treby John
son, Benz. b. Clay +. Il. Milliken.
The Committee on Resolutions appointed
by the President were A. c. Stilphen, David
Wentworth, S. c. Whitmore, Sumner Smiley,
VIM. F. Richards
Major Richards upon taking the chair spoke
as follows
Fellow citizens thank you for the honor
you have conferred upon me to preside this
evening. 1t is very true that the citizens of
Gardiner have often met together to consult
on matters of Importance, but certainly they
have never been called together upon more
| important occasion, on an occasion more vital
to our freedom and our liberties than this
| The freedom of our American citizenship is
threatened by this movement. The State is
looking to you tonight to see what action
you will take. You well know what shifts
our Governor and Council have made to count
out the people ,you well know by what shameful
fraud the republican majority as expressed by
the people at the polls has been
counted out. 1t is for you to look
at this matter calmly and decide what shall
be done. They have accomplished their pur-
pose fully, and now look around upon you
and ask ''what are you going to do about it?
We are here to answer that question, you can
not address arguments of legality to them,
such arguments are profitless; you cannot
appeal for justice to men who know not what
justice is, you know with what indgnity the
delegates of the people have been turned
away from the Council Chamber. you know
with what deaf ears their appeals for justice
| have been met. 1t seems to NE that the time
for appeal has passed and the time for de-
mands has come. l speak strongly and feel
strongly. 1t seems to me, that we should all
be filled with the spirit of our fathers at Bunker
Hill. The King with all the armies
with all the navies, with all the
majesty of Great Britain could not force
our forefathers into submission; have you not
their blood in your veins? Have you not as
| bold hearts in your bosoms as they? Have
you not as strong limbs on your bodies? Let
us then right this foul wrong that has been
perpetrated upon us. Let us answer their
insolent question in a voice that shall sound
from hill to valley, from river bank to ocean
shore, and make the despots in the State House
tremble. We will have our rights, peaceably
if we can. but we will have our rights. cloud
and extended applause).
Hon. John Berry said if any citizens of
Maine deserve to be buried out of sight polit-
ically, beyond the possibility of resurrection,
they are the Governor and Council who have
committed this great wrong. This wrong
has been done to all and the questions arising
from that wrong-doing come home to each
one of us whether he be democrat greenback
or republican. Shall the laws which have
been framed for our protection be trampled
under foot? No, for the people will rise and
intiict wel-merted punishment upon the evil
doors. The laws under which we live with
the rights which they insure to us, are sacred,
and we will defend them to the last extreml-
tv, even at the cost of life if need be. The
wars of 1875 and 1912 and 1861 were fought
for principle, and this fight which we are wag-
ing is for principles made sacred by those
wars, and handed down to us as a precious
charge. We must find way to vindicate
those principles, and that way we will find
cost what it may All depends on your ac-
ton now. If the right to express through
the ballot your choice of men to represent
you and serve you is taken away, your liber-
ties are forever dead. Let us be calm, yet
let us be firm. We know our rights, we are
able to maintain them, and by the help of
God and the power He has given us we will
maintain them. Great applause.
Rev. A. l.. Parke said do not under
stand this to be apolitical meeting. If it were
simply that | should not be here, for it is not
my custom to attend political meetings. But
| look upon this as a meeting of citizens who
value their rights and are determined that
they shall not be taken from them. A year
ago last Fall the present Governor was elect
ed in most singular manner. $4,000 people
voted to have him and 1000 voted that they
did not want him. Now, when this Governor,
having exalted views of the rights of the
minority, whose creature he is, assumes to
appoint the Legislature as the Legislature
appointed him, it becomes a matter of grave
concern to us. We have always prided our
selves upon the possession of the power to
right our wrongs in a peaceable and legal
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