The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-08-12
THE FIRST GUN.
Republican Rally at City Hall.
PORTLAND REPUBLICANS EARNEST
AND ACTIVE.
A Superb Audience Listens to Stanley
Matthews and Thomas Fitch.

The Republican campaign was fairly opened
last night with a superb demonstration at
City Hall. That spacious apartment was
packed to its utmost capacity for at least an
hour before the speaking, the ladies occupying
a good portion in the front of the galleries. A
few settees were left on the floor for the ac-
these were grudgedIby the great mass of citi-
zens who could not get near the hall itself, and
who packed the side-aisles and rear of the
room. The stage had been built out and in
the rear seats erected, tier on tier, for the ac-
of the Garfield and Arthur Glee
Club, 100 strong.
AT SIS the first gun of a salute was fired by
the Garfield Artillery, from the space in the
rear of the City Building, and the notes of
Chambers Band were heard announcing the
arriva of the procession. The vast audience
broke out in loud applause as the drum corps,
in their striking uniform of white and scarlet
took their stations at the rear of the platform,
which they occupied a few moments and then
gave way to the Glee Club. in their neat uni
forms of double-breasted scarlet sacks, blue
pants, and white caps with red band, while
their officers wore blue uniforms, with shoul-
der-straps and gold belts.
AT $50 the chairman of the city committee,
accompanied by the distinguished speakers,
Hon. Stanley Matthews of Cincinnati, Hon.
Thomas Fitch of Nevada, and such well-known
citizens as Hon. Nathan Webb, Hon. W. w.
Thomas, Hon. Jacob Mcclellan, Hon. w. w.
Thomas, Jr., the members of the city govern
ment, Henry Fox, Edward Gould, F. G.
Messer, Hon. G. W. Woodman, Joseph Brad
ford, Drs. Dana and Clarke, Nahum Libby,
W. Ell. Fessenden, Capt Fessenden. U. S. A.,
A. f. Gerrish, ex-Gov. Perham, Clark Bar
ker, Clarence Hale and many others filed
upon the stage, amidst uproarious applause
Just after the seats were all occupied an
amusing incident occurred. A little child had
evidently got astray, and ascending the plat
form, marched to the front, seated itself with
perfect GOODNESS, and would probably have
continued if the audience had not broke out in
a roar Of laughter. At this the child got up
and ran off, which elected another burst
Chandler's Band performed selection most
Chairman Plummer then came forward and
introduced Hon. Nathan Webb as chairman of
the meeting. Mr.. Webb said:
My Friends Il want to say one word, late
as it is. At this first meeting unavoidable de-
laws have prevented its commencement earlier.
We have here two distinguished Republicans
and orators, and request you to exhibit to
them the staying qualities of the Republicans
OF Maine. Some may feel after the first orator
has concluded they ought to go, but if they do
they will make the great mistake of their
lives. We shall first hear from the Young
Glee Club, who are the authors of many of the
pieces they will perform. l give way to them
now. (Applause.)
In front of the Glee Club sat a double quar-
tette composed of eight of the best male
voices in the city, as soloists, and they, with
the club as chorus. sang my Country tits of
Thee" in manner that cannot be too highly
praised. Those who have never heard so many
educated male voices in unison can have no
appreciation of the grandeur and beauty of-the
music, and the audience received the render
ing with hearty applause.
Mr.. Webb then introduced that faithful Re
publican, true patriot and eminent orator."
AS Mr.. Matthews took the stand he was
loudly and enthusiastically cheered. Mr.. Mat
thews is stout thick-set gentleman of medi-
am height, with full brown-gray beard and
hair. He is measured in delivery, clear and
distinct in enunciation, and his speech was
mastery argument for the pnrity and freedom
Of the ballot,
nj 10 20 oJ,
'erring to the child that had appeared on the
platform said:
The baby who sat here few minutes before,
with great imperturbability was not Ia rag
baby Cheers and applause) for when she found
he was laughed at he had the sense to get up
and go away. Immense applause and cheer
ng)
MIR. Matthews was frequently applauded and
the following is a an abstract of his speech:
SPEECH OF HON. STANLEY MATTHEW'S.
The Republican party and the people of the
whole United States is today taking deep in
terest in the contest in Maine, for the state of
Maine is in the van of the great Republican
party that is marching on to victory, and will
sound the alarm along the whole line between
the two coasts, and then we will rejoice to be-
leve that las goes Maine, $50 goes the
Union"
There is an experiment going ON here that is
to test the question of local self-governmcnt
and II by the term is meant that there shall
be free ballot, and that the people by its aid
shall he left free to settle, regulate and fix
their own local affairs among themselves, then
the Republican party is pledged to do its best
to secure local self-government to the people
d every part OF the country (Applause.) But
It by the term local self-government is meant
that there is not to be free ballot, that the
popular verdict is to be set aside and the popu-
lar voice suppressed by intimidation, by illegal
voting, by fraud, bulldozing and by changing
and forging of returns, the Republican party
is not in favor, but is opposed to local self gov
And this assault on free ballot
mas been attempted in Maine.
Something like this had been tried before
out it was in the south, in the states recently
IN rebellion, where year after year legitimate
Republican maiorities, that under a natural
condition of affairs would have continued. di-
nnished and finally the vote itself disappeared,
leaving no Republican organization in the
ield. This result has not been reached save
BY intimidation which has taken power from
the loyal north and given it to the disloyal
south, and this has been the result of all our
victories And then the men who had
been engaged in the work of preventing free
ballot, met in National convention, and with
A refinement of impudence resolved that a free
ballot is necessary and must be preserved.
L Ho CdHuludtoS VI DOun pdfLleS are to be con-
'ldered in their representative capacity. but
we're it otherwise would not hesitate to3place
Sen. Garfield side by side with any man in
The country. man whom the office songht
and not he the office. An orator from Ohio
had, he understood, while speaking here the
other evening asked what the Republican
party had sdone for the laboring man. and
we reply, it has taken laboring man and
having nominated him for the President saws
to the laboring men, ''Look, here is
one of yourselves" The Republican party
shapes the legislation of the country for ali its
citizens. The rich and the poor it treats all
alike, and it gives to all fair and equal
chance to rise and the laboring man who wants
anything more, wants something that belongs
to others. He wants communism and that
means to divide every Saturday night. 1t
means that tthe loafer and the tramp shall
receive the same as the man that labors, and
know that the laboring men of Maine do NOT
desire any such thing. (Applause)
Now word as to Gen. Hancock. He is a
man OF honor. (Here few Democrats an
plauded.) He was brave soldier. Applause
he commanded corps in the army. IAN
plause.) And he fought for the Union. dead
,ilence) Now why don't somebody apnland
Great laughter) But the government took
zen. Hancock at sixteen. 1t gave him all the
he received from that time. II
taught him the art of making war, and in 1860
would he not have been mean, had he turned
MS sword against that government? But if
you eulogize Gen. Hancock, if he did noble
thing in fighting for the Union what obloouv
ought not to be poured out on those who are
to-day supporting Gen. Hancock? (Applause.1
am not disposed to allow any Democrat to