The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-09-13
A Few Words with Gen. Ander-

- = -" w VI SA0 WILL OOAs AuutI.
In enthusiastically coarse and rude
manner Gen. Anderson in letter to the
Argus, Saturday, denies his aspersion upon
the Irish, that they sell their votes. At
ter some unnecessarily offensive obserya-
tions he says, Il did not ch arge or even
intimate that sixty Irishmen or Irish Ameri-
cans or even one in one ward, or all the wards
OF this city were bought, or received money
for their votes" Now just what Gen. An
derson did say in his speech at Freeport, as
we can prove conclusively in the face of his
denial, is this: "Ia Portland one orgoniza-
tion numbering sirty men Uere bought for
three dollars apiece. The first time that ace
knew anything acas avrong they marched to
the polls almost in solid body and voted
the Republican ticket, men ,rho had alavdgs
been Democrats" The only organization n
numbering sixty men or anything like that
number was the G. C's, an organization of
young Irish Americans in Ward Four, Gen.
Anderson's own ward, who were formerly
Democrats, but who voted in body for the
Republican ticket at the election of last
Spring. To say that he did not mean
them is an unworthy dodge.
The above quotation from Gen. Ander-
sons speech, which he is reported to have
made at Fryeburg also, appeared in the
PRESS of August -, in scathing letter
from an indignant Irish American. Gen.
Anderson didn't find voioo +o do,,xx - ....l
September 18th in the last issue of the Ar
gus before election day. Is it posi-
BILE that Gen. Anderson would de-
scend to the petty meanness of postponing
his denial until so late day that the proof
could not be brought to the attention of the
voters? 1t is reported that he has been busy
for some days past in sending out private
circulars of denial to Irshmen His public
denial is suspiciously late.
General Anderson emphasizes in his letter
his devotion in the past and present to the
Irish. No one will question his habitual de-
votion to that race at about election time.
Then it boils over in fulsome orations at
City Hall and elsewhere, in which no words
are spared to tickle the fancy and inflame
the prejudices of our naturalized citizens.
His speeches debase instead of elevating
them. 1t is pity that such things can be
said of a man of the opportunities and nat
ural parts of Gen. Anderson; but his desire
for votes seems to overcome all scruples and
he sticks at nothing in the way of speech.
The brusqueness of Gen. Anderson's let
ter is perhaps an attempt to obscure the con-
spicuous inaccuracy of his statements. The
following affidavit of Herbert G.. Briggs,
Esq, of this city, will not be pleasant read
ing for Gen. Anderson in face of his letter
of positive denial. Here is the statement
and affidavit of Mr.. Briggs:
To the Editor of the Press:
On Saturday, August Z, 1880, attended
Democratic meeting at Freeport. S. j. An
derson. Democratic candidate for Congress,
made speech of which took close and full
notes. In speaking of the election in Portland
OF last year he said, elm Portland one organi-
zation numbering sixty men was bought for
three dollars apiece. The first time we knew
anything was wrong, they marched to the polls
almost in a solid body and voted the Republi-
can ticket, men who had always been Demo-
Gratis" HERBERT G. BRIGGS.
STATE OF MAINE.
CUMBERLAND SIS.
Sept. II, 1880,
Personally appeared Herbert G.. Briggs and
took oath that the above statement by him
signed is true. G. M. Seiders,
Justice of the Peace