The Portland daily press., 1880-09-04
LAKE MARANOCOOK.
Thousands Go to Hear Col. Inger-
soil and Gen. Sheridan.
A MAGNIFICENT MEETING OF EARN
EST REPUBLICANS.
Especial Dispatch to the Press !

Especial Dispatch to the Pressl
WINTHROP. Sept. 3.-The Republican meet
ing to-day at Lake Maranocook was splendid
affair. The reputation of Col. Ingersoll as
one OF the best stump speakers in the Union
would have called out thousands to hear him,
but nothing but the fact that the people are
awake, and are determined to unite to give
the Democratic party great and lasting de-
feat could have made the meeting to-day what
it was.
A train of twenty-four cars came down from
Bangor, and every car was filed not only to
the uttermost seating, and even standing CO.
pacity, but the very platforms and steps were
crowded. Long before the arrival of the Ban
gor train people enough to have made more
than ordinary rally were on the ground, and
IN did not need the dispatch that was received
from Portland that train of twenty-five cars
was on the way filled with people, to make it
clear that the rally was to equal, if not sur
pass, that at Old Orchard when the Republi-
cans of York County came out to hear Logan
and Matthews. The Republicans of Kennebec
County have to-day returned the greetings
sent to them by their brethren in other Sec
tions of the State, and the grand outpouring
must show to the Fusion leaders, that they
have to deal with united and resoute party.
Hundreds OF the farmers came in with their
teams, and it is said that there were men there
who drove thirty miles in order to be present
1t is a noteworthy fact that there was not
man here who seemed inclined to raise a doubt
of the complete success of the Republican
ticket. 1--WE shall elect a full Republican
Congressional delegation said Bangor Re-
publican, whose business leads him to visit
1nrluv a0rfC Nf % Sfpf t.n ,1.,al
claim that Gen. Plaisted is to get heavy
home vote will be found to be without founda-
tion," he added.
The Portland train of twenty-five cars
reached here at twenty-five minutes past one
O'Clock, and the speaking was at once COM
menced. 1t had been proposed that Col. In
gersoll should speak from the stand in the larg-
er pavilion, but the immense crowd made it
necessary for him to stand at the side of the
pavilion facing the water, and SO be seen as
we'll as heard by thousands who could not
otherwise have got even glimpse of the dis
tinguished orator. AS it was, when Col. In
gersoll took his stand not only was the build
ing full, but it was fairly surrounded, and
not only was the space in front of the speaker
filled to the lake, but boats filled with people
were out on the lake itself. and then, with all
the space in front, in the building and in the
immediate vicinity filed, hundreds who were
unable to get view of the great orator, filed
the space back of the pavilion to the steps
leading to the track.
A. r. Crane, ESQ.,, ellled the meeting to
order and introduced Col. Ingersoll who was
unable for some moments to proceed with his
speech on account of the loud and repeated
bursts OF applause with which he was greeted.
Col. Ingersoll is one of those men who de-
cline to grow old under any circumstance, or
combination of circumstances. He was never
In better health and spirits, and made himself
heard with apparent ease even by those on the
outskirts of the audience.
Col. lngersoll began by saying that the
country in which the Repn blican party be-
ieyes is composed of the North, East South
and west. This is a great, grand, glorious
country. We can take the fallen, the failures
OF the countries of the old world, and out of
them, such is the magnificent force of our
institutions, make men better, higher, nobler
men than the nobility of Europe can boast Of.
Ii there is any one feature of our institutions
that we must preserve it is the right of free
speech, and the man who assails the freedom
OF speech is a traitor to his country and to
humanity. (Applause.) We have but one
Free Ballot" OF what use is it to have
freedom OF speech if there is not to be an open
honest ballot?Does the solid South believe in
free, fair and open ballot? Well, not much
CLaughter.) tell you that in the South ras-
cailty holds the election, villainy counts the
votes, and assassination and murder join in
declaring the result. What is the right to free
speech if it is not the right to be heard? What
is the use to hear the attorney for the defence
if you have hired the jury to give verdict for
the plaintiff? Gaughter) The man who
claims free speech for himself and is not will
ing to grant it to others is not civilized. Now
am not going to say word that any Demo-
crat can object to, but now Mr.. Democrat
honor bright are you willing to. trust the solid
South? Is there Democrat here who does
not believe in free speech? Now if free speech
is to be preserved who is to be trusted to pre-
serve it, shall we trust the solid South? Mr..
Greenbacker, don't you want to trust the state
of Alabama to preserve the liberty of free
speech? Uaughter.) Honor bright, now, are
you willing? do not propose to go South to
speak. feel that can do more good and be
safer some ways off. l can lift more if the
lever is long one. Uaughter) 1 prefer to
trust the North, Maine rather than Louisiana,
Massachusetts rather than Alabama. 1 say to
you that ii you want to keep free speech you
must keep the Republican party in power
Can you trust the Democratic party in the
South with the duty of preserving the purity
OF the ballot? To come nearer home, can you
trust the Democratic party of Maine TO do it?
Great laughter.)
The speaker here gave in detail descrip-
tion of the Southern mode of conducting an
election, and said that free ballot is Of no
avail unless it is honestly counted. Colonel
lngersoll then took up the question of revenue
and said that as the solid South declined to
pay any revenue on spirit, which was about
the only way in which they would be likely to
contribute to the expenses of the government
it may be regarded as settled that the North
must pay the whole. In four years 1874 dis
tilleries havv been seized in the South, and
within that time twenty-five United States
officers have been killed and fifty-fve
wounded in the Southern states. 'Now,"
said the speaker, "the party in power must
collect the revenue. Nice fellows they will be
to do it,
Col. Ingersoll then discussed the currency
question, and concluded his very able speech
to which no mere abstract can do justice, by
sarcastic review of the varied elements COM
posing the Democratic party North and South,
and with brilliant presentation of the claims
OF the Republican party to the confidence and
support of the people. He referred in highly
complimentary terms to Senator Blaine, the
mention of whose name was received with
immense applause.
General G.. HI. Sheridan was loudly called
for at the close of the address Of Col. Inger-
soil, but owing to the lateness of the hour he
was unable to speak at any length, but for
few moments reviewed the Democratic claim
that the elections in the South are honestly
conducted. To that claim he thought the
fact that Gen. Chalmers was elected to Cor
greSS by vote of less than 6,C30, in district
which has more than $500 voters was suffi-
cient answer. Until it could be shown where
the $4,000 voters went to the general said that
he should doubt the statement that the cleo
tion in that district is full, free and honest
one.
1t is estimated that at least 10000 persons
were on the ground and much credit is due to
Superintendent Tucker and the officers of the
Maine Central for the manner in which the
trains were run. Not single accident or un-
pleasant occurrence mared the success of the
grand rally here to-day, a result in no slight
degree due to them.
BRIDGTON ABLAZE.