The Portland daily press., 1880-08-05
THE ISSUES OF THE CAMPAIGN.
Speech OF Hon. Thomas B. Reed at Au-
burn.

AT the Androscoggin county convention in
Auburn, Tuesday Hon. Thomas B. Reed
spoke as follows:
Fel(oao Citizens We have met here TODAY
gentlemen, not merely to discuss who shall be
President and Vice President of the United
Statessfor the nextlfour years, but much larger
ana more important question; that is, which
party shall control the country for many wears
to come. If the banner of that party which
has managed the affairs of the country for the
past twenty years, shall again come to the fore
next November, the census will take care of
us for many years to come. The people of this
country have perpetualsgrasp on their rulers.
there is good deal of loose talk about the
President being the President of the whole
country. He is the President of the whole
country-but what in the world is the whole
country? Is is not the majority party who
elected him? 1t has taken 5000 years to estab-
llsh the principle that majority of one is just
as potent as the whole. The President repre-
sents that majority and is elected because he
represents it. In the common course of things
ne IS not only sure to represent the party when
elected, but al! through his term. But while
the President does thus represent the people
who elected him he can, if he knows his bust
ness, have great influence in putting in form
principles and ideas of the party.
Your candidate for President, James A.
Garfield, (cheers) is a man whose opinions and
principles are well known. His opinions on
all great questions of the day are known to be
right. During the three years l sat beside him
IN Congress, never heard suspicion that his
moral character was not above question Gen.
Garheld's opinions have been formed in the
only true way to form them-in the furnace of
discussion. He has formed opinions that will
stand the test of practical life. Where has
Gen. Hancock ever discussed public matters?
What does he think on the question of resump-
ton? What are his opinions on the great
question OF national supremacy? He don't
know them himself. There never Twas a man
who was more fitted to be made tool of the
menawho surround him. The question is not
whether Hancock hung Mrs. Surratt but to
which set of men you willt trust the reins of
government.
don't propose to praise the Republican
party. Its history is its own eulogium. What
ever is best and bright in the history of this
can party. (Applause.) The Republican party
in doing its work has improved the Democrat
ic party. What Democrat is there who would
restore slavery in the territories, or anywhere
else? 1 expect the time will come when the
Democratic party will be in favor of paying
the greenback! Of course the time will come
after it has been accomplished. Uaughter.)
If they don't occupy our camps next year, it
will be because they want to remain in two
year old trenches while longer. Why, they
have even got SO they take our old genera Is
and honorables, that we have shaken out of
the tail of the cart and have set them up for
theiI candidates! Great laughter.)
1t is important to know what the South is.
In Congress the Southern Representatives and
Senators have majority in the Democratic
caucuses, and the Democratic party is run by
caucuses The South is an intolerant country.
We never have BEEN Think of what
an avalanche of foolish talk went over New
England in 1878 Think of such men as Prof
Leo Miller and Prof. Moses Hull, who never,
until they came to England, addressed any
other audience than company of short haired
women and ong-haired men. daughter and
applause) Think of those fellows speaking
shutting them up! We believed that truth
was nmighty and time has Justified our
opinions. (Applause.) This sort of thing
would not be permitted in the South. They
don't stop to argue with a man there. If they
don't agree with him they simply shoot the top
of his head off. The South is $50 years behind
us. We are as much ahead of them as we are
ahead of the Pilgrim Fathers!
Since the war, every Southern state but two
has repudiated more or less of its indebtedness.
Mississippi, which repudiated before the war,
and hasn't been able to borrow any money
since. Thes states have repudiated 1915, 0O0,-
600 OF principal and $500 900 OF sprincipal
and interest. This debt was not brought about
by carpet bag rule. If this be their spirit to-
ward their own debt created by themselves,
what would be their disposition, if they got
into power, toward the debt created in subju-
eating them? Let candid men think carefully
on this problem.
been asking us to discuss State issues. I'VE
are now in position where we can crafty
them. (Applause.) The question in this cam
paign is whether Maine is State fit to live in,
or only fit to move out Of In other words,
we've got to re-enact in this campaign por-
ton OF the decalogue-'Thou shalt not steal!'
Applause and laughter.) 1t is not sharp prac.
tlce, but wickedness, that we have to denounce.
In ancient Rome there was no law against
parricide, because in that republic it was not
thought possible for man to commit such an
Infamous and unnatural crime In this State
there is found no law to punish these fellows,
because no one ever imagined that such gar-
ing, monstrous fraud was possible. They
counted out thirty-seven Republicans on al
legged informalities, which hit a Republican
every time. If lightning had struck the same
place thirty-seven times in the same storm it
wouldn't be half so remarkable ascircumstance.
Great laughter.) The crime as whole was
so outrageous that it oyershadows everything
we ever heard before.
Mr.. Reed gave a lucid exposition of several
of the particular frauds consummated by the
tabulators, as found by the Hale committee.
He took up the Gouldsboro, and the Lisbon
and Webster cases. 1t is important that the
seal of Condemnation be put npon such wick
edness as this. To-day the name of (the State
OF Maine is coupled with the names of states,
where Democratic domination has made fair
ballot and free ballot impossible.
You and have duty to perform in this
State to the proud position she formerly occu-
pied. Let us all lift together and we shall sue
ceed Applause.
The Journal says: Mr.'Reed's speech was
capital one, and we have never heard an adj
dress that caused more delight to his hearers
He was interrupted by the noon bell, but the
convention would gladly have listened to him
longer.