The Portland daily press., 1880-06-11
The chairman introduced Mr.. Morse as the
last speaker.
EDWIN RUSSELL MoRsE's SPEECH.

The chairman introduced Mr.. Morse as the
last speaker.
EDWIN RUSSELL MORSE's SPEECH.
Mr. Chairman and FeHoac-citizens
Our Democratic friends have been very free
in expressing the opinion that the failure to
nominate James G. Blaine at Chicago would
fall like wet blanket upon the energy of the
campaign in this State. Gentlemen, that is
mistake This is but the preliminary skirmish
heralding an advance along the entire line.
And it must not be forgotten that Mr.. Blaine
has shown his wisdom in the selection of man
to act as the standard bearer of great party
who can most worthily fulfill the trust, and
who will unite every element OF strength,
every political principle which enters into the
composition of the Republicanism OF to-day.
1t was the accession of Mr.. Blaine's strength,
undoubtedly the result of his foresight ana
sagacity which made Mr.. Garields nominal
ton a sweeping victory. How opposite to the
action of the third-term managers, who went
into the contest with 305 pledged men and cast
on their final ballot SOC votes. 1t was mag.
unanimous act, of which the Republicans OF
Maine have just reason to be proud. Ihefe
were two alternatives one was for the Blame
delegates to 'stick" until Grants increasing
vote should ensure him the nomination, and in
all probability entail the loss of the election;
the other was to turn their forces to an unob-
jectionable man and guarantee an easy TIL
umph. Mr.. Blaine's friends chose the latter
course and Gen. Garfield came to the head OF
the list with 800 votes, or 20 more than were
required according to the rules of the conven-
ton to put him in nomination With us the
choice of Mr.. Blaine was matter OF State
pride. We had in him a candidate whose rep
utation was as wide as the continent; who was
the choice of the larger proportion of the
States that could positively send Republican
electt rs to the National College; man who is
the acknowledged peer Of any statesman upon
the floor of the Senate; a man whom the Re-
publcans of Maine have delighted to honor
with every place of official trust within their
gift. But, like Webster, Calhoun, Clay and
Seward, these very elements of ability ensured
his defeat. The spirit of rivalry overcame
popular sentiment, and it is left for us to prove
our allegiance to the plumed knight by labor
ing in behalf of the man nominated by his
followers.
Our Democratic friends must not deceive
themselves with the belief that the Republic
of Maine propose to wage an uncertain warfare
this summer. The issues are two important
for us to forsake our trust or weaken our en-
beavers. The stability of Republican institu-
tons, the honest execution of the laws, the
purity of the ballot, in short, the rights OF man
for perfect equality in the pursuit of happi-
ness, demand that James A. Garfield shall be
elected by a majority so decisive that even the
modern Democratic idea OF contingent shall
fail to affect the result And his nomination
will unity the party, and present for its snf-
frages a candidate who, as general in the
army, in the halls of Congress, and as private
citizen, has ever been in the front rank OF
able and honorable men. There will be no
disaffected Republicans this year, no scratch
ers, no stay-at-home vote, but shoulder to
shoulder we intend to press forward to the
achievement of victory so positive that not a
principle of liberty gained in twenty years Of
Republican rule shall be eradicated or misdi-
rected. To united Republican party the
solid South presents no terrors, and our oppo-
nents realize that they can expect but a few
votes outside of those States whore the favorite
policy is to secure political prestige by coercion
intimidation, and every species of fraud; and
where when Republican majority is gained
it speedily reversed by peculiarly Democratic
measures. The opposition goes into this can
vas weighted with too many misdeeds to expect
that the intelligence of tho nation will accord
to ias leaders the direction of public affairs
At the close of Mr.. Morse's speech the band
played the Delight Galop which ended the
exercises, which had held the audience to the
close, and the great crowd slowly dispersed
with hearty cheers for the party nominees.