The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-09-13
BRIDGTON.
A Big Demonstration Saturday
Night
IN SPITE OF THE ATTEMPT OF FU-
SIONISTS TO BREAK IT UP.

BRIDGToN, Sept. IL, 1880.
The Republican demonstration in this village
this evening was grand success, notwith-
standing the efforts of the Fusonists by means
of free supper, fireworks and speeches to
break up the meeting In view of the fact
that the Republicans voluntarily gave up their
meeting for Sept. 10th, so as not to interfere
with the Fusion mass meeting on that day, the
chairman of the Fusion town committee
agreed voluntarily to have no Fusion meeting
Sept. 18th. The Republicans kept their word
the Fusionists did not, and resorted to every
possible means to prevent Fusonsts listening
to the Republican speakers and especially Mr..
Strout. The Fusion mass meeting Friday was
in every way sckening affair. In the after
noon there were present by actual count, in
Guiding everybody, just 1893 persons, and in the
evening there were present only 4S7, large
proportion being Republicans. Judge At
wood, the only advertised Fusion speaker who
put in an appearance, told so graphically of the
rottenness of the Democratic party that even
the Fusion leaders dropped their heads with
shame. This evening the Fusionists tried it
again with no better success, for, notwith-
standing the outside attractions offered and til.
presence of Major D. R. Hastings, Central
Hall was only half full.
The Republicans occupied the Town Hall,
the largest in town, and filled it full, there be-
ing at least 700 present. DIR. John III. Kimball
presided and introduced as the first speaker
Capt. Simon FL. Merrill, of the old 18th Maine,
BridgtOn boy, whom III. NJ Plaisted and the
Bangor Commercial are trying to vilify be-
cause he tells the truth about Plaisted. Capt
Merrill was received with round after round of
applause, and for thirty minutes told in gen.
tlemanly manner some of the many discredta-
BILE acts of FL. M. Plaisted while in the army.
A. g. Bradstreet, ESQ.,, Republican candidate
presentation of the important national issues
of the day. Mr.. Bradstreet received a most
hearty and enthusiastic welcome from his con-
stituents, who propose to return him by an in
creased majority.
A. A. Strout, Esq, an old Bridgton boy, was
the last speaker, and for an hour and a half he
held his audience, Democrats as we'll as Re-
publicans, with his graphic description of the
late attempt to steal the State, telling many
things that were new to our citizens, and clos
ing with most eloquent tribute to the Repub-
lican party and it's candidates. 1t was truly
gratifying to our citizens to again hear their
OLD townsman, and the hearty ovation and per-
Sonal congratulations extended to Mr.. Strout
by his old friends and neighbors must have
been gratifying to him.
At the close of the meeting there was a
torchllght parade by the Garfield and Arthur
club, headed by the Bridgton Brass Band, and
serenade to Messrs. Bradstreet and Strout,
who briefly responded. The failure of the
two Fusion meetings yesterday and to-day,
with the fact that the Republican meeting was
grand success, and that several prominent life
long Democrats have to-day publicly an
nounced their intention of voting the Republi-
can ticket for the first time makes the Fusion
lists awful sick. X. Y. Y.