Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-09
Mr.. joys Speech In Presenting
Senator Blaines' Name.

Mr.. Chairman: shall never cease to re-
gret the circumstances under which the duty
is imposed on me to make the nomination of
a candidate in this convention. l have been
absent from the country for months. Since
the convention has been in session / have
been continuously employed on the floor. If,
therefore, words of mine are important for
the candidate who shall be proposed, mine
will benefit us but little. l shall, however,
bring him before the convention in as brief
manner as possible. 1t was in 1860. think,
that young man born in the old Keystone
tered the House of Representatives. That
was a time when the horizon was darkened
with clouds indicating coming tempest; it
was lust before the war; the clouds burst
over the country and the war ensued and
ragged for four long years. Fortunately for
us there were at the helm of the ship Of
State the right men, and it was manned with
the right crew. Finally the strength of one
of the contending parties gave
way, and peace at last settled down
on the country. Then ensued the contest
for reconstruction, and that occupied four
years more. During all that period of time
that young man, always true, always brave.
always eloquent, applied his talents in every
way necessary either to carry on the war or
to bring about reconstruction on proper
basis. His reputation grew and lowered all
Al. lat
had been practically secured, he stood high
before the country, and his name became a
household word, familiar in every corner of
the land, and looked up to from ali quarters.
That name was the name of James G. Blaine
Cheers, applause, and waving of hats and
handkerchiefs.)
When the nomination of Gen. Grant was
made all eyes in the Northern section of the
he has canvassed the country from the Mis-
sissippi and beyond for that candidate, so
that the people Of the North and of the great
West became familiar with him. He had
about him that wonderful power of attract
ing men which another great man-Henry
Clay, Of Kentucky-possessed in an equally
eminent degree. On the second nomination
Of Gen. Grant. Mr.. Blaine was again called
| upon, and he again traversed the country ex-
| ercising his eloquence and powers. He has
become so well known to the people that
when the last Republican Convention was
held at Cincinnati four years ago, he had be-
| corua tho leading candidate nf tho Nortbarn
people for the Presidency. He was the ia
voritc candidate of the State which I repre-
scented in that Convention. The delegates
from Michigan went there with view of
ton; and he came within few votes of get
ting it. But, for some reason, the nomina-
ton of another candidate who has been be-
fore the counuy-you all know perhaps the
astonishment created in some sections of the
country at that result. and in the State which
have the honor to represent here, it was
considered almost calamity to the indv idual
members Of the Republican party of that
date; they felt it almost as personal blow.
But while he may have been disappointed,
still when the canvass came on and when i,
was doubtful whether the Republicans would
succeed in eiecting their candidates, he, al
though he had been repudiated in that Con-
vention, buckled on his harness, entered the
tracks, and again traversed the country,
fighting manfully, gloriously, vigorously,
until the battle was won. Applause.
|