The Portland daily press., 1882-01-28
"THE BATTLE CRY"
A Lively Political Meeting at Congress
Hall Last Evening.

over the resolutions began. 1t was composed
almost entirely of Democrats, Fusonists and
Greenbackers, among whom we noticed Alder
man Winslow, of Ward A, ex-Alderman An
drews, from the same ward, Councilman Nc
Aleny, of Ward 4, Inspector General Lynch
and Deputy Sheriffs Dow and Cushman and
Spencer Rogers. The applause also was all
one way, and if any Republicans were present
it was manifest that they took very little inter
est in what was going on.
j. B. Fillebrown opened the meeting and
nominated S. l.. Carlton as chairman, VINO ac-
cepted the nomination and was elected to pro
side over the meeting. d. R. Dresser was
chosen secretary.
After reading the call and offering few re-
marks, the chairman called on Gen. Dow, who
spoke at some length. He was rather severe
on both parties The Democratic party was
down. He was staunch Republican, but
didn't want to be switched off on another
track. During his remarks Gen. Dow stated
that there was as much corruption in the Port
land City Government, in proportion to the
population, as there ever was in New York,
even in the reign of Tweed he also stated
that it had been said that there were some in
it that did not believe in God. He wanted re-
form.
Rev. Mr. LeLacheur was the next speaker.
He said that before consenting to be present
he had asked the committee who had waited
on him several questions. Two of these were;
sis this party meeting?" and us this thor
oughly honest meeting, and is there any inVisi-
BILE hand behind it that will make itself known
after all is over?' He was told there was not,
but we are inclined to believe the hand made
itself visible to him in very emphatic manner
before the meeting closed He said that it was
hardly safe for him to say he was temperance
man, Judging from late experience, but asked
his hearers to ascertain what definition Webb
ster gave to the name of the paper that had
tried to make it so.
A committee was then raised to draft series
of resolutions. Prof. A. J. johnson, a Green
backer, OF elocutionary fame, was chosen as
one of that committee but declined in favor of
Gen. Dow. The other two members were
Robert Murphy and Robert Drew. In few
moments they returned with a single resolu-
ton, which declared they should vote for none
who were not in accordance with temperance
principles The name of the Republican party
was someway mixed with the resolution and
caused considerable discussion.
A motion was made to pass the resolution
and was carried. But before matters could be
resumed a still, small voice called out "doubt-
ed" Here was dilemma but the chairman
was obliged to call the yeas and nays, and
when the latter was called single voice called
out, "I am opposed to the resolution" All
eyes were turned to that part of the hall and
soon the mighty form of J. Fremont Wilbur
rose to view. CONSERVATION prevailed and the
brows of the leaders looked dark and wicked
at the thought that their plans were to be in
terfered with Mr.. Wilbur said grandly, "I
am young man, but am not willing to be
trampled upon by picked few. Those reso-
lutions were drafted before this meeting began.
The committee have not been out fifteen
minutes. This meeting is packed" he
screamed. At this there was a general storm
of applause, which SO elated the young orator
that he ran to the stage with the remark that
he had few things to say and might as well
say it. But his courage failed him. After
struggling at few sentences, and an occasion
al ''I wont sit down, and you can't make me-"
to Gen. Dow and others who were striving to
quiet him, he slid down from the stage in a
very excited frame OF mind.
Gen Dow then explained that all such gath
erings did their work in advance and this was
only following the rule. But the dark look on
Fremont's brow lost but little of its cloudiness.
"Prof." johnson then rose to his feet and
said q considered it just to Gen. Dow to say
that he had nothing to do with drafting the
resolutions. The applause that followed this
remark SO raised 1.-THE Professors courage that
he bounded ito the stage, began to swing his
arms and to relate his experience" He
years of age through the war, how he came to
be called Professor and in fact tried to i'm
press upon the minds of the audience that he
was 'self-made" man, which no doubt is a
fact He said he happened to be one OF the
"honored few," called by an "honored few, !"
to take some measures in regard to enforcing
the prohibitory law. He said he with few
others labored two hours at recent meeting
(suggestive of the late meetings held by the
Greenback Icommittees) to draft call to the
people. He said Gen. Dow had nothing to d o
with it, 1t was all the work of several men
who believed that the Greenback party and
Prohibition party should go hand in hand. He
affirmed in calm (?) and his impressive man
ner that the Greenback party was the leading
party of the day, (thinking probably of the
ninety-nine who had turned out at the last
city election.) He was man of honor and
would always vote for temperance man-that
is, providing he held to sthe Greenback views
also
After this gentleman had subsided, Rev.
DIR. McKeown arose to speak, and his calm
voice went far toward quieting the uproar. He
believed both parties had done noble work and
were entitled to credit. He believed in going
right and moved that the W hole thing be laid
over until subsequent meeting. But this
didn't suit the irate professor. He was
Sin for all night" and wanted the resolution
passed, but wanted the Republican party
stricken out of the resolution. He didn't want
to refor the Republican party, and wanted the
name stricken out
But Gen. Dow succeeded in quieting him
and made motion to recommiJ the resolution.
Prof johnson seconded this, but before it was
put, Rev. Mr.. LeLacheur arose to say that by
changing two words, the desired result would
be obtained and read it as altered. This suit
ed all but Mr.. Wilbur, who wanted the pream-
bic abolished also. He moved that the pre-
amble be stricken out and the resolution pass
ed as amended by Rev. Mr.. LeLacheur.
But the motion did not prevail, and it was re-
| committed, and Rev. Messrs. McKeown and
LeLacheur, Asa L. Ames and r. III. Murphy
added to the committee
The meeting was about to adjourn when an
excited individual sprang to his feet and asked
for the privilege to say few words, kin
mond, Kinmond," was the cry, and he rushed
toward the stage. He commenced his remarks
by saying that the conventions at Augusta,
from which he had just returned, was packed
by Republicans, twas it not, Gen. Dow; you
were there?" "No, certainly not, replied the
General; .you are mistaken 81 am
not mistaken, replied the excited
| was no rum sold in Saccarappa?" "No, GER
tainly did not" he answered. "You did," re-
| torted the speaker.
At this Gen. Dow rushed on the platform to.
wards the man and was about to deny the
| statement, when Mr.. Kinmond informed him
| that he had the floor and was going to speak
| The General had to take a seat and wait fol
| the speaker, who continued his TRADE against
| every one in general and no one in particular
AT the close of his remarks Gen. Dow ex
| planned matters and the meeting adjourned.
Taken as whole the meeting was broad
farce. There we're people there who went fol
an honest purpose, and who did not uphold
such acting. But the majority of the audience
was composed of politicians whose only object
is to raise the cry of fine and carry off .th'
offices when the people are at work. Th'
death of the Greenback party left few wht
are not easy when not in political broil, ant
of such there was large number present las
evening.