St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-07
BLAINE AT PORTLAND.
His Reception and Entertainment by
the Business Men of that City.

PORTLAND, Me-, July 6.-The reception to
Blaine by the business men of this city, at city
hall tonight was brilliant one. The hail was
packed, the seats being removed and the au
dience standing, while the galleries were filed
with ladies. Blaine held q reception in the
mayors office at o'clock. He was conducted
to the platform leaning upon the arm Of Con-
gresham Reed, being received with great cheer
ing. Reed, Ia a happy speech, presented the
business men of Portland to Blaine, saying jo-
culary, If he attempted to present them it
would soon be apparent that
Blaine was better acquainted with
them than he. George Woodman. as the spokes-
man Of the merchants, read an address to Blaine
signed by over 300 business men and firms of
this city. The address, after expressing graft
fcation that citizen of Maine had been made
the recipient Of the presidential nomination.
says: Although we have not all been able to
agree with you upon political questions, we have
all had confidence in your integrity as man. and
your purity and ability a statesman and we
are united in the conviction that should the peo-
pie of the United States ratify the choice of your
political associates, you will give the
country an administration unrivalled in its wise
solcitude and practical measures for the promo
ton of all our material interests, and for its
painstaking care, for Its publication and perfec-
ton of all of the public service. Blaine replied
as follows:
Fellow citizens, do not know how to express
my great sense Of the great honor you pay me in
this most cordial reception, all the more grateful
because not rendered in partisan spirit or for
partisan advantages. For the business men of
Portland lhave, from personal knowledge, always
entertained profound respect. In no community
has higher standard of mercantile honor been
maintained, and more taintless
commercial credit than in your
beautiful city and the prosperity you enjoy is the
legitimate fruit of comprehensive intelligence
industry and courage and enterprise. Though
never citizen of Portland, l., was a resident
among you for nearly three years, beginning in
1857 and ending in 1859. During that time 1
editor of the Daily AdUertiser, and was in
fessional men Of the city. / recall no more
pleasant period, and in wide sense no
more profitable period in my life. A quarter Of
a century has since elapsed. marked with the
events of the world, of wide importance, but the
flight OF years has not dimmed my appreciation
of the friendship then formed, nor Of the great
kindness / received in Portland. We're l to re-
call the long list Of eminent of both parties
now no more, when / was then permitted to
number among my friends, time would fail me-
and this large assemblege called for friendly
greeting Of the living would be turned to eulogy
of this acting generation. None higher could
be given than that they are worthy to succeed
the Fessendens, the Shepleys, the Browns, the
Littles, and that great host of able and upright
men whose names and whose careers are the true
glory of Portland -
Introductions to Blaine followed, many gentle
men being introduced.