Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-25
BLAINE IN ILLINOIS.
An Immense Torchlight Procession in
Springfield-Ten Thousand Per-
sons Participating.

| DASvILLE, Ills, Oct "a.
Ii was ii O'Clock A. ~. when Mr. Blaine
| left Lafayette for Springfield, he was accom-
panied by large reception committee, who
had come from Springfield to meet him and
by several friends from Chicago, among them
were Joseph Medill and C. B. Parwell. The
first stop and the last in Indiana was at
Attica. There were about 5000 persons
around the depot. Blaine spoke very briefly,
saying it was too late for argument and the
time for action was close at hand. No other
stop was made till the train reached here.
SPRINGFIELD, Ills, Oct. %.
The republican demonstration here today
and tonight is considered the largest political
demonstration ever held here. Speeches
were made by Gen. Logan, Secretary Lin
coin and others. The arrival of the train
bearing Blaine was delayed until 5 o'clock.
As soon as it arrived Blaine was Immediately
driven to the main stand, where he made the
following speech:
Il could not stand upon this ground with
out having my mind irresistably carried back
to the spring of 1861, when the first republi-
can president left his home to enter upon that
extraordinary mission, whose results fill a
most memorable chapter in our history.
Cheers. could not stand upon this ground
without having NV mind carried back to the
return here after the firing on Sumter of the
great democratic chieftain, who. when the
issue came between his party and his country
choose his country renewed cheeringl and
if did not remember these things thev would
be brought to my mind by the fact
that the son of Abraham Lincoln and the son
of Stephen A. Douglas are today on the soil
of Illinois, upholding the principles for
which these two great patriots stood side by
side in the dark days which ushered in the
the civil war. Men die, but the principles
which in that great contest preserved both
liberty and the Union, are today incorporated
in the creed of the republican party. Nor do
believe that | am indulging in the language
of extravaganza when sav the bond of the
Union would be weakened by the triumph of
the democratic party, because the head of
that party in the South, is in the hands of
the men which organized the rebellion which
Lincoln and Douglass joined in resisting
The deliberate calculation of the democrats
today is that with the l6 Southern States they
will draw enough electoral votes from the
North TO give them political mastery of the
Union. They can never do it. and am sure
that in protesting against such consummaton
is that the tombs of both Lincoln and Doug
lass would open their ponderous marble
jaws. There are two South, the new South
and the old South. The new South looks
forward hopefully to progress, to political
regeneration, to triumph of principles that
underie the Union. The old South cheris
prejudice of rebellion, nurtures hope of
revenge and INDUCES the ambition TO get
even Shall the North join forces with the
old South or with the new. (the new.) Yes,
let us stretch out our hands to that new
South made up, it is true, largely of men
who took part in the confederate struggle
but who have turned their backs upon the
past and are looking hopefully to the future
Let strength, influence and prestige of the
republican party go to upbuilding of that
new south and so long as loyalty has friend
or flag has follower let not that old south
triumph" Cheers. The evening was
devoted to the parade of marching clubs,
bearing torches and dlscharging fireworks.
The number of persons participating is esti-
mated at 10000. There was a general ilumi-
nation of public buildings, places of business
and private residences.