The Portland daily press., 1884-11-19
Citizens of Augusta Testify to
Their Unwayering Conf
dence in Him.
a Spontaneous and en-
thuSiastic Affair.
Herbert M. Heath, Esq, Speaks
for the People.
Mr.. Blaine's RepIy-An Address Which
Every American Should Read.

street as testimonial OF answering
confidence in their fellow-ctizen and neigh
Dor. 1t was spontaneous affair, no previous
preparation to speak Of having been made.
There vas no organized movement but tue
people simply formed on Water street and
led by Major Frank K. Nye, with the Augusta
Baud, marched to Mr.. Blaine's residence. The
procession was estimated to bs nearly quar-
ter of mile in length and people of all classes
participated, many OF the most prominent citi-
Gems being in the line. The party arrived in
front of Mr.. Blains's residences at o'clock. 1t
was striking reminder Of the scene on the
evening Of his noninstion in June. The atEssA
was crowded on every side and the yald in
front OF his house thronged
A serenade vas rendered by the band and
in response Mr.. Blaine appeared on tie
threshold, This was a signal for applause aud
three tousing cheers were given. Herbert NJ.
Heath, Esq, of Augusta then spoke in behalf
O.. the people as follows:
Mr., Blaine:-Your fellow citizens have COM
missioued me to bring to you expressions OF
their good will and esteem. For 80 years you
have lived among as, known aud seen OF all
men, kind friend and generous hearted
neighbor, You are endeared to this conn
munity by ties OF affectoD, upbroken and an
breakable. There IS no man here so lowly as
not to cal you friend; no man so humble M
not TO pull the latch-string of your door. Iu
the exciting canvass iust closed VS. hailed the
opportunity to break party lines and twics
TESTIFY to cur appreciation OF your greatness By
majorit;es unparalleled in the history OF our
city, and we would the result had been ether
wise. But the country's loss is your esiu.
We know the standard was placed 10 your
hands unsought The call to duty found you
ia the peaceful enjoyment of priyate life.
You oDeyed the CALI you reformed the lilss
of great party waveriDg under the stunning
defeats of 1882, and wherever the hght hss
been the hottest you have led our columrs
With courage that has challenged the se mi
ration even o! our opponents Your com
Insnd retlres from portion OF the field de-
featsd, but not routed; checked bat not Cor
qBsred; strong in defeat, and with our lipes
ready for a new battle. Such leadership
can turn defeat INTO victory. With orr coofs
saved, this grand party-the grandest known
in history, and OF whose achievements you
Can truly say, "a great part OF which was, -
marches on to new triumphs, it's standard iil-
scribed with your majestic words Of thirty
years ago, "Dsre to d. right, and leave the
Consequences TO an Infinite wisdom" What.
ever your fatnre, whether in the heat of poll
tics, while in commerce or the peace of litera-
lure, we, your fellow -oltzsns, your neighbors,
your friends, bid you hearty God-speed.
Mr.. Blaine replied in clear and foroible
manner, gsstieulasing at times. He wore an
overcoat, and at times heId his hands in his
packets, the temperature being quite low. The
people gave the strietest sttebtiop, AID when
Mr. Blaine Concluded cheered vigorously. Mr..
Blaine said:
Friends and Neigh5oys:
MS II f.n fe.sti il war nd h9r iho
rowest of snargins VIZ have lost. I thank You
l,r your call which. ii not one OF joyous CON
gretuiatiup, Is one, | am sure, OF CO, hdence
and saneuue hope for ths future. | tsiApk
you for the public opportunity You give nsg to
express my sense of Obligation not only to YOU
bal to all the Republicans Of Maine Ilsy
responded to my nomination with genuine en-
thusixsm and ratified it by q superb vote.
count it rs one of thA honorS aud qualifications
of my ruelic career th~t the party in MAKO,
after struggling bard for the last six years,
and twice within that period losing the State,
has come back in this State TO an old-faFb-
toned 10000 plurality. No other EXPRESSION of
popular confidence aud esteem could equal
that Of the people among whom / have lived
for thirty years and TO whom am attached by
ali tas lies that ennoble human nature aud
give joy and dignity to life.
After Maine; indeed, along with Maine, my
first thought is al = ags f Pennsy lvaDis. How
Can fttingly express my thaak4 fer that IN
rara l d a al rtg OF more than so 600 vctes, "a
popular orsement which has deeply
touched my htart and which has, If possible,
Increased iny affection for the grand old con-
monwealth, IAN sffscEion which Inherited from
my ancestry and which / shall transmit to my
children
But do no limit my thanks TO the State of
my residence and the State of my birth. oWe
much to the true and zaaons friends ia New
Exgland whe worked so nobly for the Rspub-
iiPan marty and its candida att4a nd I'm fha ami.
neHt scholars and divines who, stepping aside
from their ordinary avocatioDs, made my cause
their cause and 10 loyalty and principle added
the special compliment of standing IS my per-
sonal representatives in the National struggle.
But the achievements for the Republican
canse in the East are even surpassed by the
splendid victories in the West, in that ma gDif-
cent Gordon of States that stretches from the
foothills of the Aileghenies TO the Golden
Gate of the Pacific. Beginning with Ohio aud
ending with California, the Republican banner
was borne so loftily that but single State
failed to join in the vida acclaim OF triumph
Nor should l do justice to my own feelings ii
failed to tnabk the Republicans of the
Empire State who encountered so many dis
ccuragements and obstacles, who fought
against foee from within and foes from with
ont, and who wagsd 60 strong a battle that
change OF one vote in every two thousand
would have given as the victory in the nation.
Indeed, a change of little more than fee thou
sand votes would have transferred Nav York,
Indiana, New jersey and Connecticut to the
Republican standard and have made the North
as solid as the South.
Ny thanks would still be incomplete il
should fail to recognize with special gratitude
that great body of workingmen, both native
and foreign born, who gave me their earnest
support. breaking from old personal and party
tics and finding in the principles which
represented iu tho canvass the safeguard and
protection of their own tire,ide interests.
The result of the election, my friends, will
be regarded in the future, think, as extra
ordinary. The Northern States, leaving out
the cities of New York aud Brooklyn from the
count, sustained the Republican cause by
majority OF more than 400 0000-almost half a
mi lion, Indeed, of the popular VOTE The
eities OF New York and Brooklyn threw thsir
great strength and influence with the golid
South, and we're the decisive element which
gave to that section the control of the national
government.
Speaking now, not at all as defeated cam
didate, but simply as loyal and devoted
American, think the transfer Of the political
power of the government TO the South is
great national misfortune. 1t is n misfortune
because it introduces an element which cannot
insure harmony and prosperity to the people,
because it introduces into a republic the rule
of minority. The first instinct of an Ameri-
oan is equality. Equality of rights, squaity
of privileges, equality of political power; that
equality which says to every citizen, "your
vote is just as good, jast as potential as the
vote of any other citizsn." That cannot be-
said today In the United States. The course OF
affairs in the South has crushed out the politi-
cal power Of more than six million American
citizans and has transferred 1t, by violence, to
others Forty-two presidsntialseleco ors are as
signed to the south, on account OF the colorsd
population, and yet the colored population,
with more than eleven hundred thousand le-
gal votes have been unable to choose single
eector. Even in those States where they have
a majority of more than hundred thousaud
they are deprived OF Tree suffrage, and their
rights as citizens ecornfully trodden under
foot. The eleven States that comprised the
Rebal Confederscg had, by the census of 1880,
seven and half million white population, and
five million three hundred Thousand colored
population. The colored population, almost to
a man, desire TO support the Republican parry,
but by system of cruel intimidation, and by
violence and murder, whenever violence and
murder are thought necessary, they are abso-
lutely deprived OF all political power.
If the outrage stopped there it would be bad
enough. But it does not stop there, for NOT
only is the negro population disfranchised but
the power which rlghtfully and constitutional
population, enabling the white population ol
the South to exert an electoral influence Isl
beyond that exerted bv the same number Of
white people in the North To illustrate just
how that works to the destruction of all fail
elections let me present t you five States il
the l. to confederacy and five loyal States o
number OF elec oral votes: In the South th'
0..s nF Lon nj hafI IN