Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-08-05
Washington Letter.


Ed,to, Kennebee JOUrRat
Now, as before the nomination at Chicago
in June. Mr.. Blaine is the chief object Of
discussion, conjecture, and large amount of
club meetings, and, in fact, wherever you
find two OF three gathered together" for al
most any purpose under the sun. And now,
As then, it is remarkable what popular I'M
der.current is discovered on all hands for
him Only a few days since, while in argu-
ment for Cleveland, prominent democrat
an Irish democrat at that-frOm New ork,
said to me II can't understand why so large
a proportion of the laborlng men Of our city
get 40 crazy over Blaine OF course,
suggested that the class TO which he referred
had come TO a point IN their experience when
all the sophistries and receptions of the dem
ocratic party were of no effect in the SUM ght
of truth that vas beaming upon that grand
principle of protection against the pauper la
Dor of Europe, advocated by members Of the
republican party. "Oh pshaw what does
the republican party care about protection to
American interests more than the democratic
party? Wouldn't Cleveland do as much for
us if elected, as Blaine?" No. sir; and as
an intelligent lrishman, you know it. The
democratic party, as whole, Is for free
trade, and that means destruction TO
the interests Of the workngmen of
this country, and the iaboring men
can no longer be hoodwinked against
their best interests. They know that when
such men as Jones of the New York Times,
and G.. W. Curtis, and others of free trade
llk, and of free trade procivites, endorse the
democratic party, and when the English press
and English capital support them, it means
no good to the Irish labOrer at least. Cleve-
lands vetoes OF the interests of the Ia0orlng
classes are the best possible evidences of hts
want of sympathy for them. THAT is all
nonsense, and you republicans laugh at it.
But will acknowledge that the fear of seeing
the English ghost in the Irish closets of
America is driving, and will continue to drive
thousands OF Irish votes in New York and
elsewhere to Blaines support
BIaine's Popularity In the "Western Re
serve," Ohio.
The night before the nomination of Blaine,
| heard an eloquent speech at the Blaine
headquarters, Grand Pacific Hotel, Chicago,
by Judge ---, | forget the name) of
Ohio. | can't give the precise language, but
in substance he said Il see a number OF
prominent newspaper men before me- and
want them to take note of what | am about to
say and correct the error that has so general
ly gone abroad 1t is believed from one end
of the country to the other that Mr.. Blaine is
popular in the Western Reserve" chiefly
because he was CART Ids secretary of State.
Now notice in this gathering a
great many Ohio men-some of them here at
Chicago as delegates to support our DIS
tinguished and honored citizen, Senator
Sherman, as a candidate for the Presidency.
Ii make a misstatement, | want them to
correct me, and know they will In 1876,
before any one ever dreamed that Garfield
would be President, James &. Blaine was the
almost unanimous choice of the republicans
of the "Reserve" for President, and she sent
her delegates to the Cincinnati convention
pledged to support him. And in 1880. when
Garfield was prospectively a candidate him
self, and it was so understood all over the
State the Western Reserve was true to its
first love and instructed her delegates to vote
for MIR. Blaine first, last. and all the time.
And they did it 1t is not true that Garfield
made Blaine popular anywhere in Ohio
Strong as is our admiration for the Shermans,
proud as we are of their grand record, they
must give way to Blaine in point of popularity
with the people of Ohio. And am here to
speak for the republicans of the Western
Reserve-the Gibraltar of republicanism in
OdIo to-day. want 10 say to the delegates
of the great convention who will vote to-
morrow for candidates, give us James G
Blaine As the standard bearer of our party,
and no democrat on earth can beat rs IN
Ohio All. ID.