Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-09-05
BLAINE AT MANCHESTER.
His Speech to the Farmers of New
England.
MANCHESTER. Y. H.. Sent 4.


At Raymond. \. H., stop of five minutes
was made for the locomotive to get water in
the railroad yard. As soon as the halt was
made, the car was surrounded by a large
number of people who had walked down the
track TO add their welcome TO the statesman
from Maine. Quite number of the most
prominent men in town, including several
veteran soldiers, stepped on 10 the platform
and shook hands with Mr.. Blaine. Among
those who gathered there was bevy of very
pretty young ladies dressed in white. Gov.
Smvth, with his characteristic COED taste,
caught sight of them, and turning to his
guest he said There are some young ladies
and you must speak to them Mr.. Blaine
took the hint most pleasantly and shook hands
with each of them-it need hardly to be added
TO their great pleasure and happiness. The
train started out from RAYMOND with good
cheers, an old soldier saying: I'VE are for
you, Mr. Blaine, and you are going to be
| elected, too" In just one hour after leaving
Portsmouth the train entered the suburbs of
| Manchester, and five minutes after drew into
the station. The run of fl miles was thus
handsomely made IN one hour. not including
the stop at Raymond. At the depot in Man
| chester, a great and enthusiastic concourse
was in waiting, and as Mr.. Blaine stepped
from the car the heartiest cheering began and
was cOUllHueu Until lie TSdCHeu the CdTTldRt
outside, accompanied by Gov. Smyth and his
party. Then the visitor lifted his hat and
kindly acknowledged the warm greeting
given him, and, entering the carriage was
rapidly driven to the mansion of Gov. Smyth.
On reaching the house a beautiful scene was
presented. Not only were the grounds lighted
up, but inside everything was brilliantly il
Illuminated, while al owe. the obserI atory and
tall flagstaff were radiant with cOlored fires.
The fourth day of the fair opened with fine
weather although the heat is oppressive. A
temporary platform was erected on the track
Immediately in front of the grand stand, upon
which the speakers stood, The grand stand
was filled before eleven. Shortly after
twelve barouche containing Mr. Blaine,
ex-Gov. Smith, Hon. George B. Loring and
Mayor Putnam was drawn to the grounds
followed by other invited guests in carriages.
The arrivals were greeted with cheers.
After the party was seated the President of
the New England Agricultural Society, Hon.
George B. Loring, introduced MIR. Blaine,
who spoke as follows:
Ladies and gentlemen-It is pleasant to
find ourselves in an assemblage where we all
bear a name of higher honor than any parti-
san designation, and an assemblege in which
we meet on the broad plain of American citi-
zenship and rejoice in the title as in itself
constituting a civilization Of priceless value
The agricultural fair is the farmers parlia-
ment. On this day, on this occasion, the
most independent class of citizens speak to
the world, by word and deed, for that great
fundamental interest on which the republic
rests for its security and its prosperity. 1t
has come to be trite saying that agriculture
is the basis of all wealth, but the full meas
ure of the statement may be comprehended
when we remember that in this year of grace
! 1884, the total value of the product from
farm and flock in the United States will ex-
ceed $4,000, 600; an amount brought forth
| in a single year vastly in excess of the whole
national debt at its highest Point. We are
not in the habit of considering New England
specially distinguished for agriculture. The
annual product from her soil is greater in
value than all the gold taken from the mines
of California and Australia in the richest
year of its fabulous yield. The farmer is
the true and always successful miner in the
extraction of money from the earth, a fact
most comprehensively proved in the history
of California, whose splendid march to wealth
and power only fairly begun when the energies
! of her population were turned to the produc-
| tion of bread for the world instead of gold.
| The prOdigious consumption of 56 900 of
! people is brought strongly before us when
we realize that vast proportion of our aggre-
gate product is used at home, and how small
a share relatively is sent abroad. The hun
| dreds of millions worth of New England
| products do not support our people, and they
are compelled to exchange the fruits of their
mercantile industry for an enormous amount
annually for their subsistence so lavishly
outpoured from the granaries of the West.
! This fast is one of many which shows the
independence of our people and the vast ex
tent of our internal exchanges
This scene of today has an enhanced inter-
est when we reflect throughout the gorgeous
autumn upon which we have just entered, it
will be reproduced in countless communities
throughout our broad land, from ocean to
| ocean, from northern lake to southern gulf,
the richness of the harvest, the contentment
and happiness of the people, will be shown on
| fields as fair, by displays as brilliant as those
which now delight our eyes and gladden. our
| hearts.
No. The autumn scenes before the chills
! of winter. on the northern border of the union
shall make the southern sun seem genial and
welcome. our brethren of the cotton region
will continue the wondrous story. They
invite us to witness in the commercial EN-
porium of the South the great union of the
| South American people in the production of
that singular plant which has revolutionized
the manufacturer as they have the finances of
the world, what has enriched the United
States beyond the reach of imagination, and
has added intellectually to the comfort, health
| and luxury of the human race. Standing as
| do in a fair of the New England States, it is
an agreeable duty to extend congratulations
to New England farmers on the good results
of this years labor, and on the general and
more important fact that as no period in the
history of our New England husbandry has
been blessed with more proftoble results than
during the present generation. If there be
any one who doubts this wish he was here
today and could hear what have heard and
see what have seen. l heartily congrstu-
late the New England Society on the brilliant
success of this exhibition, and beg to return
my earnest thanks to all for the personal
kindness and cordiality with which have
been favored.
NATTER Mr.. Blaines address he was escorted
to a carriage and driven to the residence of
ev-Gov. Smyth, where a reception was ten
dered him.