Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1884-08-14
Blaine's Address to the Veterans.

OLD ORCHARD, Maine August Blaine
and party arrived from Portland this
morning. The streets were filled by a
crowd, which gave Blaine an ovation.
Upon his arrival at the hotel Blaine had a
conference with Professor Downing, of
Utica
OLD ORCHARD, Me, August 1T is es-
timated that 25000 persons, including s.,
600 old soldiers, were here to-day to attend
the encampment Of the Grand Army of the
Republic. Most of the visitors attended
Blaine's public reception in the Old Orch
ard house Blaine stood in the center of
the parlor and the crowd passed in single
file and shook hands with Blaine The re-
ception ended at noon.
OLD ORCHARD, August When Mr..
Blaine ascended the steps of the stand to
address the veterans he was greeted with
shouts, cheers, and cries of, Blaine, our
next President" He said
Gentlemen of the Grand Army Of Name =
l thank you for so kindly and cordial a
greeting. The occasion has been one Of
great pleasure to me in the renewal of old
acquaintance and the recalling of old
scenes in civil life that antedate your
splendid deeds of war. My mind is carried
back to the winter of 1861, to the excite
ment, elation, and at the same time serious
ness and sadness of that omnious and
critical era l vividly remember every
incident as we stood on the eve of gigan-
tic struggle, when at last the war cloud
burst and President Lincoln issued his
proclamation for $4,000 men. Maine was
asked for one regiment. Governor Wash
burne summoned an extra session of the
Legislature. l had the honor at the time
to be Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives. Patriotism was fervid, confidence
was strong, and we younger members OF
the legislature was but 81 years old
myself-determined to do something very
bold-something that we ventured to hope
would be rather appalling to the
confederate government Instead of
responding with one regiment, which
the President had asked for, we autho-
rized the Governor to offer ten reg giments
to the national government, and though
entirely unused to State debt, we en-
powered the Governor to borrow 81 ,OOO,-
600 on the faith of the State for immedi-
ate use in the equipment of troops. We all
felt that we were Dragging when we used
these big figures. We felt sure that our
ten regiments would never be used, for
such a contingent from Maine implied a
larger force than Napoleon and Wellington
both controlled on the field of Waterloo.
General Fleming you, far better than l,
know the sequel. Our ten regiments were
swept into the vortex of war before the
expiration of half year, and we ended
by sending thirtytwo regiments OF intan-
trv two repimenfS Of cavalry and nine
batteries of artillery. This, with the re-
cruits needed to keep their ranks full in
the terrible contest, absorbed more than
10000 men of Maine. 4 draft almost as
large in proportion to the arms bearing
population as Frederick the Great levied
on the provinces of Prussia in the hard
est pressed period of the seven years war.
You, gentlemen, are an hOnored and i'm
portant part of the survivors of that great
host l join with you in the cOmmemOra-
ton services for the unreturning braves,
for that great host who died for their
country and for liberty. No victory ever
assured so much good to mankind none
ever prevented so much evil. The struggle
is over, and our triumph is celebrated not
with a sense of having conquered the foe,
but with that better sense of having re-
claimed our kinsmen and brought them
back to their own heritage and the pIotec-
ton of their own flag Beneath that flag
North and South, East and West will all
find protection. Under its sheltering folds
we shall all dwell together in unity, for
we are brethren.
The speech closed amid tumult of ap-
plause which lasted ten minutes.