Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-30
Tweaty-Fiye Thousand Men In
line in the Republican
PrOceSsitgl
Notwithstanding the Mud and
Rain.
The New York ClergymeR VisH Mr..
Blaine anu Assure Him of
~hnir Support,
New YORK, Oct. .99

parlor in Fifth Avenue hotel was filled with
clergymen of various denominations " no had
gathered to meet Jas. G. Blaine Rev. DIR. !.
M. King of 18th street NJ. f church. called
the assembly to order and Rev. DIR. Burchard
of Murray Hill PRESBYTERIAN church was
chosen chairman, Rev DIR. Macarthur
secretary. Rev. DR.. King then presented a
series of resolutions. Rev. DR. Spear of
Brooklyn commended the resolutions as sat.
lsfactory to his hand and heart and they were
adopted without dissent Rev. DR.. Burchard
then named as committee to address Mr..
olalhe, when he should be brought before
them' the following gentlemen. Rev. DIR. j
hlng of the NJ K. church, Rev DIR. Spear of
the Presbyterian church, Rev. DR.. Macarthur
OF the Baptist church. Rabbi Browne of the
Temple Gates of Hope, Rev DIR. J. Boberts
of Brooklyn. Congregationalist, and Richard
Lawrence of the Friends meeting house, The
clergymen then went to the corridor on the
hrst hoor and gathered about the foot of the
stairway, down which walked Blaine, leaning
on the arm OF Dr. King, while Minister Levi
L. Morton, his son, Walker Blaine Mrs
Blaine and her daughters were on the landing
above Rev. DIR King and Mr.. Blaine paused
on the fourth or fifth step from the floor and
Kew. DIR. Burchard was introduced to Mr..
Blaine by DIR. King DR. Burchard then
ascended to the side of Mr.. Blaine and ad-
dressed him as follows
We are very happy to welcome you to this
circle. You see here representatives of all
the denominations OF this city. You see the
large number that is represented. We are
your friends, Mr.. Blaine, notwithstanding all
the culumnles that have been urged in the
papers against you We stand by your side
We expect to vote for you next Tuesday, We
"a biuhar
Will be president of the United States, that
you will do honor to your name. 10 the
United States, and to the high office Won will
occupy. We are republicans and don't pro-
pose to leave our party and identify ourselves
with party whose antecedents have been
rum and rebellion. We are loyal to our flag,
we are loyal to you
Moisture glistened in Mr.. Blaine's eyes az
he said
Mr.. Blaine's Response.
Chairman and gentlemen-This is alto
gether a very remarkable assemblage-re-
markable beyond any of which have known
In the history of the political contests in the
United States, and it does not need any per-
sonal assurance that you should know am
very deeply impressed by it. | do not feel
that l am speaking TO these hundreds of men
merely. am speaking to the great congre-
cations of great religious societies which is
behind them, and as they represent great
Christian bodies, know and realize the full
extent of that which you say to me and of the
influence which you tender me. Were it to
me personally. confess | should be over
come by the compliment and the weight of
the confidence which it carried; but know
that it is extended to me as a representative
of the party whose. creed and whose practice
are in harmony with the churches The
republican party from its very outset stood
upon the Impregnable platform of opposition
to the extension of human slavery, and il
stood on that platform till il was drifted by
the hostility it provoked into a larger asser-
tion of national sovereignty and thence into
a bloody conflict to maintain it. | defy any
man to point to single measure of the re-
publican party which could not challenge the
appreciation of Christian nations and the
approval of God and when, as one of the
reverend gentlemen has said, that narrowe ed
the issue when spoke of its coming down to
the question of tariff, did not mean to ex-
clude therefrom-I could not mean it-that
great history Of the party which is its wealth
and its creed, and which gives to you and to
all VINO stand behind you the assurance that,
whatever issue it attempts to enforce, it will
uO ~ III kOOu lHef can no more seq
arate the party from its history than you can
separate man from his character; and when
the great makeup of public opinion is ready il
takes into account origin, progress, measures
and character of the party and the character
of its public men. What / meant by saving
that the tariff was the conclusive issue, was
that it steps to the front. not in exclusion of
a thousand other important issues. but for
this critical occasion, and at the close of this
great campaign it stands forth as that issue
which represents bread to the hungry and
clothing to the naked. and the prosperity of
the entire people; and the tariff is therefore
merely as material issue, distinct and separ- /
ate from great moral issues, because. as l |
have said blfore TO western audiences | say |
here: You cannot impress a man if he is |
hungry with any other thought than that he |
shall be fed. You cannot impress a man if !
be is naked with anv other thought than that
he shall be clothed, and therefore that public |
policy and that measure is the highest and |
best that attend to the primal needs of human
nature first, and says here is bread for the /
hungry, here is clothing for the naked; and /
A tariff which protects the American Iaborer
in his wages and American capital in its |
investment.
Rev. DIR. Spear in turn welcomed Blaine |
and assured him that on Tuesday next he |
should vote for him. Rev DR. Macarthur
followed in an address. Rabbi Brown was
next introduced and made a brief speech. |
Rev. DIR. j. G. Robert of Brooklyn also |