The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-11-27
BLAINE TALKS.
In Response to 6erenade, He
Makes a Speech to His
Neighbors.
He Regards the Wars Work Over
thrown by the Election Of
Democratic President
Claiming that the South, Which Has an
Legitimate Strength, Will Run
the Government.

augusta Mel special
A large number Of devoted personal and
political friends of Mr.. Blaine serenaded
him this evening as an expression of per-
sonal goodwill and admiration of his con-
duct in the national campaign. They
marched through the streets under the mar
shalship of Col. Frank Nye. When they
reached Mr.. Blaine's house their compli-
ments and friendly regards were expressed
in a speech by Herbert Nj. Heath Esq. of
the Kennebec bar. Mr.. Blaine responded
as follows, his speech being continually
interrupted by applause:
Friends and Neighbors: The national con-
test is over, and by the narrowest OF margins we
have lost. i thank yop for your call, which, If
not one Of joyous congratulations, il one / am
sure, OF confidence and of sanguine hope for
the future. i thank you for the public oppor-
tunity You give me TO express INV sense of
obligation, not only TO you but TO all the Re-
puhiicans OF Maine. They responded to my
nomination with genuine enthusiasm, and rat-
fed IL by superb vote. / count IL as one of
the honors and qualifications OF my public
career that the party in Maine, after struggling
hard Tor the last six years, and twice within
that period losing the State, has come back in
this campaign to the old fashioned 10000 plu-
ratty. No other expression of popular conf
dence and esteem could equal that of the
people among whom l have lived for thirty
years, and to whom j am attached by all
ties that ,ennoble human nature and give
JOY and dignity to life. After Mane-in-
deed, along with Maine-my first thought Is al
ways OF Pennsylvania. How can fittingly ex-
press my thanks for that unparalleled majority
OF more than $1,000 votes-a popular indorsc-
ment which has deeply touched my heart. and
which has, IL possible, increased my affection
for the grand old commonwealth, an affection
which Inherited from my ancestry, and which
shall transmit to my children But do not
limit my thanks to the State of my residence
and the State OF my birth. owe much to the
N nd m
worked 80 nobly for the Republican party and
its candidates, and TO the eminent scholars and
divines who, stepping aside from their ordinary
avocations, made my cause their cause and
to loya1t' and principle added the special COM
pliment OF standing as my personal representa-
tives In the national struggle But the achieve
ments for the Republican cause in the East are
even surpassed by the splendid victories
in the West. In that magnificent Gordon of
States that stretches from the foot hills of the
Alleghanies to the Golden Gate of the Pacific
beginning with Ohio and ending with Califor-
MIA. the Republican banner was borne SO loftly
that but single State failed TO join In the wide
acclaim Of Triumph Nor should do justice to
my own feelings IL failed TO thank the Repub-
hcans OF the Empire State, who encountered so
many disbursements and obstacles; who
fought foes from within and foes from without
and who waged so strong battle that a change
OF one vote In every two thousand would have
given US the victory IN the nation. Indeed, a
change OF little more than five thousand
votes would have transferred New York,
Indiana, New Jersey and Connecticut TO
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 sup
port, breaking from old personal and party ties,
and finding in the principles which represent
ed in the canvass the safeguard and protection
OF their own freside interests. The result of
the election, my friends, will be regarded in the
future, think. as extraordinary. The North
ern States, leaving ont the cities OF New York
and Brooklyn from the count sustained the
Republican cause by a majority of more than
40O,Ooo-almost half million, indeed-of the
popular vote. The cities OF New York and
Brooklyn threw their great strength and in
fiuence with the solid South. and were the de-
cisive element which gave to that sec
ment Speaking now not as defeated
candidate. but simply as loyal AMI de-
NSt ,h ., tbe eR .ne transfer th
South Is a great national misfortune 1t is
misfortune because 1t introduces an element
to the people. because IL introduces into
public the rule OF minority. The first instinct
OF an American is equality-equality OF right,
equality of privilege. equality Of political power
that equality which says to every citizen,
Your vote is just as good, just as potential as
the vote OF any other citizen. That can not be
said to-day in the United States. The course of
affairs in the South has crushed out the political
power of more than 100000 American citizens,
and has transferred 10 by violence TO others.
Forty two Presidential electors assigned to
the South on account of the colored population,
and yet the colored population, with more
than 100000 legal votes, have been
unable to choose a single elector. Even in those
States where they have majority of more than
q hundred thousand they are deprived of free
suffrage, and their rights as citizens scorn-
fully trodden under foot. The eleven States
that comprised the rebel Confederacy had by
the census of 1880, 1900 600 white population,
and 100000 colored population. The colored
population, almost to a man, desire TO support
the Republican party, but by a system of cruel
intimidation, and by violence, and murder
whenever violence and murder are thought
necessary-they are absolutely deprived Of all
political power. IL the outrage stopped there,
IL would be bad enough: but IL does not stop
there. for not only is the negro population
DISTINGUISHED, but the power which right
fully and constitutionally belongs TO them
Ia transferred to the white population, enabling
the white population of the South to exert an
electoral influence far beyond that exerted by
the same number of white people in the North.
To illustrate just how 1t works to the destruc-
ton of all fair elections let me present to you
five States in the late Confederacy and five
loyal States OF the North, possessing in each
section the same number OF electoral votes. In
the South the States of Louisiana, Mississippi
Alabama, Georgia. and South Carolina have in
the aggregate 4S electoral votes. They have
2,s00.000people and over 5000, 600 coored people
In the North. the States of Wisconsin, Mime
sofa, Iowa. Kansas, and California have like
wise, in the aggregate, ~ electoral votes and
they have white population OF $500, O00 or
just double the five Southern States which 1
have named. These Northern States have
practically no oolored population. 1t is there
fore evident that the white men In those
Southern States by usurping and absorbing the
rights of the colcred men are exerting lust
double the political power of the white men in
the Northern States submit my friends that
such condition Of affairs is extraordinary un-
Just, and derogatory to the manhood OF the
North Even those who are vindictively OBJ
posed to negro suffrage will not deny that IL
Presidential electors are assigned to the South
by reason of the negro population, that popula-
ton ought 10 be permitted free suffrage In the
election. To deny that clear proposition, is to
affirm that Southern white man in the Gulf
States IL entitled to double the political power
OF Northern white man in the lake States 1t
is to affirm that Confederate soldier
shall WELD twice the influence in the
nation that Union soldier can, and
that a perpetual and constantly increasing SUI
periority shall be conceded to the Southern
white man in the government of the Union IL
that be quietly conceded in this genera ton it
will harden into custom, until the badge of in
feriority will attach to the Northern white
man as odiously ever Norman noble
stamped IL upon the Saxon chur This subject
Is OF deep interest to the laboring men of the
North. With the Southern Democracy trium-
phant in their States and IN the nation
the negro will be compelled to work for
just such wages the whites may decree
wages which will amount, az did the supplies of
the slaves. TO bare subsistence. equal in cash.
perhaps, TO 35 cents per day, IL averaged over
the entire South. The white laborer in the North