The Portland daily press., 1884-08-20

1
ana appointing other officers, and before pro-
Geeoiug to business, on motion of Mayor John
n willard of Wilton, as the record published
IN tne Pennington Chronicle goes, sit was
voted with enthusiastic acclamation, that the
party efeated by the union of the three con-
party"
The noble men who thus took the initiative
n actually organizing the new party of free
dom aid giving it the name Republican"
which three months before Congressman Isra-
81 Washburn ir., of Maine, had suggested as
proper designation of the unorganized oppo-
| nehts OF slavery encroachments builded better
IMAM they knew. Thirty years have passed
since the Republican party was organized
These thirty years have covered more great
events than all our prior history. 1t has been
| period of great deeds and great triumphs
The poet-laureate of England has sung,
.Better fifty years of Europe
Than cycle of Cathay.''
But the thirty years since the Republican
| party entered upon Its grand mission, have
witnessed more of those great events which
| will leave theiS impression ON the nation and
| the world than centuries of ordinary history.
And in these events the Republican party, con-
tending against and defeating the Democratic
party IN every Presidential election since
| 1860, and to-day on the eve of another still
| greater victory-has been the leader and ad-
ministrator-frst in the struggle for freedom,
| nrst IN the defence of the Union against rebel
ION, tlrst in the reconstruction of the Southern
osntss unuer guarantees or equal rights, hrst
IN maintaining the credit and honor of the ma.
tlon, hrst in support of the policy of protection
| OF the industries and labor of the country, and
| hrst in the protection of the home against the
assaults on It's safety and happiness.
Fellow Republicans, standing as we do to-
day on spot which calls to mind the early
days Of the Republican party, and reviewing
that long array OF triumphs which have made
this party 50 grand figure in our political his
| tory-it is particularly gratifying to note the
| fact that even the Democratic party, which
steadily opposed the Republican party and Re-
publican principles, now concede that in all
these contests the Republicans were right and
| the Democracy wrong.
On the question of opposing the further ex-
tension OF slavery, the verdict of mankind is
| that the Republicans were right and the Do
mocracy wrong.
On the question of using the coInred mon to
| aid in crushing the rebellion, the Judgment of
| history is that the Republican party was right
| and the Democratic party wrong,
The Republicans favored and the Democrats
| opposed the emancipation proclamation. Is
there any doubt that the Republicans were
right and the Democrats blindly wrong?
Even as late as 1864 the Democrats in nation
al convention resolved that the war against re-
0elllon was failure, and that negotiations for
peace ought to be inaugurated. Is there any
patriotic Democrat that recalls this record of
his party with pleasure? or who fails TO thank
God that the Republican party was victorious
in that campaign of 1864?
What Democrat to-day cares to recall the op-
pos1tlon OF the Democratic party to the Repub.
llcan propositions to amend the constitution SO
as to abolish slavery and incorporate guaran-
tees OF equal rights?
Who doubts the wisdom of the Republican
party IN insisting on maintaining the national
credittand resuming specie payments?
What splendid record for the Republican
party! 1t is a record of achievements never
paralleled by any other political organization
in this country.
But the ReDublican nartv rasts not on ;+s
past record, although it has right to point to
this as evidence of its ability and disposition to
meet the issues of the present and Of the fu-
t9re 1t points to its efforts to erase that great
blot in our national neutrality-suspicious.. 1t
points to its policy of announcement to educa-
tlon and protection of the home. 1t points to
the homestead act which offers land to the
landless. 1t points to its foreign policy which
aims to bring South America and Mexico into
closer commercial relations with us, and to
make American citizenship guarantee OF pro-
lection everywhere. 1t points to its policy OF
protection OF home industries and labor, and
taxes issue against the designs of the Demo-
cratic party to overthrow this American poll
cy. (Appause.)
Entering as we have upon another Presiden-
tial campaign, the Republicans of this State
experience special qualification in the fact
thaS Names great statesman, James G. Blaine
has been made the Republican standard bear
or. (Long-continued applause and cheers) 1t
is also source of satisfaction to us that the
gallant soldier.statesman, John A. Logan, has
been associated with our own Blaine as tue
candidate for Vice President. Cereal ap-
plause) The election of this grand ticket is
already mora than probable-i5 is certain as
any future event. Gathering here to-day on
this historic ground, to celebrate the thrtieth
anniversary OF the meeting of the first dele
gate Republican convention, nd TO recall the
triumps OF the past, we may also look forward
TO another and equally gratifying Republicaa
victory in the near future.
The Secretary read the following letter:
AUGUSTA, Me-, Aug. IS.
Dear Sir,-Your favor of the 31st ult in behalf
OF your local committee inviting to be present
on the 18th inst at the celebration of The for.
nation OF the Republican party, duly received
Remembering as 1 do the labors of those who |
actively participated in the organization the Re
publican party and realizing the splendid record of
that party for the past quarter of century [ re-
Joice IN every effort of our citizens to keep re-
membrance those labors and the inestimabe bless
ings that have flowed from them. Through those
labors under God we rejoice in united govern
ment more prosperous than any other the globe.
In 1861, when the first Republican President was |
inaugurated, our country was in ruins by long |
Democratic rule. The domain was too vast to be |
governed by one Democratic President, therefore |
1t was divided, and Jefferson Davis naugurated
over southern Confederacy, while Buchanan held |
court 81 washington. Everything was harmonious |
and lovely between the two Democratic govern
ments until the 4th of March, when Abraham
Lincoln Lincoln Rnos IN the name Of the people,
his pretensions must cease. The national |
treasury was bankrupt, its credit gone. Every de-
partment of the government was in dire confusion.
These were some of the obstacles which the Repub-
hean party had to meet assuming control of the
government Tne fearful struggle that ensued, the
billions of money and the Of thousands of lives
it cost to put down the Democratic rebellion and
restore the Union is familiar to all. History does
not present parallel to the mighty work consum-
matedby the grand old Republican party.
The same rebel element that severed the Union |
audacry to ask the American people 70 tFust them
again with the reins of the government. The fight
is upon the country. But the signs of the times in
dictate splendid victory for right. That Maine
will gallaDtly lead the victorious column worthy Of
her position and her candidates. Blaine and Logan
there can be, tn re must be, doubt or mistake,
regret to say, find it will not be in nv power
to be with our ftiends the 18th but trust YOU
will have most enjoyable OCCASION whose insplra-
ton shall move the Republican masses to active
in the hands of the men whose wisdom and patriot
ism saved it IN its greatest peril
Very truly yours,
ANsoN P. MORRILL,.
The following telegram was also read:
m. a.. o.. SAN FEANCIsco, Cal, Aug. 10, 's4.
10 ne ConlH'tttee on Celebration, Strong, Me:
auspicious occasion. Hold your celebration with
cheers for Blaine. Give $1,000 majority for your
ticket in September and California will follow suit
for Blaine in November. I know whereof speak.
ID. ID. HASKELL.
The names of the survivors of the conven.
ton were then read, each one rising on the
platform amid applause az his name was
called. Most of them were bowed down by
years.
Hon. William P. Frye was the speaker and
he received great ovation. BE said:
Il SENATOR FRxE's SPEECH
Il am not going to make a speech because a dis
tinguished gentleman from out the State Will do it
better, but it is impossible not to say one word of
congratulation to the white haired men who pre-
sided at the birth of the Republican party This
party was born in Maine but conceived two hun
dred years ago on the shores of Massachusetts Bay
where the wedding took place. The bride and
prldegroom were the meeting house and school
mouse. (Applause) From that wedding was born
child the civilization of New Engl and. Down
In the South was born at the same time of aris-
tocracy and ignorance another child-slavery; this
chlld grew SO strong that it not only controlled
Doth parties but the country The Whig party died
OF modification. If anything conld have mortified
the Democratic party that, too, would have died
long ago. daughter and applause) From that
New England civilization came the Republican
party. The Republican party was not born child
put man. (Applause) In 1850 1T gained control
of the country.
MIR. Frye then graphically related the work of
that party in electing Lincoln and crushing the re.
bellion. The most powerful nation in the world is
the republic saved by this Republican party. You
nave nave no army but you have police force of 25,