Morning journal and courier., 1884-08-08
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. BLAINE IN CAMP. Talking to an Army of
 Veterans. THOUSANDS GLAD TO SEE HIM And Twenty Thousand Shake His
 Hand. THE STEAM YACHT RACE. GouId's Yacht First at the
 Finish.
BLAINE AT ORCHARD BEACH.

A Great Gathering of Veterans-The
 Next President Photographed From
 the Stand-EIts Speech to the old SoI-
 dfers After Shaking Hands With
 Twenty Thousand People.
 OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Me-, Aug. 7.-The Maine Grand Army of the Republic gather ing here to-day numbered twenty-five thou sand including five thousand veterans. At MT. Blaine's reception he is supposed to have shaken hands with twenty thousand of them. Colonel Eustis, Prohibition candidate for Governor, acted as his guard of honor. Gen eral Butler and ex-Governor P1aisted were noticeably absent.
 A great audience gathered at the camp ground this afternoon. The seats accommo- dated about three thousand and at least three times as many more were outside. At two o'clock the Auburn band entered the grounds playing ''Hai1 to the chief and the distinguished guests took their seats on the platform. Department Commander Williams called the meeting to order and introduced General $. Connor who rendered greeting to his former comrades and congratulated the Grand Army on it's progress and present sue cess. Governor Robie congratulated the vet erans that they had country safe and that, too, by their own efforts. He recalled the days when President Lincoln called for troops and Maine citizens nobly responded. Just as Governor Robie was closing his ad- dress the cheers of those on the outside of the crowd announced the approach of MT. Blaine, and amid every demonstration of ap- r 4<o 4ha Nathan Cleaves, of Portland, was introduced as the next speaker. He paid eloquent tribute to the citizen soldiers who went out boys and returned men. He was followed by Congressman Reed, who pronounced the assembly the largest he had ever looked upon. After MT. Reed took his seat Commander Williams said that MT. Blaine was requested to take his place in the center of the platform. ''What for?'' asked MT. Blaine. "That portrait of the next President of the United States may be taken" shouted photographer from the crowd. Mir. Blaine refused to move, when two G. A. R. boys took him by the arm and fairly forced him to take his place as request ed Blaine stood with his hat in his hand, but looking somewhat confused. At this moment veteran shouted, ''Don't look so sober, Blaine you don't look natural. ''MrBlaine laughed and amid the cheers of the crowd his portrait was taken with a more natural expression, "How do you feel, Blaine?" whis pered Governor Robie as the Plumed Knight took his seat ''It was the hardest place I was ever in,'' replied MT. Blaine. It was some moments before MT. Blaine could speak, the applause being continuous. His speech was as follows:
 tsGentlemen of the Grand Army of Maine, I thank you for for this kindly and cordial greeting. The whole day has been one of pleasure to me in the renewal of old acquaintance and the recalling of old scenes in civil life that antedate your splen- did deeds in the war. My mind is carried back to the winter of 1861, to the excite ment, the elation and at the same time seri- ousness and the sadness of that ominous and critical era. vividly remember every incl dent as we stood on the eve of the gigantic struggle. When at last the war cloud burst and President Lincoln issued his proclamation for 75,000 men Maine was asked for one regiment. Governor Washburne imme- diatelY summoned an extra session of the Legislature. had the honor at the time to be the Speaker of the House of Representa- tives. Patriotism was fervid, confidence was strong, and we younger members Of the leg islature was but thirty-one years old my self, determined to do something very bold, something that we ventured to hope would be rather appalling to the Confederate gov ernment. Instead of responding with the one regiment which the President had asked we authorized the Governor to offer ten regi- ments to the national government, and though entirely unused to State debt, we empow- cred the Governor to borrow one million dol lars on the faith of the State for immediate use in the equipment of troops We all felt that we were bragging when we used these big figures. We felt sure that our ten reg1- ments would never be needed, for such con tingent from Maine implied larger force than Napoleon and Wellington both commanded on the field of Water loo Gentlemen, you far better than know the sequel Our ten regiments were swept into the vortex of war before the ex- piration of half year and we ended by send. ing thirty-two regiments of infantry, two Of cavalry and seven batteries of artillery. These with the recruits needed to keep their ranks full in the terrible contest absorbed more than 70, 900 men of Maine, draft al most as large in proportion to the arms bear ing population as Frede-ick the Great levied on the provinces of Prussia in the hard est pressed period of the seven years war. You gentlemen are an honored, an i'm portant part of the survivors of the great host and join with you in commemorative services for the unreturning brave, for that great host who died for their country and for liberty. No victory in war, gentlemen, 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 foe, but with
 that better sense of having reclaimed ou1 kinsmen and brought them back to their own
 heritage and to the protection of their flag.
 Beneath that flag the north and south, the
 east and the west will all find protectlon' Under it's she1tering folds we shall dwell to-
 gether in unity, for we be brethren
 At the close of the address speeches were
 made by Colonel L. s. Bangs of Waterville, l Colonel Carr of Colorado, and Hon. w. A. Lunt of Portland. At the call of Rev. D. B.
 Randall three hearty cheers were given tol 1 Mr Rlnirn ,uhn took the train for Augusts