St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-20
BLAINE CAMPAIGNING. G.
He Attends a Celebration of the Birth
of the Republican Party, and
Makes n Sneach.

| STRONG, Me-, Aug 10. -On the 18th of
August, 1854, county convention was held
here which organized in the name of the
Republican party, and nominated full
county ticket and adopted the Republican
platform. It is claimed by the people OF
Franklin county that this convention gave
birth to the Republican party of the United
States. The claim is disputed, but surviving
members of the convention assert that it was
the first to formally adopt the name ''Repub-
liean,'' and distinctively Republican plat
form. They are celebrating the thirtieth an
niversary to day. The date was postponed
from the 9TH to the 10Th in order not to in
terfere with other celebrations. The town is
crowded with people and is decorated with
! flags. On the last is printed the original
| platform, convention of 1854. A
new Blaine and Logan flag, forty
feet long was raised. The procession formed
at 1915 to escort the speakers to the grove.
The Grand Army post headed the procession.
Then followed about fifty people present as
delegates at the convention thirty years ago.
The exercises were held in hard wood grove
| on the hillside, where the people began to
| gather as early as a. m. The meeting was
called to order at once. Nelson Dingley, Jr.,
| presided. He made brief speech princi-
pally a review of the birth and career of the
| Republican party, closing with a eulogistic
reference to the party's present candidates.
| Blaine, accompanied by Hannibal Hamlin
and Ex-Gov. Robie, arrived at 2 O'Clock and
was received with enthusiastic cheers. Gov.
Robie first addressed the meeting in brief
speech. He caused considerable merriment
| by calling for all in favor of Blaine for presi-
dent to raise their hands The whole as
sembly apparently responded. ''And now
all those in favor of any one else raise their
hands, One man held up his hand amid
roars of laughter, whereupon the governor
exclimed: ssMay God have mercy on his
SOUL" Blaine was loudly called for, and on
coming forward was received with wild ap-
plause. He said
| Fellow Citizens: The place and time
where the Republican party was first organ
lied will, l presume, remain like the birth
place of Homer, subject to unending dis
pute. Seven cities claimed the latter and
seven states may claim the former. 1t could
| ldIuly Dc dOupISu tlldO SlCdo tuouSHbo SOhC
to the minds of millions of men and find ex-
| preston at same time and places widely
parated. But think it is historically true.
| The patriotic men who met in this town in
1854 were pioneers of great movement,
which resulted in the organization of the
Republican party. Men of that day builded
better than they knew and initiated a move
ment whose grandeur and destiny could not
theu be measured. Great parties never come
| by whereases and as rule they grow Parties
cannot be improvised or extemporized. They
come from instinct and the masses of the
people and are not the product of political
labor. Thus it was with the Federal party,
with the old Republican party, with the Dem
ocratic party, with the Wing party, and with
that great party whose existence we celebrate
to-day. lam here to exchange congratula-
tions with old neighbors and old friends;
congratulations on all that has been accom-
plished to-day; congratulations on the spirit
and courage of the party to continue its great
works in the future.
| Mr.. Blaine's speech was interrupted by ap-
plause and he closed amid great enthusiasm.
Congressman Burroughs, of Michigan, was
the last speaker.