The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-08-25

Mr. Reed was given an enthusiastic reception
and spoke very briefly, pointing out the wide
divergence between Democratic promisesand
performance, and calling attention to the
failure of the Democratic House Of Repre-
ssntatiyes to make any adequate appr opria
tion for the building of navy or for fortify-
ing our seacoast.
After the applause had subsidized at
the conclusion of Mr.. Reeds remarks, Cen
oral w II. Gibson of Ohio was introduced
as the last speaker. General Gibson spoke
for about three-quarters of an hour, his re-
marks occasioning great deal of applause
and merriment He spoke in brief as fol-
lows: -,
GENERAL GIBsoN's SPEECH.
After saying that the Democratic party is
always a consistent party, General Gibson
described its attitude towards Great Britain
in the campaign of 1874, when notwithstand-
ing the assertions that the northwestern
boundary line should be fixed at latitude 80
degrees 40 minutes north or the Democrats
would fight, they presented Great Britain
with an empire, afterwards carrying on a
war against the weak State of Mexico in the
South. Continuing General Gibson said:
s'They always are looking around for soft
jobs. They whipped Mexico and bowed
their necks to England Today here's Eng
land and Canada quarreling about fish. I'm
not a diplomat, but | want to know who
owns the sea. The countless fish which
swan in towards the shore from the ocean
are Gods gift to man, and if any man wants
to fish, he should have the right and would
fight to give it to him. But the Democrats
wont. They would sooner execute quit
claim deed in behalf of sixty-millions of peo-
pie in this country to every shad, grounder
and catfish in the sea.
With its attitude towards Great Britain,
the speaker contrasted the position of the
Democratic party towards Mexico at the
present time He said that our foreign
affairs are in feeble hands, and that man in
Maine, who had been heard at this meeting,
would have had no such tomfoolery had he
been in office.
General Gibson alluded to what the Demo-
Gratis have not done to fulfill the promises
made by them before they went into power.
He spoke of the achievements and successes
Of the Republican party, and especially OF
the prosperous condition OF the country
when the party retired, leaving its trust I'M
impaired, and with every cent of the public
funds which had been in its hands for TWEEN
ty-fve.years accommodation The speaker said
that but for small fragment of the party
held together by Mr.. Reed, the Democrats
would have succeeded in destroying the
tariff. He concluded by speaking of the
necessity of navy, while believing that
Yankee ingenuity would be able to cope
with any difficulties with foreign powers,
and then called for cheers for Messrs. Blaine
and Reed, which were given with will.
The President then thanked the audience
for their attendance and interest, and after
three cheers for General Gibson the meeting
adjourned. Many at once pressed forward
to shake hands with Mr.. Blaine, who left
the grounds shortly after. The trains did
not leave for some time, and the people
spent the interval in the grove and at the
station The meeting was over before a
drop of rain fell from the clouds with which
the sky was covered during the afternoon.