The Portland daily press., 1886-06-29

SscSH'r
The committee appointed to officially notify
Col. Clark S. Edwards of his nomination for
Governor, by the Democratic convention,
performed their mission yesterday. Ii all
that was intended was to apprise the Colonel
of his selection as the Democratic standard
bearer it was a success for he was notified OF
it several times by William Henry Clifford
and Daniel j. McGillicuddy but as the en-
thusiastic political demonstration it was adj
vertised and intended to be it was as near an
utter failure as it could well be and go
through.
At the Grand Trunk depot at half past
nine there were gathered twenty-five people
that were going to Bethel. Among the more
prominent ones were Chairman S. S. Brown,
William Henry Clifford, Capt. Charles II.
Chase, Kimball Eastman, BENZ. F. Andrews,
Geo. F. Clifford of Cornish, I. d. Sawyer,
W. III. Sargent, James S. Edwards, a brother
of the nominee, and lesser lights to the num-
Der of about eighteen or twenty. Chambers
Band accompanied the party and did what
they could to make things cheerful, but it
was up hill work. There was good deal of
complaint at the slimness of the party and it
was laid to the fact that the affair had not
been advertised better; that was shown to
be untrue for those that had itin charge said
they had the Argus whooping it up for over
a week. 1t was said they would receive large
accessions as they went up the line, but in
this they were again disappointed. At
Lewiston Junction where it had been said
large delegation would get on from Lewiston
A,,1x, or,1u 70 hri0ht
and rollicking D. J. McGillicuddy and four
or five friends At South Paris ex-Mayor
]. W. Deering got aboard and few other
Democrats joined the little band of the
Faithful. At each station Chambers Band
played delightful and stirring music and did
what they could to dispense the gloom.
1t was nearly twelve o'clock when
the train rolled into the station
at Bethel, and here was new disappoint-
ment awaiting them Instead of the large
accessions they were to receive from towns
up the line, less than twenty got aboard and
the two extra cars they started with from
Portland were not near full. Upon alighting
at the depot not an organization, not COM
mittee, not even citizen, was awaiting
them, except one of Col Edwards sons, who
told them about the location of the candi-
date, and the departure of trains and the
length of time they could tarry. Where was
Richard Frye, where was David Hammons?
Where was G. r. Hastings and all the other
old Democratic war horses who reside in
Bethel? Such were the inquiries, but even
echo didn't deign reply. S. F. Gibson of
the late Greenback party stood over on the
.1o4fo L lirrlf no an
absentees. and so the party got into line, and
headed by Chambers Band with B. F. An
drews as marshal, were marched to the
hotel. More gloom and more disappoint-
ment. Instead of the luxurious banquet
that had been talked about as awaiting them
they were taken to the hotel, where each
man that had dinner paid for it.
At half past one the party without any
great delay got into line, and headed by the
band marched down to Col. Edwards's
house, some fifty rods below, and between
the hotel and the depot. where they found
the Colonel prepared with a reply to their
notification, and also prepared for much
larger crowd than awaited upon him. There
were settees and chairs provided around
canopied stage for about three hundred
people, and of the men, women and children
which comprised the audience there were not
more than enough to fill the seats.
Simon S. Brown called the gathering to or
der and said that the Democratic party of
the State through its organization and in a
formal expression of its convention had
message to communicate to the people Of Ok
ford county and particularly to a distin-
guished citizen of Oxford county. He then
introduced Hon. VIM. Ell. Clifford, as the
messenger from the convention.
Mr.. Clifford made brief speech of about
two columns in length, one third of which
was taken up in congratulating the Demo-
cratic party because its State convention got
through without fight, another third in
loving the soldier and the remainder in no.
tifying the candidate that he had been Sc
lected by the Democratic party as its STAN
dard bearer.
After Mr. Clifford concluded Col. Edwards
rose and drew role of manuscript from his
pocket. He then asked permission to sit
(lMr. Clifford's speech had tired him very
much) which was granted He said that the
nomination was surprise to him but he had
concluded to accept it. He said he thought
money exerted too much influence in our
elections evidently having in mind the re-
cent trial at Alfred of hired Democratic re-
peaters) and thought the voice of the people
was not sufficiently respected IA remark evil
IDENTIFY directed against those eminent State
stealers, the Hon. Simon S. Brown and the
Hon. Charles Ell. Chase, who were in the au-
dience) He promised if elected to admins
fer the affairs of the State economically and
honestly and expressed his approval of the
Democratic platform.
The Hon. d. J. McGillicuddy of Lewiston,
followed in brief speech which was alto
gether the best of the day.
The Hon. Simon Brown then announced
that the show would conclude with music by
the band and the show concluded.