Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-04
AT BODWELL'S HOME.
Splendid Meeting of His Fellow Cit
liens in Wilson Hall.
eloquent and Effective Address Of HI,
Seth L. Milliken.

'o e'ioeht, ana demonstrated in the mos,
vigorous manner. Not only were republican,
Out out the citizens of Hallowell. eeneraIlv
without regard to party came to hear the elo.
quent words of the speaker and pay their re.
spect' to MIR. Bodwell. The hall was filled
70 It's utmost capacity, the standing room
oeing well occupied. The Hallowell hand
furnished music. j. S. Hamilton Fac
oai'eo the meeting to order and on the an.
pearance OF Mr. Bodwell upon the platform.
"here ne remained during the evening, there
was vigorous cheering. Maj. E. Rowell was
mace president and on taking the chair spoke
oriehy, and introduced Hon. Seth L. Millikep
OF Belfast, as the speaker of the evening.
Dir. Milliken is we'll known to our citizens.
having represented the Third District of
Maine In the National House with honor to
MS constituents and the State. He occupied
nearly two hours, speaking on the political
issues OF the day most effectually, unmaskinp
the weakness and numerous failures of the
democratic administration. Constant atten-
ton was given by the audience and all we're
much enlightened regarding the questions
discussed. Mr.. Milliken said:
The democratic party, since it has assumed
control of the national government. has de-
monstrated to the country two PROPOSE
lions: First, that the charges with which it
assalled the republican administration were
untrue, and that the promises which it made
TO obtain power were not made to be kept.
Having failed to succeed as a parry of obstruc-
tlon, which it had continued to
De from the close of the war
until the republicans had reconstructed
the government, it changed its tactics, began
TO cry corruption against its opponents and
holsted the banner of reform. In the last
national campaign it charged that we had
$500 600, 900 surplus held in the treasury for
corrupt purposes, but they found it to be but
So, 00O. 900 which the new administration in
creased to S75 000,0 900 and it prote sted against
that sum being paid out to reduce the public
debt. 1t charged that every department of
the government, during republican rule. was
fostering with corruption and promised that
if the people would elect its canddat. to the
chief magistracy of the country, it would
show all this corruption, turn out the ra,cals
and purify the service. Well they investigat
ed the Treasury Department and thought they
found two cents defalcation, but discovered
soon after that they had made mistake and
that not even that amount had been stolen or
lost. In the Post Office Department
no corruption by the republicans has bee n
discovered nor in the Interior, War, State
Navy or Attorney Generals Departments.
The twenty-four years of republican ad-
ministratioH have been found by its opponents
to have been as pure and clean as they have been
patriotic and the percentage of its losses upon
its disbursement of the punlc means through
the dehnquencips of its officers had been only
a small faction of those of its democratic
predecessors
The democrats c parry promised the country
civil service reform This promise gave
them many thousand votes in the coun-
try and especially in New York where the
presidential contest was decided. The
promise has been only partially kept by the
President, and the democrats in the House of
Representatives sought to enact law which
would have caused return to the spoils
system in all its worst features.
They have made profuse promises to the
soldiers, and what have they done for them?
They dropped them two small crumbs only
and refused to enact the measures asked for
by the Grand Army of the Republic, while
they attempted to adopt new rule in the
House which would have prevented any
further legislation in favor of the soldier so
long as that rule should remain ia force. The
adoption of this rule so inimical to the SOL
diers was beaten by the skilfui parliamentary
tactics of the republicans. They had prom
ised to relieve the laboring men of their dis
tress. How have they kept his promise
They attempted to enact to Morrison tariff
bill which would have destroyed all the lead
ing Industries of Maine and turned
our working men out OF employment
or reduced their wages to the stan
dard of those of the wretchedly paid work
ing men and women of foreign countries The
free trade democracy, and there is almost
nothing of the democracy except those who
favor free trade, were the friends OF the for
eign manufacturer and producer and not of
our own people. They attacked American
industries all along the line. This they did
because they were controlled by the South
which believes in free trade; the South,
which is one hundred years behind the times
and is not fit to govern the country. They
send to Congress men who can discuss the
constitution and abstract questions, but
they do not appreciate the business
want of the country: they have never
done business as we do it in the
North. They do not appreciate the wants of
the working men and women of this country
Their labor they have bought, SOLD ana de-
spised. They know nothing about intelligent,
respectable white working men, with homes
and families and good membership in society.
and they care nothing about them They
inherited tree trade doctrines from their
slsve-owning fathers and they hold to them
vet. The working man who votes for the free
trade democracy would vote the hat of his
head. this shoes off his feet and the bread out
of his children's mouths; and the man who
ooes oy,r to the aid of the democratic party,
being as it is the party OF free trade, Is an en-
envy TO the working men and women of Amer
lea, be his professions, his intentions or his
associations what they may.
The speaker was again and again applaud
Cd and in every way a most successful rally.
The citizens of Hallowell are naturally some
what elated to have the next Governor res
ideut of their town, and it is certain that they
will make a handsome showing on election
day.