Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-29
Gladstone at Manchester.
AN IMMENSE MEETING.

When the train which carried Mr.. Glad
stone from Hawarden TO Manchester Friday
reached Warrington he found large crowd
assembled to see him and if possible to hear
| him speak This crowd was led by the Glad
stone candidate of the district. This gentle
man made his way to the window of the Pre-
mier's carriage. Mr. Gladstone opened the
window and the gentleman said: "God bless
YOU, sir, our people wish you we'll" Mr..
Gladstone could not resist this, so he arose
and addressed the crowd. He said
Throughout the entire discussion | have
imbibed a strong conviction, judging from
the enthusiasm manifested IN London and
elsewhere, that the people of Great Britain
favor the government IN their proposed Irish
policy. There are arrayed against us strong
powers, the power of the great classes, but if
the people are with us, and if they hold
shoulder to shoulder like one man in this
business, it will not matter who else may be
against us, for the people can carry the gov
eminent through. Cheers. Once before
spoke at Warrington. 1t was in favor of
Mr.. Peter Rylands, then Liberal candidate.
am sorry that our old friend Peter has gone
to the bad" Loud laughter. (Mr. Ry-
lands is now opposing the governmeut)
All the way from Warrington to Manchester
the Premier met with continuous ovation
to which he responded by speeches in the
open air at some of the places where the train
stopped For while during his speech at
Manchester owing to this exposure his voice
was somewhat hoarse and difficult to manage.
He spoke for one hour and twenty minutes
there in Free Trade Hall.
Mr.. Gladstone was received at Manchester
with Undesirable enthusiasm, thousands be-
ing assembled at the railway station to well
come him and the streets being literally
packed with people all the way from the
depot to Free Trade Hall. As the carriage
bearing tae Premier made its way through
this long dense tbrong, the loud cheers sent
up were made continuous, and the scene was
memorable in the extreme. Strong men
made themselves hoarse in shouting welcome
Some that hooted were unable to attract any
attention whatsoever When the carriage
reached the hall the building was surrounded
on all sides by an enormous assemblsge, hich
started lustv fresh cheer at sight of the Pre-
mier. 1t was soon evident that about the
only person outside Free Trade Hall who
could possibly get in at this hour was the or.
ator Of the day. The apparent miracle of
making a way for him seemed to incommode
no Que, and he passed in without a nudge.
The building was jammed. The people were
so closely packed that at every surge it looked
as if they must burst the walls. 1t is known
that 1000 were seated to hear the speech.
When Mr.. Gladstone appeared upon the
stage the scene beggared description. The
whole house rose in one outhurst of enthusi.
asm. The cheering lasted exactly three min
utes. The audience then were quiet without
having vented their feelings SO they sang
"Au!d Lang Syne." At its conclusion Mr..
Gladstone arose and stepped forward. That
| provoked a renewal of the enthusiasm, W hich
| then burst up anew in fresh round of cheers
that rose and fell with thrilling effect for a
couple of minutes more. When the audience
got their throats all sore with this loud and
violent form of welc> the Grand Old
Man, they vented the good deal of enthusiasm
they had left by singing in chorus: sob, he's
jolly good fellow"
Then Mr.. Gladstone moved his hand, and
silence came. The Premier at last began his
speech.