The Portland daily press., 1888-08-11

great Republic. / cannot tell you how deep
Iy grateful am to be remembered in this
manner by you and these assembled gentle
men. 1t is an occasion, assure you, l APP
precate from the depths Of my heart
1t is shadowed by the sad events which
greeted us-the first piece Of American news
we heard-the death of General Sheridan,
man who was above party and stood for the
| Union of the States. Shouts of good.l With
| that exception, my arrival upon my native
shore was unattended by anything but JOY
and happiness.
The Campaign on which you are about to
enter should be prefaced, ii that were pOsSl-
BILE, by every voter in the United States see
ing what have seen (Gocd, good, and hear
ing what have heard during the last year.
Applause.
The progress of the campaign in the Unit
ed States Is viewed from an European stand
point with an interest as profound as It Is In
the United States: Iti the opportunity of
England. 1t Is the long wished for, the
l0nged for occasion, upon which the cheaper
labor and the cheaper fabrics OF the old
world except to invade the new, and lower
the wages Of American worklngmen to the
European standard. GGreat applause.l
1t Is not contest of capital against capital.
1t is not contest of partisan against parti-
san. 1t is much higher than either Of those.
lt transcends all party motives. 1t Is:
Whether the great mass Of American citizens,
who earn their bread by the sweat OF their
brows, shall be seriously reduced in their
em0lument fromlday to day. (ApplauseJ
That Is the whole pith and moment Of this
question. Anything that diverts the question
from that single point is weakening TO this
campaign. Applause and cries OF good.I
say here,:as hope to say with much more
elaboration, Applause and cheering and cries
Of That's what we want."l | say here, that
the wages of American labor cannot be low
cred except with the consent and the votes
of the American laborer himself. The ap-
peal is to him. 1t comes to his door and asks
him whether, with the great power OF the
franchise and great majority he possesses In
his own hands, he Is willing for himself and
his associates, his children, and his children's
children, to take that fatal step at the bid
ding of an American Congress and an Amer
lean President who are governed by that
element which sought to destroy the nation.
But, gentlemen, this is not a time for
political speech. My heart Is too full to en-
ter, at this time, on heightened argument.
In this moment of welcome and joy, getting
home to old scenes and old friends, must be
allowed to enjoy the pleasant emotions OF the
occasion. / can only add my fervent thanks
to each and every member of the club, and to
all friends for the generous welcome
they. have extended to me in the harbor OF
New York.
When Mr.. Blaine was speaking. the cabin
was packed to its utmost limits. The great
est enthusiasm prevailed. An outburst of
cheering followed the conclusion Of his
speech. Mr.. Blaine was then escorted into
the ladies' saloon, where he received anumber
of friends.
Afterward Mr.. Blaine ascended to the up
per deck where he received the congratula-
tions of all, having pleasant word for EACH
While there he was handed a poetical ad-
dress by Mr.. Edward Fitzwilliam of Boston,
representing the Workingmen's Protective
Union of Massachusetts,. He was also pre-
sented with an address by Murat Halstead
representing the Young Mems Blaine Club
OF Cincinnati.
When told that the Irish Americans pro-
posed to serenade him tonight and present
him an address, Mr.. Blaine replied
That's all right, Pm glad Of it."
While the Starin was steaming up North
| River. the band played and the passengers
INDUCED In frequent cheers for Blaine. All
along the river, ut was escorted by the po-
| lice boat patrol, the Chicago Blaine Club tug,
| and other vessels, while constant series OF
| shrill salutes from the steam whistles Of all
| the boats tnat passed, marked its progress to
the pier at 22d street and North river where
Mr.. Blaine and all on board disembarked.
Mr.. Blaine was escorted to an open carriage
and at once driven to the Fifth Avenue hotel,
surrounded by crowd which had cheered
enthusiastically the familiar form Of the
great statesman.
hotel entrance, that the carriage had to halt
some feet from the curbstone. Mr.. Blaine
| lifted his hat and smiled, bowling meanwhile
to the enthusiastic assemblage. He walked
through the narrow passage and into the
He had disappeared from view for mo-
ment but in response to continued calls of
speech" Mr.. Blaine returned to the head of
the stair, and said:
"Just word to thank you for your trib-
utes. 1t is the proudest sight and most
| cheerful sounds / have heard for year"
He then went to the suite of apartments
| prepared for him.
crawford's Report.
New YORK, Aug 10.--T. G. Crawford,
correspondent Of the World was passenger
on board the City of New York. He says
| the passage had been almost without Incl
dent. The breaking of the vacuum pump in
the engine which delayed the ship twelve
hours, was the only exception. There was
no attempt to make fast time on the first trip
and, except for their impatience at the some
what slow time, the passengers enjoyed re-
markably pleasant voyage. There was the
first delay at Queenstown, where. on Thurs
day night, there was a stoppage Of the pump
and a wait of twelve hours for repairs. She
| is speedy one, however, and after the first
day of delay she made 42O knots. Then for
three days AL, 425 and AS each day.
Mr.. Blaine came on board in the best Of
health and spirits, as did all the other mem
bers of his party. 1t was q cool evening for
the run out Of Liverpool and down the chan
mel and Mr.. Blaine sat upon the promenade
deck and watched with evident pleasure the
receding English shores.
| Thursday night go miles had been made.
| There was good sea running, enough to
| make the ordinary Atlantic liner roll, but
| the City Of New York was very steady. Sat-
arday rd brought nigh sea and easy sailing
| Only 1888 miles were made to noon of that
| day. The final days of the trip were mainly
| given up to wishing for an early arrival. Mr..
Blaine, who had become very popular with
| everybody on board, was on deck a large
| part Of the time. Mr.. Blaine was free In
| his talk on American topics and was always
| willing to explain national matters to intend
ing citizens. When questioned regarding
| the States in which the Republican candi-
dates would make the largest gains for their
| party, Mr.. Blaine said: EVERY State that
has a protected manufacturing industry
| should come to their support. The more
factories In the State the greater the gains.
| 1t Is no longer question Of politics, but one
| OF protection to our free firesides'"
flow does the new tariff bill introduced by
| Mr.. Mills please y0u?' was asked.
| THAT is the bill to which l make objec-
| tions. II not a free trade measure, it is so
| near free trade as to terrify the working peo-
| pie with a menace Of low wages"
"Will the Mills bill become a law?"
'Of course do not know. | hardly think
1t, however. should like to talk to my old
| friends in Maine. and shall not probably
leave the State when get home until after
| the September election. Still, that depends
on SO much that Is unknown that ! cannot
| speak with certainty"
| In Boston Monday Night.