The Republican journal., 1888-08-23
Mr. Blaine's Portland Speech.

Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,--I
should not have left my home, the very day
after my arrival. but for my desire to feel my
self once more in touch with those with whom
have, lii previous years, fought in many IA
good Republican contest (appause) once more
to compare notes with those whose wisdom the
party has always relied upon. namely, the Re-
publican masses. AS to what should be done at
'hs crisis i'll the history of the country and in
the history of the party, which is its great de-
fender
When the President delivered his message.
ne had something to say to the American pco-
pie about the danger of trusts, and think
there has been no Democratic paper in the
country. whether they understood the mean
M OF the word or not. that has not been ever
since warning the people as to the horrible
danger OF trusts. Well. shall rot discuss
trusts this afternoon. l shall not venture to
>ay that they are altogether advantageous. or
that they are Instantaneous. They are large
~ private affairs. with which neither Pres:-
dent Cleveland nor myself has any particular
right 10 interfere. But aside from that the
point which | wish to impress upon you. is
That they are not the Outgrowth. nor in any
Wy an incident of the protective tariff policy.
which is the Presidents main charge against
Item; and that protective policy no more
breeds what he considers the pestilence of
trusts than does the vcriest free-trade country
IN the world. which is England; for England
i literally pa>tered. under her own system of
free trade. with trusts: and the very day be-
fore | sailed for home. precisely a fortnight
ago To-day. l cut from London journal an an
nouncenent that all the manufacturers of
collins and all the undertakers of the united
kingdom had gone into a trust daughter and
APPLAUSE: that it was to consist of two mil
lions of capital, which, in the language of the
English financial market was to have large
number Of preferential bonds and at the crli-
nary death rate in the kingdom, they expected
10 divide l. per cent. >emi-annually, laughter.)
Now | think. my friends. we NAV safely bury
all the Presidents free trade predictions in the
common grave in which those English collins
Arc made to 90. and we might do this safely by
>lA ltc that % fal from protective policy gem
ciH'!h% truss. 4 free trade policy has general
ca them in far greater numbers and there l
leave the question.
was interested on the day of my arrival
u rather should say by way of preface. that
in Maine we have not wholly to devote our
selves to the national election, but primarily to
a State election am glad that both parties
have nominated gentlemen of unobectionabie
personal character. standing high in their
communities. against whom. personally. moth
Ing can be said. or ought to be said. That APP
plies equally 10 Mr.. Putnam and Mr.. Burleigh.
and J ann glad to say SO. That leaves the con-
teet where it should rest. One of principle.
Mr.. Putnam. should judge. from Il speech of
his. which hold in my hand and which read
in The Portland Argus OF August 9th, is very
,Hfasl IN regard to the charges that have been
brought against him. concerning the very dis
advanta-eous treaty, which he helped to make.
giving away. is we think. the rights of the
American fishermen | read his speech with
great interest ard found it to lie mainly an
answer 10 some criticism that Senator Frye. of
this STATE. had made. on the President. the |
Secretary Of state and the Fishery Commits
sen. Now have never yet seen Senator FRYE |
in any contest or controversy. in which he was |
not abHndantly able to take his own part tap
p#u>t J. ailti 50 far As the controversy between
himself and MI Putnam is concerned. it |
would I've sheer presumption on my part to |
cilVr any thing in behalf of senator Frye. | |
assure you. from what know of him. that he
will he heard from in due season Daughter and |
arplan>e.l But what interested me most in |
the speech. As | read it through. and will not
chacaVor to follow the points between Mr.. |
Putnam and Mr.. Frye, was these four lines,
which ocetlr. somewhat parenthetcallv, in |
about the mitl'lle of Mr. Putnam'> speech:
''-it This point says the Argus, Mr.. Put |
nam di>cu>>e, several features of the treaty. |
showing the practical benefits which our fish
In fleet would derive from the treaty"
Wei. Tie Argus did not think it worth while
to montion hat those points of Mr.. Putnam's
were laughter and appause.) On all the points |
of criticism Of Mr.. Frye'> speech, Mr. Putnam
was full of atliuence. but just in a breathing
spell. or As trtenu> Ward used TO say. AT |
thi> Point. desiring to rest my voice. will tell |
You litt!e story. 80 about the time Mr.. Put |
nam cot haif way through his speech. be seems
to haze needed little rest and told of these adj
Nauia@e> to the American fleet. which he did |
not seem TO inelglde III his regular speech. and |
which to tie Argus it did not seem worth while
To report. Now if there is anything in this
question It all if there is anything in the
world about which the American people are
concerned To-day, touching this fishery queS-
ton. Il is the interest OF the fishing fleet and
that is the Very point Oh which the voters of |
Maine before whom Mr.. Putnam appears as a
candidate. are DESTROYS to hear him explain.
what We believe to he complete sc-out of the
VII lie fishing interest of the United States. and
! may. myself, in connection with Senator
Frye. 1t some future period OF this campaign.
tasa occasion 10 say something to that effect
}nll.lau>e.) | premise you that if | do will
lot leave il in Il small. three-me parenthess in
tie middle Of my remarks.
\ Week AGO last Monday, on the ship on
Which was sailing. ! rose from my break
last there was Il runner of something unusual
Az, we found that we were in the midst of
fishing feet. We had come on TO the banks of
Newfoundland during the night, and as we
fu>hea-at least those of us who were not too
Six to rn>h-on to the deck we were surround
ed hE some twelve or fifteen sail of fishermen
partly French. hut more largely American.
The = & was very roli@h. SO much so that many
q the passengers We're seriously disturbed in
particular portion Of their person (aughter.)
Bat i!.o>r Of Us who could get on deck and |
confess | wasn't one of the swftest
myself. beholI in this rough sea. the fishermen
in their little dorieS. not more than fifteen feet
in length. out on those waves that seemed to
those OF the steamer to be rolling half the
height Of this great room: and they We're TAX
Ing up their travis as unconcernedIy as Maine
farmer would NOV his hay in July. And there
was 4 universal burst Of admiration. upon that
steamer, at the daring, the hcroism and the
>l'lendor OF the bravery that would dare such
clements. (tpPiausc.) said to myself then,
Z, ny 10 YOU now. that in my Judgment. the
| nite'l States would di>honor itself for all
time. if by any taltering negotiations. it should
surrender one jot or title of the rights of those
gallant, generous and brave men. Great APP
plau>c.