The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-10-30

AT half-past seven President Dow called
the club to order and in a few brief but COM
piimentary remarks, introduced the speak
er of the evening, Congressman Dingley,
who was applauded in true Republican style
and said;
Mr.. President and Members of the Portland
Club:
| accept this kind welcome not for myself,
but for the cause for which you are associa-
ted and gathered here tonight. When your
president kindly invited me to be present at
this gathering accepted very gladly because
had very pleasant remembrance of a
former meeting with you snd having tasted
the quality OF your social surroundings as
| was certainly glad to have the opportunity
to join with you in this meeting tonight
think, my friends, there must be some
thing peculiarly tender in Portland, and in
deed in Maine, Republicanism, for when it
administers the severest blows to our Demo-
cratic opponents the blow is not so killing
but that they have the courage to rise and
say that lit might have been WORSE In
deed, l have noticed that, Notwithstanding
the fearful drubbing which we gave them in
september last, every point north where
have visited during the autumn there have
been certain Democrats bobbing up, as it
were, from the waters that were choking
them all about ready to exclaim, like the
venerable antideluvian when the waters of
the flood had reached Mt Ararat, that 'af-
ter all 1t wasn't much of shower" But
am glad to meet you tonight for the reason
also that we are just closing the most i'm
portant campaign, probably, that we have
ever passed through. But there aresome of the
incidents, some of the shaoings of the is
sues through which we have passed that are
certainly amusing, if not profitable.
L. was in hopes when we entered upon
a 90 cf how
square issue with reference to the great prin-
cIple which had been presented so forcibly
by the President of the United States in his
message and 1T seemed to me discussed so
thoroughly in the halls of Congress.
There is one thing satisfactory in this cam
paign and that is that there has been no
Democratic orator, or SO far as have heard. a
Democratic organ that has had the hardi-
hood to refer to the fact that four years ago
the Democratic party came into power de-
claring from one end of the country to the
other that the Republican party had been
profiigate in its expenditures. corrupt in its
administration, that it had created useless
officials in every direction and if the Demo-
cratic party could only be given power we
should see at once change in all these
things.
But there is no desire now to refer to their
promi- es Of four years ago and to the peculiar
manner in which they have failed to keep
them in every direction. The expenditures
have been enormously increased and during
the four years of Democratic rule will exceed
by ninety million dollars the expenditures
OF the administration of Garfield and
Arthur.
Not a single official position has been
done away with; not salary has been re-
duced, but hundreds of new Offices created
and hundreds of salaries increased in every
direction.
You remember that when the administra-
ton came in the first thing that was
done was to set on foot an investigation of
every department of government to find what
frauds had been perpetrated by the Republ.
cans. But up to this hour not single fraud
not a SINCE dollar of money has been discoy-
cred to have BEEN stolen. All has proved to
be beyond our utmost expectations. Is it
not gratifying that after all our accounts
during the many years of administration have
been thoroughly investigated to find that
there is not single blot upon our escutch-
con?
Another thing my friends, you will re
member that one Of the stock charges made
In that campaign was that the Republicans
had accumulated over four hundred mil
lions of idle money, and that if the new adj
ministration should be put in power this idle
money would all be taken from the treasury
and used in the redemption and payment OF
the interest bearing debt. But at the
hour the new administration came
IN, it was found that there were bnt
Tor the redemption Of greenbacks, and with
In SIX months after the administration of
President Cleveland began this eight mill
lions OF so-called idle money in the treasury
mad been increased to $66,000,OO0, notwith-
standing the three per cent bonds were re-
deemable at call. And this so-called idle
money has gone on increasing, until at this
very hour 1t is larger by more than one hun
dred millions than it was when the admins
tration of President Arthur ceased. And
an THIS has been done simply to beariupon
the country to carry out the project of the
southern wing of the Democratic party,
break protection ard introduce free trade. or
a tariff for revenue only.
You will remember that when those men
who undertook to destroy the Union framed
the Confederate constitution. they inserted
IN 1t a clause providing that the Congress of
the Confenerate States should have no power
TO Impose duties for the protection of indus
tries hourlshing in this country. That is the
central idea of the free trade theory. And
when those men had assumed control of their
party they began to plot to commit the Dem
ocratic party to the same theory respecting
tariff legislation that the Southern
Confederacy had had. 1t com
menced when. Samuel j. Randall
was defeated in the 4Sth Congress and John
u Carlisle made speaker of the House of
Representatives. But it found that as a
national election was near at hand it was
necessary to proceed cautiously and so the
platform OF the Democratic party four years
ago adopted resolution that could be con-
strued two %ays, one way in one State and
another way in another State. 1t was neces
saTy that they should deceive the people in
order that they might get control of the
SO my friends was elected
the President of the United States without
lntlmatlng In his letter of acceptance, or in
any p9olic declaration that he was in accord
with the. free tlade ideas which had Pit M.
Carlisle in the speakership.
:. Inc next step in this conspiracy in the
direction OF free trade was to commit him to
the programme. You will remember that in
MS hrst message he lodged the Question
also, but In his message last December at the
opening OF the 50th Congress President
cleveland was thoroughly committed to the
Tree trade conspiracy which has eliminated
In the Mills bill.
Mr.. Dingley then dissected and argued the
inconsistency and danger of the Mills hill,
Later in his address the speaker said: Onlv
)ne week more and in my Judgment industrf
Ally speaking OStimportant election is To
De decided, and | am happy to say to you to-
hight that, although it is utterly impossible
20 speak with perfect confidence about mat
ers Of this kind, still all the indication that
can get from the National Committee and
rom personal visits to ten States, and from
conversation With leading members of the
party, my belief is that Harrison and Morton
ire to be elected a week from next Tuesday
Applause.J Now think it may be regard
d as SETTLE that not a single State that gave
is vote for James G. Blaine in 1884 will de-
part from the Republican ranks. Michigan
ma Minnesota are called doubtful, but |
AVE had letter within the last twenty -four
lours from Michigan which says that we are
'olng TO increase our majority and gain two
members of Congress-
Now as to Minnesota. Mr.. Nelson, who
declared for the Mills bill in the last Con-
'ress, has come out for Harrison and Nor
on. Minnesota will give 10000 majority for
harrison.
From California, have had letter from
congressman Morrow, in which he says:
we are going to give very large majority
or Harrison. Now the question comes with
e1erence to the four pivotal States from
which we must obtain 10 electoral votes. |
ave spoken twice in Connecticut, and find
hat the Republicans, ami the Democrats
90, privately, admit that it may be set down
5 sure for Harrison. That would give us
TX of the necessary 10. Indiana would give
s Two to spare, and our friends there
EXPRESS the utmost confidence that we will
arry the State. was in New York last
5eek, and Mr.. John G. New of Indiana told
ne that there could, not be any question but
1hat it would go for Harrison, We are 90 |
ng to have New York. We are coming
own to Harlem river with $4,000 Republic |
an majority, and do not believe New York |
nd Brooklyn can overcome this. And Sen
tor Hiscock told me a day or two ago that
e felt sure of New York. l believe. nv |
riends, that we are to win, and win by a
reat majority.
At the close of his address a vote of thanks
D Mr.. Dingley showed the appreciation of
is auditors.