The Portland daily press., 1888-08-16
AT THE HALL.
Speeches of Mr.. Blaine and Warner
Miller

Speeches Of Mr.. Blaine and Warner
Miller.
About one o'clock, though the meeting
was not to begin until half-past two
the stream of strangers began to flow
into the City Hall. In half an hour the
hall was nearly half full of eager men
and women who waited impatiently fol
the hour of the meeting. At half past two
the hall was jammed with people and many
were in the corridors while hundreds OF
others stood upon the sidewalks eagerly
waiting to catch glimpse of Mr.. Blaine.
Mr.. Blaine had come to the city on the one
o'clock train from the east. At Westbrook
Junction he was met by the Hon. Thomas
B. Reed who accompanied him to the
Union station. There he was met by Col. +.
n. Dow Of the State committee and driven
to the Falmouth where he dined and re-
ceived few callers. Ex-senator Warner
Miller Of New Y York, who was to address the
afternoon meeting along with Mr.. Blaine
had arrived little before Mr.. Blaine on the
train from the West and was also at the
Falmouth. at about half past two Mr..
Blaine and Mr.. Miller were driven to City
Hall. As the carriage drove up to the curb
stone Mr.. Blaine was recognized by the
crowd and greeted with a round of applause.
He stepped lightly from the carriage and
ascended the steps, the crowd following and
applauding. AS he reached the top of the
staircase and turned into the ante-room
the crowd in the corridor broke into loud
cheers. Mr.. Blaine tarried but briefly in the
ante-room, and then ascended the steps to the
platform. When the great audience caught
sight of Mr.. Blaine there was storm of APP
plause. Cheer followed cheer and when the
audience tired Of cheering they clapped
their hands and stamped their feet. 1t was
some minutes before quiet was sufficiently
restored SO that Col Dow could call the
meeting to order On the platform besides
the speakers were the Hon. Thomas b.
Reed, Hon. Henry B. Cleaves, Hon. Charles
F. Libby, Col. f. n. Dow, f. M. Higgins,
Of Limerick. Col. Mark f. Wentworth, OF
Kittery, Prof. FL. L. Chapman, of Bowdoin
College, Rev. Marion Crosley, Walker Blaine
and many others. After the applause had
subsided Col. Dow called the meeting to or
der and introduced Hon. Henry B. Cleaves
as the chairman Of the meeting. Mr.. Cleaves
was received with round after round of ap.
plause. He said:
MIR. CLEAvEs' SPEECH.
Fellow Republicans, Ladies and Gentlemen
] congratulate the loyal, enthusiastic and
earnest Republicans Of Maine upon the mag
nifcence OF this gathering. Here in this city
of Portland, a city that Is always loyal and
true to Republican principles, you are open.
ing a campaign which is to end in Republi-
can success, and in one of the grandest vic.
tories for America, for American industries
American prosperity, and American labor
The evidence is unmistakable that the year
1888 is to be a Republican year.
This is a contest that appeals to the man.
hood, the intelligence and the loyalty Of
every American citizen. Ii is contes
in which no man can remain neutral. Never
which fought under Grant, Sherman, Logan
and Sheridan, came from the Appomattox
with its crown Of jewels and battered flags
have the issues been so grave as confront u:
IN the present campaign; That old army
the most patient, loyal, devoted and magnii
cent army that ever stood in line of battle
contended for the preservation of this Amer
jean Republic and the triumph Of the old fiaf
Twenty-three years have rapidly rolled by
The growth of the American Republic under
the system of protection established by the
Republican party, in wealth, population and
material prosperity, has been unexampled
and without parallel in the history of any
other government.
For twenty-four years the Republican par.
ty controlled the affairs of this nation, and
when it retired from power in 1885, it turned
over to the Democratic party, better
stronger, more prosperous and enduring
republic, than the world had ever known
but that party which came into power on the
fourth day of March, 1885, stands today as
menace and obstruction to the advancement
of the great manufacturing, commercial, ag
ricultural and mechanical industries of the
country, and is making war upon the wage.
of the laboring men of the nation.
In their proposed tariff legislation they la,
a destructive hand upon .some of the mos
important industries of your State, and de
mand that we shall yield to the policy inaug
urated by them, which means in the nea
future, free trade and a complete surrender
of the American markets. Instead of estab
fishing proper harbor and coast defences
and giving employment to American labor
and placing the money in circulation among
the people, they are boarding millions O.
money in the Treasury and seeking to breal
down American industries and our system o
protection, under the pretence that the sur
plus must be reduced. Instead Of doing jus
tice to the American soldier and sailor. WHIT
is unable longer to continue the battle Of life
they seek by miserable technicalities TO de
prive him of the aid that grateful and pa
triotic would rejoice to have him receive
Instead of protecting the rights Of our fisher
men upon the high seas, they are completely
| ignored and disregarded. Since the Declare
tion of Independence, no instance can b,
found of so complete surrender of the right
of American citizens, who have lost theil
property by seizure, as is witnessed in tn,
PROPOSED treaty relating TO our fisheries
The claims Of our fishermen, who hav beef
denied all commercial privileges, are utterl.
and completely disregarded.
With only three millions OF people we con
tended against:the armies of England fo
seven long years for equal rights, but will
sixty millions of free and independent peo
pie, inhabiting a republic which is IN
eoualed in strength and prosperity by an,
other government, the party In power yield
TO the unreasonable demands Of foreign
province and surrenders the rights that be
long to the American citizens.
Against this party we put the party O
freedom, the party that believes In fire.
thought free speech, a free ballot and fai
count. Against this party we put the part
of protection, protection to our people a
home and on the sea, wherever the flag floats
and there is no doubt as to the final verdic
that will be rendered by the American peo
pie.
Ladies and Gentlemen. The cordial an,
enthusiastic greeting that this vast audi
ence extends to Names distinguishes
words can express, the heartiness Of hi
welcome. The President of the United
| States, not long since, sent message to tn
| American Congress-, and threw down th
gage of battle" and invited the issues tina
are now before the American people. Wit
| lightning speed, Americas great champion
| Of protection responded from across thu
water, and spoke for American industries
| American homes and American labor, and h
| is now welcomed by millions of free Amer
| ican people, who will follow his lead in thi
contest. | have the honor Of presenting
| Hon. James G. Blaine.
Mr.. Cleaves was frequently interrupte'
by applause, and his reference to Mr.
| Rlaine was a signal for more cheering, Al