The Portland daily press., 1888-08-15

dent sentiment as well as rational prin-
ciple; that 1t is interviewer with every fibre
OF your being as well as emblazoned on your
escutcheon; that for you the minstrel rap
lures swelP' at the sacred name of your
country or the sound of her music. Every
where and at all times, at home and abroad,
in private life and public station, by your
voice and your pen, you have defended and
protected American rights and American in
terests and upheld the honor, the dignity,
the glory OF your country. Your only colors
are the gorgeous ensign OF the Republic,
always full high advanced"
:, / will not speak of the public questions
tnat now engross the popular mind and di-
vide, the great political parties in this coun-
try. Upon these subjects, indeed, on appro-
pirate occasions, you are always to be in
qulred of and not TO be informed But do
not forget that precisely a quarter Of a CEN
tury has rolled away since, fresh from your
brilliant triumphs in debate in yonder State
capitol, you entered upon a broader field of
usefulness and became identified with the
affairs OF the Federal Government as mem
Der OF the National Congress. This was at
the supreme hour of the nations trial and
peru. 1t called for the exercise Of
s0er.an sne highest wisdom, patriotism and
tati9as :, the tbe neopsa part Of the
voice was promptly heard in response to this
call. Every wise and Just measure to sup
press rebellion and maintain the integrity of
the federal government, received the potent
AID OF your loyal and enthusiastic support.
fortunate indeed were you to have been in
the councils of the nation during this mo-
mentous epoch In American history. F0rtu-
nate your country that at such a crisis her
councils could feel the spirit Of your enlight-
ened patriotism and enjoy the best wealth of
your information and the marvellous versa
tility and resources Of your mind. 1t is said
TO have been the boast Of Augustus that he
found Rome in brick and left IL in marble.
But there were men of might and grand In
soul In this nation. who by val0r and victory
In the neld and wisdom in council jointly
achieved the greatest triumph of modern
times Tor human rights, and contributed to
the grandeur and glory of their country for
all time to come. How much nobler then is
their boast when they can have it to say Of
tne republic at the beginning and close Of
the turmoil and agony Of civil war,
three hundred thousand dying to make
men slaves, the other three hundred thous-
ana dying TO make men Free we left IL with
restored peace and tranquility cheered by
the contented voice Of the husbandman and
the song Of the exultant freeman. We
found It's organic law source of dispute and
contention upon the question of State and
federal powers; left il settled and endur-
ing bond Of national union; found it a
sealed book" upon the question. Of freedom
and seryitude, left 1t letter of living light"
for all Gods human creatures. We found
vast domain blighted by the curse Of human
slavery; left 1t redeemed and regenerated
under the blessings of human freedom. No
similar period In the history of civilization
has been freighted with events Of such con-
sequencet to human rights, or witnessed de-
yelopment OF such moment to the enlight-
enment, progress and general happiness Of
man. 1t has seen gigantic natural enter
prlses stalking. across the continent upon
the heels Of each other, opening up new and
nd hos
beheld the mighty sweep of invention and
discovery in all the arts and sciences and
In every department Of intellectu-
al activity; a degree of popular
Intelligence unsurpassed since the brilliant
days OF Grecian civilization. 1t has seen in
stitutions OF benevolence constantly multi
plying and everywhere found the high en-
deavor and noble achievement of Christian
charity and philanthrophy; and, finally, un-
der the economic principles maintained by
the American government, it has witnessed
degree OF industrial success and general
prosperity among the people, and an extent
OF accumulated wealth without parallel in
any like period Of any age or country.
therefore,, sir, for your unfaltering sup
port OF all measures to perpetuate this I'm
ion, which Washington declared to be the
primary object Of patriotic DESIRE" for
your unremitting efforts to secure TO all citi-
zens Of the United States equal civil and
political rights and the equal protection Of
cles as promised the greatest prosperity to
the greatest number; for your answering
fidelity to the principles Of equal justice,
equal liberty and equal opportunity in the
race Of life, the highest interests Of man on
setTe aa Sympathy aHS wpFd eo0neasSn fSs yST5
with all the great agencies of
life having their origin in the enlightened
conscience Of man and their inspiration In
the highest source Of social duty, all the
mighty forces which have been moving
through the centuries Of human history and
are still working for the improvement and
elevation Of mankind-your fellow citizens
once more give you gratitude, praise and
welcome. And in conclusion permit me to ap-
ply TO yourself and Mrs. Blaine, whose well
comelreturn with your family is equally re-
membered tonight, words recently addressed
by Lord Granville to the greatest living
statesman of England and his devoted
spouse: "As one OF you has known no loft
Ter duty than the furtherance Of national
well.being,. so the other has had no more
cherished desire than to tighten the burden
and smooth the paht in this life work" We
wish you and your family joy and gladness
on your return to the quiet and comfort of
your New England home.
In reply Mr.. Blaine, who had remained
standing through the address, replied as fol-
lows:
MIR. BLAINE's RESPONSE.
Mr.. Mayor May l return to you and
through you to the eloquent orator who has
has addressed me in such partial terms my
sincere thanks for the manner in which you
have voiced the kindness and cordially of
this reception, not merely from my neigh
bors, but by thousands Of friends from all
the parts of this great State. When first
heard that a reception was to be rendered
thought it would be confined to friends and
neighbors. thought as l had lived here
since my oath year and as my public history
began and centered here that those who had
known me for 80 years might extend cor
dial welcome. But l had no conception
that men from all quarters of the
commonwealth l love so well, which have
tried faithfully to serve in public stations
would have been here. Applause.l You
can have no conception how it impresses
one who has been for year beyond the
seas, an exile from home, to meet welcome
like this, unbounded in extent, unlimited in
its cordiality and beyond human speech to
respond to. Cheers.l But you must take,
the will for the deed, for my words cannot
reach the borders Of this vast assembly. ZAP
plause.
am deeply indebted to you, who come
come from other towns and cities, and for
the calls outside this State. But greeting
at mans own home goes to his heart more
than any other, lcheersl and 1t Is to you of
Augusta, and OF most Of all Maine that have
done me this great honor and | pour out my
thanks. Applause. / have seen much in
my last year, much of many countries be-
yond the sea, but have seen nothing in any
kingdom of Europe which did not give me
deeper and,more profound appreciation of
my country. lApplause.l have seen many
things to make an American thank God that
he was born under the sovereignty repre-
sented by the stars and stripes. lCheers.]
have seen nothing in European Industrial
systems that did not confirm me in the belief
that the system of the United States Is far
better and more benefcent to every citizen
than any we could borrow or initiate,
lcheersl and we are not going to borrow 1t.
L cannot fail to recognize the sympathy you
have with me and which have in you in the
question whether our industrial system is to
be maintained or destroyed. [Good, good.l
III have in the past spoken worthy word in
support Of that system In the.future hope to
say many more and more weighty. lCheers.l
There Is no more prosperous country than
the United States. Applause. See to 1t
that no harm comes to the republic.
lCheers.] Gentlemen, this much | could not
help saying outside Of that which was per-
sonal to the occasion. For all you have done
quent gentleman has borne to the kindly
relations between myself and my fellow
citizens of Augusta, without distinction of
party | give you my prof0undest thanks.
There is to me no State like Maine, no valley
like the Kennebec, no city like Augusta, and
no home like that home (pointing to his
house.) Loud applause. There have
lived these many years, and there propose
to live among this people. [Cheers.l | have