The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-09-04
DEMOCRATIC RALLY.
AFiag Raising, a Torchlight Process
sion and a Speech.

twas the Democrats turn last night Tor
torchlight procession and flag raising in
Deerlng and the Democracy Of that town as
well as OF Portland and other places made
supreme effort to have the thing appear
well They secured Portland from one end
10 the other to find men and boys to march
In the procession; they ransaeked South
Portland and the neighboring region Tor the
same purpose; there was lively beating OF
the bush in the town of Westbrook, includ-
ing all OF Cumberland Mills and Saccarappa,
they even went TO Gorham for men and sue
ceeded in getting few there. all these added
to those Of Deering who could be induced to
carry torches made procession that num-
bered about 400 men and boys, besides the
cavalry which consisted Of some half hun
dred horsemen. The result Of SO great an
effort to form procession was indeed re-
nlarkaDle. A special train brought the
campaign companies from along the line Oh
the Portland d Rochester road, and horse
cars conveyed the Portland clubs TO Deer
ing. The cavalry preceded the infantry Just
as 1t did in the Republican procession.
batween umnaf boE We're few ana gb isd
houses on Stevens Plains, count
ing of Mrs. NJ B. Ross's, which
was also Illuminated at the time of the Re-
publican procession. One solitary house on
Pleasant street was illuminated, there were
one or TWO ON the Aliens Corner road, seven
between MorrilPs Corner and the Duck
Pond. The Examinations consisted OF Sec
ond-hand Japanese lanterns and dimly burn
ing torches, that were none the better for
having passed through the campaign Of 1884.
One. man on the Windham road did put a
pull s-eye lantern on his front doorsteps, but
ne removed it before the procession passed
his house. At "Woodford's, grand effort
was made to create a display. Standing on
the steps Of the peering Tea Store one could
see, by looking down five different streets,
six Illuminated houses The editor of the
Argus hung his hall lamp out of doors, and
put a lamp in his attic window.
The Saccarappa French Band headed the
procession, and played two tunes, "March-
ing Through Georgia" and Rally Round
the Flagg." After travelling toward Aliens
Corner, and walking a little way up the
Wlndham road, the procession stopped and
cleveland and Thurman flag was raised in
front OF George Grams store. The flag was
greeted with feeble cheers; there was no
booming cannon or brilliant fireworks. The
band, however, played the "Red, White and
Blue" and Marching Through Georgia."
Then the gee club. sang little on the speak
ers' platform in front of Fred Boudier's
house, after which Bill Dodge rose and said:
Ladies and gentlemen. am not going to
make speech, but it gives me pleasure to
introduce 10 you Hon. Frank *. Foster, OF
Massachusetts,
The Hon. Mr.. Foster, who is a young and
comparatively inexperienced politician, then
| proceeded to speak, The first part of his
address was vain attempt to be funny; the
| intermediate vart consisted of slanderous
| arraignment of the Hon. Thos. b. Reed, and
| the last part was fruitless attempt to make
| few serious, sensible statements, and as a
whole it was a grand fzzle. The address
| did not contain even an attempt at argu-
ment; it was barren of the first shadow of
| oratorical force, and consisted of simply
| very questionable, commonplace statements.
1t did possess one good feature. 1t was brief,
very brief. In fact, the Hon. Mr.. Foster
| quit after speaking few moments, and said
| it was no use to try to talk.
Then Bill Dodge rose and said the meeting
was adjourned. The idea of speechmaking
| at Woodfords was abandoned. MIR. Foster
| address was coldly received, except by the
Cleveland Glee Club. After the speech the
procession moved towards Woodfords, pa
raded several streets, and then everybody
went home.