The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-09-10
1T RAINED; BUT WHAT OF THATp
Hon. T. B. Reed closes the Campaign
Before Splendid Audience.
The Great Meeting Held by the
Young Mems Republican Club.
Speeches of Mr.. Reed and Hon.
Charles r. Libby.


Charles r. Libby.
From political point of view the rain of
Saturday night was highly successful. mas
much as it did lots OF good and little harm.
1t broke up the Democratic par. lie and
didn't apparently do much to break up the
Republican meeting, since the hall couldn't
have held many more had the evening been
the best of the season. The rain falls alike
ON the just and the unjust but the unjust
had the worst Of 1t tSaturday night Shortly
before eight o'clock the banner of the Young
Mems Republican club was placed behind
the speakers desk to show under whose aus
picss the meeting was held. The young
men themselves were assembling IN Recep-
tion Hall to await the coming of Hon. T. B.
Reed and Hon. G. +. Libby. After the arri-
val of the speakers the club formed under
command of Mr.. George M. Goold and es-
corted them onto the stage. As the club ap-
peared it was greeted with loud applause
from the audience which at that time had
filed nearly all the seats of the hall. and
when Mr.. Reed appeared, there was per
feet storm of cheers, which continued for
some time. The young men of the club took
their seats ON the stage completely filling 1t,
and Edward w. Kent was introduced by
Chairman Briggs of the city committee, as
4 presiding officer Of the evening Mr. Kent,
on coming forward and being greeted with
| applause, said:
MR.. KENT's SPEECH.
Ladies and Gentlemen II esteem il a yery
great honor to be called upon to preside over
this great meeting of the representative Re-
publicans of the city of Portland, than of
whom no better audience could be assembled
anywhere. This meeting is called under the
auspices of the Young Mems Republican
| Club, an organization of about four hundred
| young men, who are bound together by the
| loyal and patriotic sentiment of the love of
| our country, and who desire to see her great
| est moral and material development and
| prosperity. Why are we Republicans How
by its record of the pastP The Republican
party was born party of principles, and
during ltS career OF quarter of a century
and more 1t has met, fearlessly encountered
ana Iougnt TO successful issue. every great
| question that has come before it; and it has
| won for itself the grandest record any politi-
cal organization has ever attained. TAp-
plause;I 1t is an old saying: "0ld men for
council and young men for war; and while
not hesitate to say that we know we are good
for battle We are not recruits, drafted for
lew years, service, but we are volunteer
soldiers enlisted for the war. We are now
upon the eve OF great battle and under the
inspiring leadership of Harrison and Morton
great applausel and Burleigh and Reed
cheersl, we shall come off gloriously victori-
Gus and II you will return to this place af-
Ter ter the pattie ?, mas been fought on Monday,
Derate with cheers and shouts of victory.
But will not detain you longer, for | am
aware that it is not that for which you came
here, and that it is the natural impatience Of
business of its meeting
Portland delights to honor her worthy
cltlZenS, and we have with us tonight one
who, though young, has filled many positions
OF honor and trust at the hands of the people,
and in them he has won for himself a record
OF which he may justly feel lproud [applausel,
and on Monday next we intend, and we will.
by the voice of large majority, call him to
represent us at the State capital at Augusta.
l have the honor and the pleasure of pre-
sentlng. to you the Hon. Charles f. Libby.
who will now address you. [Applause
At the close of Mr.. Kent's graceful speech
Mr.. Libby stepped forward and was greeted
with three cheers from the club and ap-
plause from the audience. Mr. Libby said:
SPEECH OF HON. CHARLES F. LIBBY.
Ladies and Gentlemen-I am a Republican
who believes that the mission of the Repub-
llcan party has not yet ended, that 1t has
still important work to perform and hat the
American nation has still need Of its servic-
es. 1t is grand old party" grand in its
history, grand in its associations, and grand
IN the statesmen and leaders which it has
given to the nation. 1t is party for which
no man need blush, for whose past record
the open or secret ally of slavery or treason
IL has been the friend and supporter of free
dom and popular rights. 1t is composed of
the same elements today as it was when
Lincoln and Seward and Chase and Fessen-
Den were among its leaders, elements which
constituted those great loyal and patriotic
hosts who knew no limit in their devotion to
tneir country's interests, but poured forth
without stint their blood and treasure in its
defence. 1t is opposed today by the same
party which opposed unsuccessfully every
step In Its career for quarter of century,
Dy party whose strength is marked by
color line, whose only hope or chance of vic
tory is in sold South whose only victory in
twenty-four years was gained four years ago
Dy suppression Of the colored vote in the
former slave States, suppression so sweep
ing ana thorough that it has practically
wiped out the vote of six millions of the col
ored race as factor in State and National
electlons, and yet these six millions of yot-
ers are guaranteed their rights as citizens by
as solemn an obligation as ever nation as
sumeu,-an obligation which had its starting
issued by Lincoln and ratified by the Ameri-
can people in the adoption of the 18th and
10th amendments to the constitution. 1t is |
iact whlch cannot be gainsaid that in GER
taln OF tne southern States the colored race
are denied the exercise of the rights secured |
to them by the United States Constitution.
and that this denial works to the advantage |
OF the Democratic party.
I'm ms aspect OF the political problem is not
July realized by the people of the Northern |
otates. 1t is an evil that is obscured by re-
Mote ana peculiar surroundings, but is one |
that threatens the future Of the republic and |
ine iast supremacy ~ Of free institutions My OBJ
cause or discuss the remedy, but simply to
draw attention to the fact that free ballot |
ana Ialr count-the pride and boast of our |
lnstltutlons-will no longer control the is |
sues Sues od natlonal election, and that the one |
nunaTed and fifty odd electoral votes of the |
SOLID South are secured to the Democratic |
party In open violation of the supreme law
OIL the land and by the suppression of the |
pontlcai rights OF millions Of its citizens
Inc ola elements in the Democratic party |
have returned to power. The Southern
wing supplies the votes and dictates its poll
cy today, as it did thirty years ago IL has
placed Southern man, not eminent as a |
lawyer, "a Dut prominent as one of the leaders |
IN IN the Southern Conferacy, on the bench of |
tne supreme Court of the United States. 1t |
mas furnished two Cabinet officers to the |
present administration. 1t has furnished a |
laiee proportion OF our diplomatic represent |
atlves and consuls abroad. 1t has been the |
most Jealous and enthusiastic supporter of |
the President and his policy on the floor of
the Senate and the House. Ii has had a
large influence in shaping the policy of the
party upon industrial and economic oues
tions. When you find out what the position
OF the South is upon any question: YOU have |
found out what Is the pOsi |
tion of the Democratic party. Now II Is
well known that the South has ALWAYS been
in favor of free trade. Its peculiar institu- |
tion led 1t to take that position in the past.
as it could oppose slave labor to the pauper |
labor of Europe. 1t had no manufactures or |
varied industries to maintain and protect |
ana it is only now beginning to learn their |
value as an element of national prosperity |
and strength. 1t is still the party Of free |
trade, and it is not surprising that IL has |
forced the issue upon the Democratic marty
for it is the Democratic party plus n small |
Northern contingent. The editor of the
leading journal of the South, Henry Waiter
son of Kentucky, has voiced its policy in |
the Louisville Journal, and Mr. Mills of |
Texas before he had learned caution. pro- |
claimed on the floor of Congress the piories |
of free trade and the iniquities of protection. |
We must judge parties as we Judge indiyid- |
uals, by the character that they have estah |
lished in the past, by the declarations thew |
have placed on record by their associations |
and fellowship. Judged by this Standard |
the Democratic party is and has been a free |
trade party. Up to very short time its |
leaders were outspoken in their free trade |