Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-07

MIssoULA. September 5.-lSpecial to The
Miner. THE first democratic gun OF this
most memorable campaign was fired at
Missoula this evening. Yesterday it was
announced that Major Martin Maginnis-
that chieftain who for more than half q
score of years had represented the people
OF Montana in congress-was to speak to
the people of this community this evening
upon the issues of the day. The opera
house was secured for the occasion, and be-
fore the speaker had entered the hall not
even standing room could be obtained.
Anvils were fired and bonfires were built
at the intersections of the principal streets,
and unquestionably the largest crowd ever
gathered on the streets OF Missoula were
present on this occasion. The Twenty.
fifth infantry band furnished music for the
occasion.
THE HALL WAS FILLED
with the elite OF the city, and many gen.
tfemen were noticed to give up their seats
to ladies. Occupying prominent seats in
the audience was seen Judge Hiram
Knowles and W. H. Dewitt, of Butte. and
Col. W. F. Sanders and Thomas G. Power
OF Helena.
Major Maginnis entered the hall amid a
round of applause, and was introduced to
the audience by the Hon. W. M. Bickford.
In substance
Mr.. MAGINNIs SAID:
Seventeen years ago. through internal
dissension, the Democratic psrty in
Montana was overthrown. Sixteen
years ago, in Deer Lodge county,
a citizen OF Missoula county, Capt.
Higgin, nominated me for delegate to con-
gress. For six successive terms I was
called upon to lead your hosts and carry
your banner to victory.
Again l am called upon to be your
standard bearer bat no longer the leader
OF forlorn hope, but the leader OF q |
united party.
1.-The first bill was able to get through |
congress was for the relief OF the citizens of |
the Bitter Root valley, and one, if not |
quite the last act OF my official life at |
WASHINGTON, was on behalf OF your county
in securing the location OF your military
post at this point.''
The speaker then asked
WHY HE WAS A DEMOCRAT,
and said the Democratic party was the
pioneer OF Montana. "When 1 came to
Montana found Thomas Meagher, that
patriot whom I had accompanied with
Hancock and Others on many bloody
battle field, occupying the governors
chair, and l found men here who, in the
early part of the civil war we're strong
abolitionists but who left early in the
fight to come to Montana. I say I found
such men here, denouncing Mr.. Meagher as
a scoundrel, rascal and traitor"
The speaker then arranged the Republi.
can party for opposing the admission OF
the territories. He told how the party
not in Washington, but in Montana-op-
posed the admission of the territories. "At
this juncture" the speaker said: II
want to make some EXCEPTIONS, Col.
Sanders and Col. Hedges each favored the
admission OF Montana under the Springer
bill or any other bill, but the party at
large opposed it," II
He then discussed briefly the Ii
ACTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
in convention at Anaconda, and said that ,
though the voice OF the head of the ticket
was that of Thomas C. Power, the hand
hat moved the string was the 'long, bony
ingers OF Colonel Sanders"
He discussed at length the record OF the :
Republican party in Montana, and took
lis seat amid round after round OF ap- :
,lause.
The Hon. VIM. Bickford, candidate for :,
associate judge, and Hon. W. }. Stephens, t
andidate for district judge, also appeared c
md spoke briefly upon the subject of the t
lay.
The meeting was an enthusiastic one and
veryone left the hall pleased.
Major Maginnis is very popular in Mis-. v
oula county, and made votes for himself
nd the ticket here tonight.