New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-07
MR.. REEDS CANVASS OVER.
ADDRESSING Ills CONSTITUENTS AT SEBAGO
LAKE AND PORTLAND.

ADDRESSING Ills CONSTITUENTS AT SEBAGO
LAKE AND PORTLAND.
LARGE AND ENTHUSIASTIC AUDIENCES LISTEN
TO THE SPEAKER AND MAJOR M'KINLEY
Mr.. REED ESTIMATES HIS
MAJORITY AT 1000.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Portland, Me-, Sept. 6.--Speakcr Reeds stump
ing canvass in this district ended to-day with
two gratifyngly large and successful public meet
ings, one at Sehago Lake this afternoon and the
other at the City Hall here tonight Major
Mckinley and Mr.. Lodge reinforced Mr.. Reed at
the afternoon gathering. AMI the eloquent chair
man OF the Ways and Means Committee also
stopped over in Portland and made brilliant
and effective speech Both meetings were marked
BY the same interest and enthusiasm that hove
been shown generally throughout the district
since Mr.. Reeds return from Washington last
Thursday, and there are now some hopeful indlca-
tons that the apathy Of q campaign until then
exceptionally dull and spirtless has at last been
dispellcd. In no year since Mr.. Reed WIS iirst
elected to Congress has he made so brief and
limited q canvass OF the t"o counties which
make up his constituency, and at no time, per-
haps, since 1876, owing to the entire iDaction OK
the opposition, as far, at least, Appearances
go, had the pubic interest in the race for Con-
gress fallen to so low an ebb as
during the two weeks just preceding the Speakers
present visit His appearance hero has re-
awakened n spirit OF fight among the local lead
crs and his speeches. admirably seconded. as
they have been, BY those Of Representatives
Mckinley, Lodge, Henderson and Grecnhalge. have
had an appreciable effect in bringing home to the
voters Of the district the broadly National sig
niAcance OF the pending contest and the urgent
political importance Of the return Of the Speaker
by o creditable majority.
To-night's meeting. like that Of Thursday.
showed conclusively enough that the party in
Portland is alive to the meaning Of the situa-
ton, and il corresponding activity can bo
aroused In the country towns next Monday there
will be little doubt Of q result that will send
thrill Of satisfaction through every Republican
State In the Union. The Sebago Lake meeting.
like most open.air mcetings in this State, was
brief and pointed in character Maine audiences
seem to like twenty minute, rathcr than two
hour, speeches, and it is rarely that o stump
orator ventures beyond tho conventional half
hour limit. Such . custom. OF course, prccludcs
any attempt at exhaustive argument but IL
leads to pithy ard vigorous condensation
Of thought and gives unusual variety TO an after
Moons or an evenings programme. The little
grove OF pines at ScbaGo Lake in which to-days
speeches were made is not unlike that at Old
Orchard Beach. It stands on gentle slope. from
tho foot OF which the rows OF seats rise In
natural and graceful amphitlratre. Both the
speakers platform and the curving rows OF benches
sheltered from the SUMS rays by the tall pines
and through the trees the eye ran catch u dis
tant glimpse OF tile delicate blue OF the lake
stretching miles away TO the northwnrd
The Speaker and his party reached tie grove
about 2 o'clock, and found some 2 900 people
waiting there TO greet them. More kept arriving
until o'clock, when there were perhaps 5000 in
the audience. Scbago Lake is mere camp
ground and not town, and the number OF listen
ers who had turned ont to welcome the Speaker
and his colleagues bad surpassed expectation.
Mr.. Reed was tho first 70 address the crowd.
which cheercd him heartily as he took his scat
on she platform. His voice was still husky and
uncertain, and lie was careful not 10 tax it un-
duly. His speech was full OF good and witty
turns. The Republican party. he said, was
party which tried to fulfil It's promises. and which
was always ready to meet and deal with what
itics. Since 1889 it has bern from year TO year
bending its energies TO the accomplishment Of one
great political result after another. It never
shirked. and though it sometimes made mistakes
and sometimes moved slowly. il never failed in
time tn acnuit itself Of the tasks it had under
taken faithfully courageously and successfully The
Democratic party. on the otlcr hand, he mnin
tanned, was continually dragging along about five
years behind the spirit Of the times. occupying
the old camp grounds Of Republican achievement
and claiming credit for things which IL was finally
forced TO accept as accomplished history.
Five years from now, DAY friends said the
Speaker, In his most serious tone, "you will find
the Dcmocrati0 party claiming 10 he the original
dscovcrcr and patcntee Of the principle that
members OF the House. il present and declining To
vote, may he counted to make u quorum"
Tho audience laughed heartily at this, but wrrr
evidently not quite equal TO the imaginative effort
involved il: the Speakers ocular prediction. Mr.
Reed spoke in all about twenty minutes.
Mr.. Lodge followed with speech on Southern
election methods and the necessity for Federal
defence Of the principle Of equal Suffrage. Many
passages were striking and brilliant, and they all
drew out rounds Of applause from the auditors.
Major Mckinley talked about the Tariff bill for
while, and then made direct and forciblc ap-
pal, which went 70 the hearts Of the audience, for
vindication OF Mr.. Reeds splendid leadership
in the House by O substantial and satisfactory
majority IeAt Monday. His eulosy 81 the Speak
crs magnificent courage and sterling fidelity and
devotion TO all the genuine principles Of Kcpub-
Iicanism carried the crowd to the highest pitch
of enthusiasm, and IL could only express itself
when Mr. Mckinley finished III continued rounds
of cheers, both for the Speaker and for the
eloquent Ohioan.
The meeting at the City Hall here this evening
was in many respects counterpart OF the big
gathering of Thursday Again the floor and CALLER
les were crowded to their utmost capacity and
many hundreds Of expectant listeners were turned
away for lack Of even standing room Fully 5000
people were packed into the hall when Speaker
-. H. abuR