The Portland daily press., 1892-08-19
RALLY AT GRAY.
General Frazier and Levi Turner, Jr.,
Spoke There Yesterday.

1t was a hot day yesterday, but not too
hot for the loyal Republicans of Gray to
turn out. and hear General Frazier OF
Michigan and Levi Turner, Jr., of this
city, discuss the political issues of the
day, General Frazier had been assigned
to Gray for last evening, but for some
reason that assignment was changed to
the afternoon. 1t was rather a bad time,
the farmers being busy with their grain,
and there being also Grand Army clam
bake at Dry Pond. Yet a fair sized au-
dience gathered, and an enthusiastic,
vote-making meeting resulted.
Levi Turner, Jr., of this city accompa-
MED General Frazier.
Mr.. M. G. Morrill,, chairman of the Gray
town committee, presided. He is the
popular Republican candidate for the
Legislature in that class, and has excel
lent prospects of winning, although the
class is naturally Democratic.
Mr.. Morrill, first introduced MI. Turner
who spoke briefly on the general princi-
pies of the Republican party. He refer
red wittily to the Democratic tally-ho
which is to go through the district, as a
device unworthy the intelligence of those
whose votes are expected to be captured.
Mr. Turner's speech was well received
and heartily enjoyed.
General Frazier followed with an adj
mirable exposition of the tariff, as it re-
lates to the Maine farmers. The free
trader, General Frazier says. takes the
American farmer on his blind side. He
tells you that if you have free trade you
will be able to buy the things you have
to buy, your clothes and your ribbons,
cheaper than you do now. This seemed
plausible at first. But how do you farm
ers here in Gray make living? You
make it by selling perishable products of
your farm to those who are engaged in
manufacturing industries. What do you
care for the markets of England? You
farmers in Maine have nothing to sell in
it. You can not begin to compete with
the great West with wheat, corn or even
hay in the markets of England. The
great bulk of the things that you have
to sell are perishab1e, like mutton,
butter, cheese, eggs, etc., which you
could not send with profit to the markets
of the world. Your profit lies in selling
your goods in your markets at home to
those who are getting o living at our
own Industries. What business have
you farmers to be Democrats? and to
fall in with the idea that you should aim
blow at the industries which are giving a
living to the men who buy your products.
Suppose you destroy the tariff, and take
away the business of your customers?
They will go to farming, to raising the
very things you are raising. Then what
will you do? You can't sell your pro-
ducts to them then. You farmers don't
get rich by swapping pumpkins over the
fence. Laughter. But the Democratic
orator says, you can buy a few things
cheaper if we have free trade. Suppose
you could! What would you do if you
lost your market and could get nothing
to buy them with! But could you buy
articles cheaper under free trade? How
was it in the old free trade days? | can
tell YOU how it was. You got five and
eight cents pound for mutton, fifteen
cents for potatoes; and if you wanted a
calico dress for your wife you paid six
teen cents yard for it.
General Frazier's peroration was an
eloquent reference to the glories of the
Republican party. He also spoke elo-
quently and tenderly of Mr.. Blaine's af-
Fiction.
The meeting was greatly enjoyed by
the Gray Republicans, who are feeling
very confident of Republican prospects
in their part of the county.