The Lamar register., 1895-04-27

ana as ne spoke roar of laughter,
followed by wild and long continued
applause. greeted him from the large
audience. such as had not been heard
In that Town Hall since the days of
the Fremont and Dayton campaign
This was nearly one-third of a century
ago, In the memorable Lincoln and
Hamltn canvass OF 1850. 1t was
biaine's first regular campaign speech.
Blaine was only thirty years old He
was not well known even in Maine.
and was unknown in other States. He
mad won some distinction as editor OF
the kennebec Journal. as a rising and
smart young politician, and as dele
gate In 1856 to the Fremont convention
which nominated the first republican
national ticket: while in the state work
OF september following. this resulted
In electing United States Senator Han
ntbal Hamiin for governor by over
10000 majority. he had become poten-
uai In the councils OF party chiefs,
DOING yeoman service for the new
party; but none OF his warmest admir-
ers Tor a moment dreamed that this
young journalist. speaker and er-
school teacher. who only this year had
come from Pennsylvania to Maine to
make II his home. was predestined to
national and even world wide fame
In calling this effort his first regular
campaign speech / use the term ad-
vtscdly. II Is true that in the Fremont
campaign and In the legislature,
where he had now served two years.
his voice WIS often heard but that up
to this sery wide Awake" campaign
OF 90 MIR Blainc had spoken in public
anything which served to give him
special prestige outside his immediate
region cannot believe. hence this
particular address. which | heard him
deliver In the Bridgeton Town House
on the evening OF July 6. 1850. marked
an cporh In the career of the great Re
publican chief. which also furnishes
an interesting personal and political
"Reminiscences
! went TO the meeting with only
ianguid curiosity. heart. with rapt in
terest. the whole OF the remarkable
speech. and like all the rest OF the
audience. | was spelibound by the
speaker. My hands and feet helped
swell the demonstrations OF approval
which at frequent Intervals inter
rupted the current OF his eloquence.
In this State campaign of 1860. as In
1855. the eyes OF the nation were TO-
cused upon Maine. as the Star in the
East. whose September verdict was
likely to indicate correctly the general
political drift The Republican candi-
Washburn. Jr.. one OF the famous trim
ity of brothers who won great distinc-
ton as public men. HIS opponent was
Hon. Ephraim X Smart. Democrat.
As a sideshow the Straight Wings"
nominated Phineas Barnes, who. how
ever. received only 1,755 votes in a
total of l24 l35. Washburn receiving a
little over 1000 to Smart's 81 $50. I'm
like several of the preceding Demo
cratic nominees for the Governorship,
Mr.. Smart was lightweight as a man,
and decidedly weak as candidate.
Blaine was thoroughly posted as to
smart's weak points, and he made the
most of them This was how his
speech opened:
Mr.. President and Fellow Citizens:
u gives me great pleasure to see so
great a gathering OF the people here
tonight. so many earnest, freedom
loving. loyal Republicans; an omen of
Republican success so pronounced and
20 inspiring as TO thrill with Joy and
hope the whole Republican host
throughout the length and breadth Of
our mighty land-from the rock bound
bay of Nadawaska to the Golden
Gate of San Francisco; from the wood
tringed shores of Lake Superior to the
surf beaten coast of the Gulf of Mex
teol Great applause)
My remarks this evening will be de-
voted principally to discussion of
national and state issues In general,
and to the life and suiferings of the
Democratic fgurehead. Mr.. Ephraim
X Smart. in particular. CLaughterl