Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1884 — TALKING TO THE PEOPLE. [ARTICLE]

TALKING TO THE PEOPLE.

Tames G.’ Blaine Enthusiastically Received at Every Point in the Wolverine State. Talking ib Vast Crowds at Muskegon, Saginaw, and Other I’laces. [Saginaw special.] Mr. Blaine did not leave Grand Rapids until 9:30. A swift run was made to the West during the .first part of the da*. The irst impOrtafit i-top was at Holland, a large Dutch settlement, where the entire population turned out. The audience he e had a more foreign look than at anyplaie in the State. There was hardly an American face to be seen. A number of the inscriptions upon the banners at Lofland were in Dut h. Between there and Muskegon there are a number of Scandinavian settlements, which turned out in large numbers. A number of’ powerful lumbermen, judging from the I anners they’ carried, were interi sted in sustainipg the Republican party as a mere question of Wages. At Muskegon there was a crowd of over 5,000 workingmen. The journey from Muskegop to Saginaw City, the capital of the eastern lumber regions, ■■was made without special incident. The important stops were St. Johns and Owosso,"where there were crowds of 5,000. Mr. Blaine made nothing during the day that could-beealled la speech. He arrived here soon after 6 o'clock, where he was-givena warm welcome. This is the home of Congressman Horr, who was having a good fight upon IPs hands for re-election until Mr. Blaine appeared in his district. He says that his visit will make everything easy for him. Mr. Blaine has thus far had his time devoted to the. mospsparsely settled region of the State. -His coming, following upon the heels of the Ohio victory, has given the Republicans the send-off they needed to give a majority of oU.OOO. This State is now so overwhelmingly Republican that tor the purposes of effecting any results it was hardly worth wbile for Mr. Blaine to "come here. Mr. Blaine was driven to the Bancroft House, where he took supper aboutp. m. Mr. Blaine,. Gen. Fremont, and Gen. Alger, were driven tc a stand in the principal square, around which -W.eriSraissembled -several thou sand p*eii] >ie, w! -- cheered w ildly as the two- distinguished gentlemen appeared. Mr.,Blaine introduced Gen. Fremont as the first candidate of the Republican party and the one whose candidacy had aroused more enthusiasm than that ot' any other. Gen. Fremont was received with great and prolonged cheering. After he had returned thanks in a brief speech the calls for Mr. Blaine were renewed, and in response he said: “Speaking as I was just now, of the great enthusiasm which attended the candidacy ot Gen. Fremont, and speaking thus of great political leaders, I am reminded—and could not indeed but be reminded when standing on Michigan soil —of a great leader whom you have lost since I last visited Michigan upon a political errand. When last I traversed y’our State it was under the auspices of Zachariah Chandler [great , cheering l , and lam sure that in that illustrious body ot political leaders whom the development and progress of the Republican party produced there was not one who excelled —1 do not now recall one who equaled—him in the great attributes ot undaunted courage, of olear and keen foresight, ot great personal f'oice, whieh.net only secured to him a body of followers whose zeal equaled his own, but made him a terror to the Opposition always. _-JIGood! gcodl’ and cheers.! But if the leaders die, principles survive [great cheering!; and though the Republican party has lost Chandler and many others of the great men who toundedadtGtlre 1 i»rty-still . lives, and its principles are as vital to-night as they were when they stirred th hi arts of those great man W’ho laid broad and ileeji t4»> founila* — tion.s of its success and its perpetuity.- [’You are right!’ and cheers.] • ‘‘Westand now near the close of a national struggle—a struggle which involves much to tin* people of the United Stalos a struggle which involves much to Hie pee; Te oUSncETgan, a struggle in which Michigan will have an important and influential voice. [Cheers.] All political campaigns begin with many issues, And—mearlyoall—political—eain-j aligns end- with—only one issue. The progress of discu sion eliminates non-essential questions and those of minor importance, and finally the parties struggle ov6‘t the one absorbing and controlling issue. That issue is whether this country shall maintain a protective tariff. [‘That’s whatywe want,’., and cheers 1 That question is one which vitally affects’ the prosperity of Michigan, and therefore I assume that ’ when I refer to that issue 1 refer to onp in which you take a deep interest. Are the peopleof Michigan in favor ot protection? IMiuiv voices: ‘Yes,’ ‘Yes.’] Or are they in favor of fion trade? [Loud cries of ‘ No.' ‘ N 0.3 Then—if you'are for protection and against free trade you will vote the Republican-ticket, because to vote the Democratic ticket is to support the party which fur fifty-oUc years has steadily opposed protection, and that I know you will not do. [‘No,’-‘No.’J You will pardon me. for saying that you can make your will felt in the most emphatic, direct, and con- ■ elusive “manner 'l.ty-supperting*yottr~l.tapreaentas five in Congress. [Cheers for Horr.f That is where the popular voice tells, and you know as well as I know that there has been no more consistent'and courageous ilptiolitijy of the doctrine of protection than my distinguished friend Mr. Horr, who' now sits beside me. [Cheers;] Therefore, if the voters of this district prefer high wages in America to low wages; if they prefer home manufactures to foreign manufactures; if you desire prosperity at your own firesides, you will support the Representative who has been faithful, and not only faithful but intelligent, and not only intelligent but zealous. < lood-nicht " -Three cheers were then given for Blaine and Horr. After Mr. Blaine and Gen. Fremortt retired, Senator Hale addressed the meeting at leugtiu.