New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-09-18
JOHN T. HOFFMAN CORNERED.

In the course Of Mr. John T. Ioimans speech nt clet
ing Hall last evening he venued the statement mar the
Naval expenditures had not been reduced o the peace
footing Of before the war,-hricen million dollars per an
numbut that through The corruption ana sxlryagance
the figure ~ hTy million dollars per annlm Compar
ing these Two sums abstraety withoay reference 70
the depreciation Of the currency or the Increase In the
Of labor, materials etc. Mr. Hoffman proceeded TO
hold up To his audience TINS item OF Governmental ex
penditure specimen OF Rcpublcan prohl-
gaey. Thereupon. Republican In me gallery;-
name OF Drew in the ONCE Of James l.. Bagg. esq-re-
quested aud readily obtained Mr.. Hofmans permission
Nr onmnu had previously invited such intcrrogati0ns
you have undrraken." said the Republican ito deny
that the Republican administration has reduced the
naval expenses to the peace foong when ihey occupied
at the close OF Bnchanan's administration Now, SIR
taking into consideration not only the imitation OF tie
currency but also tho Increased expense OF labor mate
struc ana maintain navy, does II not follow That an
outlay Of ssoYOOOOOO at he present doy Is equal ard
bdreiV equal an outlay OF $l30uO.0OO b,for6 ne
gar = The Gu6eruatorIaI aspirant was completely
staggered by this vigorous aud nnans~erable home
thrust aud having nothing at all 10 say In reply made
feeble attempt 10 parry the attack 10y reading long
quotation from Secretary Wees's report simply stating
In general terms that the maintenance OF navy I'm time
OF peace Improbable aud useless THIS, of conISe,
offered defense whatever OF Mr. ioiman's unqualified
10 he same (oOng rhtch then occupied brfOro The udr"
Having driven the speaker from bis first position, our
Republican friend continued; an outlay of s1o~Wo
the present time Is equal ard barely equal 10 nu out
lay OF k3OOO.OOO In the time of Buchanan (Which you
implication that the evil OF which you complain II QUO
growing directly out OF the corruption OF Republican
evil which existed and was nurtuied under the auspices
OF your Democratic Buchanan T. Encouraging mp
plause from number Of Republicans In different parts
VI the hall
"Ah," said Mr. Hoffman hastily. the extrayagance
OF "a FORMER administration II excuse for similar ex-
tayagance IN his" thus virtually admitting the force
truth Of the Republicans opening hit. Having com
mtted himself TO untonabe position, the Democratic
candidate thus fairly driven from by mere boy,
just emerged from his teens.
inc ncldegt o.oeted great excitement The unterri-
fed" In all parts Of tho hail. salued the young Republic
can with cries Of &c d the whie-lNered Abolition
istw "Put him outp Z" Sit down. d. yOu! " Lot mo
lay hold Of hm &c. To tho credit OF Mr. Holman. be
said that he made immediate aud successful effort
10 quel the storm OF abuse which launched by hs
adherents at the young offender The effect of TINS dis
comturc Of the Democratic champion wus terribly denor~
aizng upon his followers who up to that tne had iec
taed themselves the great success 0f inc meeting
The prominent Democrats present felt that their peat
gun had been cfeetuay spiked and that the anticipated
marvellous influence OF their favOres presence mere hau
been dssipated forever with the intelligent part OF his
audience The demonstration OF the "ronghs' To put
the interrogation, who had received the speakers
TO question him, scarcely less uhhRhg lho
tissue OF falsehood and misrepresentation which the
speaker had cunnngly woven "a cheat ana peghlc MS
conndng hearers, was In moment Thoroughly reht
asunder and disspgted. lie did not recover from the
damaging influence this defeat oxered, ana Mr. lion,
mans speech IN Syracuse proved "a lame anu ihPo'sh'
affair