Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-05-20
GRAND DEMOCRATIC RALLY.
RATIFICATION MEETING AT
THE COURTHOUSE, SATUR-
DAY EVENING, MAY 18th.

DAY EVENING, MAY 18th.
Ringing Speeches from Messrs.
Field, Taylor, Hall, Chiles
and SheyValter.
On last Saturday evening. in pursuance to an
nouncement made by handbills during the day'a
democratic meeting was held to ratlfy and con-
firm the nominations made by the party for city
officers. Ths young mems cornet band was en-
gagged for the occasion. and they dlscoursed
sweet music tor hall an hour before the regular
proceedings of the evening began. and played
an air after each speech. They acquitted Them
selves admirably, and drew forth many enco-
miums on their proficiency, besides being greet
ed with hearty %llaudits.
The upper court room, in which the meeting
was held was filed with IN attentive and appre-
ciative crowd. All the seats were occupied. and
the aisle and vacant space behind the railing
was taken up by persons standing. and there
was no diminution in the numbers until alter
Mr.. Chiles speech, which had been announced
as the last. The speakers were very frequently
and Enthusiastically applauded, and the best of
feeling seemed to prevail.
Maj. Ryland, chairman of the CITY democratic
committee. called the meeting to order, and ex-
| planned its object. He said that the democratic
party had put good men forward for the differ
ent Offices. and that they desired 10 have their
action ratified by u public meeting of citizens.
He alluded to his remarks at the opening of the
campaign. that properly conducted, the demo-
cratic party could win in this elections; and that
if success was not gained. we would ut least
have some fuH. He said that the movement
would force the republicans to name their very
best men, or court inevitable defeat. and that
good would be accomplished in that way. He
asked the audience to give the speakers u patient
hearing, and to weigh their ume
On motion, Col. Geo. S. Rathbun was made
chairman OF the M Getting. and Mr.. H. Wilson
WinsOr secretary.
Col. Rathbun made a short address. in which
he tina nked the assembly for the honor they had
conferred upon him; spoke of the principles ad-
vocAted by the democratic party, and said that
he should labor diligently for their success, and
cast his vote for the city ticket for that purpose.
As Maj. Ryland had fully explained the objects
of the meeting, he declined making anything
like q speech. and introduced Mr.. Richard Field.
After the applause had somewhat subsidized.
MIR. Field said that. through the courtesy of the
democratic committee of the city OF Lexington.
he, together with others, had been invited to
address them; that it was gratifying to him, and
that it argued we'll for the success of The ticket
that SO large and enthusiastic an audience WAS
present to rstify the nominations that had been
made; he said that in times past the democratic
party had achieved glorious triHmphs in the po-
liticsl arens-that it was the party to which the
advocates of civil liberty, fleeing from the des
potisms of the old word. on arriving in the new.
attached themselves; that it is the party to which
the lovers OF free government have always look
ed for the pcrpetustion Of liberty; that 1t has
always stood as a solid bulwark. protecting the
rights of the states and OF the people from the
dangers of a centralized government. and from
the usurpatIons Of executive power. The speak
er then referred to the prosperity of the Ameri-
can government under democratic administra-
ton; he spoke of the strong opposition of that
party to all oppressive legislation; said that from
the earliest period Of this government there had
been at least two political parties; that one Of
those parties had always advocated democratic
principles. and that the other. by whatever
name it may have been called, whether Federal
list, Wing, Know-Nothing or Republican, had
constantly and firmly opposed democracy. Mr..
Field said it was not his purpose, in the few
moments allotted to him, to discuss the merits
of these different parties, bit that he thought the
political history Of this country warranted HIM
in saying that q majority OF the great measures
that have been adopted iu opposition 10 the
views of the democratic party have, sooner or
later, received the condemnation OF the people;
he referred to the sedition law, its odious iea-
lures, suppressive OF free spirit, its opposition
10 democratic principles, and its repeal; said
that some of the most Objectionable character
istics OF the old solution law were revived by u
radical congress in the POLAND gag law;'' re-
1erred to a case thut arose In st. Louis: a news
paper reporter was arrested, and was
being transported to Washington City
for trial, Was released by writ of habe-
as corpus; that the constitution was indicated,
the prisoner was discharged, and radicalism
fOiled and defeated. He spoke oil the passage OF
the alien laws in time past IN opposition to dem
ocratic principles; showed that such men as
schurz. O'Conor and others, who have made
themselves famous in the history OF this countre,
would have been cut of from all political privi-
ieges under those laws. Mr.. Field spoke of the
national banks and their Objectionable features.
He then took up the rec instruction laws, and
drew u comparison In point OF prosperity be-
tW cen those southern states where recOnstrue-
lion has held iull sway. and those states in
which the democratic party had been in powe
spoke OF the unexampled prosperity OF Texas
under democratic lule. He paid a ~scataine tri-
butte to the carpet-baggers OF the soulh-Bul-
lock, Ames, kellogg and Du,rell. Mr.. Field
then spoke in com ELEMENTARY terms of the indi-
vidual candidates on the democratic city ticket
he said that the worthy candidate for recorder
would bring great sveiOht to the discharge of
his judicial duties; that the best to be said In fa-
vor OF the city attorney was that the people had
again called on him 10 accept that Office, that
perhaps he could pay that gentleman no higher
compliment than to say ''none but himse.f can
he his parallel. He strongly commended the
ticket to the SURFACES of the people, anu closed
by plelging himself to work for its election.
The speaker was warmly applauded.
The chair then introduced to the audience MI.
T. Benton Taylor, who said; We are assembled
tonight, not only to ratiiy the nominations
made by the democratic convention, but also to
renew our allegiance to the democratic party,
our fealty to its principles. and to reanimate
you with more earnest Zeal to the faithful and
vigorous discharge of the important duties de-
volved upon you, by the impending city cleo
ton. We are not here to advocate the claims
or promote the interests of the special pets OF
any clique. ring or faction. but simply to pre-
sent for your sanction that ticket, that comes AZ
the deliberate wisdom OF a Hass convention OF
the democratic party, q spontaneous Offering
from them to the suIrages of the good men and
true Of the city. The ticket, although it may be
open to criticism, is comparatively free from
objection it is q good one, and comes up to the
full measure of that rule adopted ut the inaugu.
ration of the democratic party, which contains,
in our estimation, the essential prerequisite to
holding any office within the gift of the people.
The ticket meets more fully the requirements O.
Honesty and Capacity than any one hereto
! fore offered to- the people OF this city. The
gentleman who heads the ticket is q pan of high
integrity, trm business tact and intelligence,
and will bring to the office of mayor the expert.
ence he has acquired, and the familiarity h.
/ possesses with your chartered ri.hts and tn,
laws by which you are governed. The duties Of
the office which he will be called upon to I'LL,
will be discharged with fidelity and energy, ant
to the satisfaction of the community. The sec.
ond on the ticket, Col. Terry, nominee for th,
ofice of register and trunsurpr, although 10
passesslng u SIMILAR experience to the capdldat,
for mayor ia the office for which he has Leer
nominated, Mr.. Taylor il mistaken in THU
particular. Col Terry served one term As city
register. in ls69, We believe, to the entire salts
faction Of the people.-ED.l yet his daily
occupation through life has been Of sucl
u character us to make him converssn
, with tile f"undamenta principle upon which
the Office is based skilled experienc,
! will be allied to great haAestY Of cAayactey
+ which he has trapsplanted from the noble sol
n Of the Old Dominion. Public interests will no