Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-09-24
Democratic Congressional Convention
and Mass Meeting at Muscoda,

utHluCTduC IOHJTeSSluldl OuUNCNNull
and Mass Meeting at Muscoda,
The village Of Muscoda was ON
Wednesday, the 18th inst, the scene
of one Of the grandcst Democratic
rallies ever held i'll the west The
town was handsomely decorated
with flags and banners, and every
necessary arrangement was made
lhy the citizcns for the entertain
ment u their guests. about 2 4.
M, people began to pour into the
place from all directions \ large
delegation came from Highland, led
by the brass band Of that place;
next came the grand procession
from across the River, led by the
Richland Center and the Sand
Prairie bands 1t is cstimated,that
not leas than three thousand people
We're present 10 take part il the
mass meeting.
The Congressional Convention
was held in Smallcy's Hall, at /
o'clock p M, and was called to
order by ] NJ. Smith, Chairman
Congressional Committee IL Ill.
Gray was elected Chairman, and
T. g. Knight, Secretary Full
delegations were present from every
county.
Hon. NJ. NJ. Strong moved that
Hon NJ NJ, Cuthrru be declared
the unanjmous choice of the eonvcn-
ton as candidate for Congress for
Third District. The motion WAS
carried amid great applause.
The Convention then adjourned,
and the mass meeting was held
north of the village, where a large
platform had been erected for the
speakers and delegates to the Con-
venIion The platform was decor
attd with bannaers and waving
Ipincs, and baskets and boquets of
flowers were brought by the ladies
of Muscoda TO beautify the scene.
THE grounds were transformed into
n beautiful park, by walks and
evergreens. A large archway was
erected, and decorated with banners
of red, white and blue, and i'll the
evening the word Hancock +"
shonc out III bright illumination
across the arehway. Speeches were
made in the afternoon by Hon. j.
IG. Gregory and Burr w. Jones, of
Madison, Hon. NJ NJ Strong, Of
this city, and Col, Ripley, Of Rich
land Center. The speeches of
Gregory and Jones were able efforts
and were loudly applauded by the
audience.
Mr.. Strong said that he held il
his hand notes for two hours
Ispeech, but that owing TO the late
ness of the hour, he would not
occupy more than one quarter Of
the time. Ills speech, however,
was a mastcrly one He stated the
issues of the campaign eandidly
and eoncisely. He contrasted the
position ofthe two parties upon the
tariff question, and presented an
incoatrovcrtible array Of facts and
figures.
AZ the close of Mr., Strong's
speech COL Ripley, Of Richland
county, was called upon by the
audience 70 take the stand. Col.
Ripley commenced by saying that
he had never voted the Democratic
ticket in his life. But he had
had fought under Hancock, and
knew him to be brave soldier and
a true man, and he would vote foI
him because he knew the Govern
ment would be safe in his hands.
lie was tired and sick Of partizan-
ship. lie rcfutcd the ISLANDERS
against General Hancock, and
called upon his comrades in the
audience 10 bear witness 70 the
truth Of what he said.
About two hundred people joined
in the torchlight procession in the
evening, after which speeches werc
made by Hon. II. II. Gray, Mr.. I.
Scott Ansley, and Hon. Peter Doyle.