Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-11-01
COnger and Hatch.

Last Friday evening, the Opera
House was filled with citizens who as
sembled to hear Senator Conger and
Mr.. Hatch, the gentleman who labors
under the delusion that he will repre-
sent this district in Congress, and we
were glad that so many people were
present, although we sympathized
with them for the infection under
which they were oppressed, at having
to sit several hours and be wearied by
the weak arguments and dry, point
less remarks of the speakers. 1t was
the dryest and least enthusiastic polit-
ical meeting that has taken place in
this city. 1t appears evident that
when the Republican managers load
ed Messrs. Congcr and Hatch to de-
stroy the Democracy of Alpena, they
loaded them with boomerangs, instead
Of solid shot, and the result was more
disastrous to the Republicans than to
Democracy. The childish arguments
of both speakers have provoked the
contempt of such Democrats as heard
them, and they must have Disguised
many sensible Republicans. People
went to the Opera House to hear a
good speech, and not to be wearied
with rubbish.
Mr.. Hatch was the first speaker.
His idea of the protective tariff was
that because 100000 people in 1880
had grown more grain, produced more
manufactures, dug more minerals and
accumulated more wealth than 80
of people did in 1860, that it
showed what great blessing protec-
tive tariff was. Now any intelligent
school boy can readily tell how So
100000 of people in 1880, can accom-
plish more than 30,000,000 of people
did in 1860. Because the many more
farmers in 1880 had grown more grain
that year than q less number of farm
ers had grown in 1860, it was, accord
ing to Mr.. Hatch, owing to the pro-
tective tariff. Mr.. Hatch appeared
Mortified because the Democrats form
ed an alliance with the Nationals, and
because the latter had Il
prohibitory plank in their platform,
and he tried to convey the impression
that the Democrats were all support
ers of intoxication, and compared
them to a dog whose exploits are mar
rated by Baron Munchausen. Mr..
Hatch probably judged the Democrats
and Nationals by his own actions, as in
Presque Isle county he runs as a lie
quor candidate, and in Alpena he APP
pears as temperance man. Mr..
Hatch continued his dry remarks for
some time, and when he had finished,
there was a general feeling that if
those present should never hear him
again speak on politics, there would
be no loss occasioncd. If he had not
been a candidate for Congress, his re-
marks would not have been worthy of
even criticising.
Senator Conger was the next speak
er, and all present expected to hear a
speech, but they were doomed to be
disappointed. A more miserable de-
bate, for man of his reputation, was
never inflicted on an audience. 1t
was a mass of words, barren of ideas,
argument or point, and the only thing
that Senator Conger distinguished
himself on, was a sort of wit very
common among those fellows who sell
patent medicines on street corners.
Better things were expected from a
United States Senator, and one who
has been in Congress for the past
fourteen years. To call it speech
would be libel on oratory.
The first part of Senator Conger's
remarks was devoted to a long, dreary,
one-horse essay on schools and school
children, and when he had thoroughly
depressed his hearers with his mourn
full remarks, he switched off to Michi-
gan affairs. He challenged any Dem
ocrat to name any Republican State
official, with one exception, who had
stolen public funds. The Senator
knew that q public speaker is seldom
answered in such cases. He also
knew that the charges made by Dem
ocrats against some Republican Off
Gals were not for direct stealing not
mere stealing of the cash box and
then Ascending for parts unknown,
but that the stealing was accomplish
ed by Republican officials in the ring,
by bogus contracts, and by similar
means. The Senotor thus Thought he