The daily gazette., 1882-10-18
HASTY MR.. HASTINGS.
HE DENIES WHAT HE WAS
NEVER CHARGED WITH.
THE REPUBLICAN MASS MEETING
Addresses by General NOOdford and
Messrs. Harrington, tjiggins, and "a Self
GIorification Speech From Hastings.

A large Republican mass meeting was held
in the Opera House last night. George W.
Bush was made chairman and General
Stewart L. Woodford of New York was the
first speaker He was applauded when intro
duced and said he had addressed the people
of Wilmington In 1876 and again In 1880. He
now came again to plead with them for that
newer and better South which he believed
would be better for them as Delawareans.
The speaker then went ON to speak es though
Delaware were a Southern State and all
through his argument he 30 classed her. He
declared that the ballot In Delaware had
not been free, full and untrammeled. Demo
Gratis had not taken proper grounds for
education. He spoke at length of protection
to American labor, and said that under 1t
the city of Wilmington was SO prosperous.
Near his conclusion the speaker said that
he would now speak of a matter which lies
very near to his heart, that was Civil Service
Reform. He would not go further back
than two years ago, when Garfield ap-
plause] was elected President. He was
man Of great culture, and he had profound
conviction on public questions, but under
the pressure from all the States he did ex-
actly what every President had done before
him, and used the offices toward his friends
for political services. When the nomina-
tions went to the Senate, SO high did this
spoils feeling run, that distinguished Sena-
dent had used the offices to pay his
debts instead of theirs, and next we see the
President murdered by a disappointed Office
seeker. All this happened within six
months. The speaker then with burning
language, every period of which was ap-
plauded, denounced the spoils system in
politics, and urged the people to right this
| terrible wrong, which has grown to such
proportions. He would sooner trust the Re-
publicans than the Democrats to do this
General Woodford's speech was short, and
| he had not word to say in support of the
| ticket in New York or Pennsylvania, and he
only In general way urged Republicans to
support the cause in Delaware.
Chairman Harrington was then called
| upon and made few remarks, saying the
| Bourbon majority had been broken down in
Kent and Sussex and the Republicans
would triumph.
Anthony Higgins followed and declared
that the Republicans had majority of the
| legal votes Of Delaware. He was not in
| favor of the assessment laws if upheld by
the Republican party, but Delaware stood
on the threshold of brighter day. There
would be improved schools, and not mixed
| schools either. MIR. Higgins said that even
| the Democrats had come to demand a new
/ constitution. The prejudice against fhe
colored man had ceased. He said the State
debt showed the Democratic support of the
hearers to support the Republican ticket.
L. G. Bradford, Jr., ESQ.,, was loudly
called upon and, after saying that he had
come as a listener and not as a speaker, he
charged that the inequality of representa-
tion and the unfairness of the assessment
laws constituted conspiracy. against the
principles of American liberty In this State.
Democrats were not to be trusted in their
promises OF increased representation. He
pleaded with his hearers to defeat the Dem
| ocratic party which had been false to its
| trust.
MIR. HASTINGS AND THE GAZETTE"
Calls were now made for Mr. Hastings,
the candidate for Congress, and he came
forward amid applause.
Mr.. Hastings said; did not come pre-
pared to make a speech, and, therefore, do
not feel called upon to make any extended
remarks. One of the Democratic papers OF
this city, commenting upon some remarks
of mine last Saturday night at Newark
charges that said that, as an employer o.
labor, l was ready to hire men at any rate
could get them, for so cents, 25 cents, any
thing /; Chinese coolies, anybody.
don't believe it is necessary that
III shall state before an audience
in the community where / have lived, that
this is an untruth. Furthermore, the re-
porter who was there, and took my remarks
down, knew that didn't. / know that the
reporter is an intelligent man, and under
stood English. The meaning of my speech
was that the competition of my business
compelled me to hire labor as eheaply al
other people did, and that did not profess
to pay any more than my competi
tors were paying in the same bust
ness. My point was this: Tha
under the benign influence of the protective
tariff the laboring man of this country
is not subject to the cupidity or dependen
on the generosity of his employer. [Ap
plause. That employers are compelled u
pay him fair wages; that there is a demand
for his labor, and is likely to be under
tariff That is my answer to the charg
and all that nonsense. Applause.
The meeting then adjourned.