Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-05
TEE CANVASS IN MAsSACNl sETTS.

The Republicans Of Massachusetts are
rallying in spirit which shows that they
have no intention OF being again beaten,
either by force or treachery. Tney opened
the campaign in Boston, Thursday evening,
by an immense ratification meeting in Ire
mont Temple, at which the gauge thrown
down by the Dem )crats in the denomination
of Zen. Butler was squarcly accepted and
the determination to redeem the dsgraced
commonwealth, expressed in the most vigor-
GUS manner. Ex-Gov. Long presided and
made stirring speech, in which he said:
Fellow citizens, it is an old truth that
the sublime and the ridiculous lie close TO-
gethcr. If this years issue were not most
serious drama, 1t would be screaming farce.
In the very intensity of aroused feeling
which rocks the public mind, and will rock
it higher aud higher till the waves break in
November, there are moments when the
whole Commonwealth is on the point OF
bursting into one great slde-splittlug gullaw.
Just think of it, The old Commonwealth
OF Massachusetts-the best regulated State
IN the world-a paradise Of freedom, cduca-
tion, equality ard happiness, her institutions
of charity, learning and reform the models of
the continent, her labor her foremost and
most cherished Interest, nobody wronged or
harmed or hurt, everybody happy, and yet
her chef magistrate, himself distinguished
Illustration of her hclpfuluoss and oppCrtun-
tiles, actually keeping his continuance willie
he forces dnnce-cap on her head and par
AIDES her before the world as laughing stock
OF lllitcracy, as a monster OF cXtravaguBce,
as tanner of human skins, and as torment
ing paupers and little chidren with cruelty
| more horrible than those of North Amer.
can savage. Applause. Farce of CON So
u Is farce, and not a word OF truth in it.
Nobody pretcnds there is. The very actors,
| star and all, thrust their thumbs into each
others ribs in uncomfortable mcrrmcnt he
hind the scene. Applause Why, every
other State in the Union, North, Elsi,
South and Nest, is literally roaring.
Tell them there is nothing in it.
They know that they only scream the ouud
er. Tears OF fun actually gully their expan-
slve checks to think the laugh is for once turn.
ed on staid old Massachusetts by one of hei
own family. We can't help laughing ourselves
Members OF all parties, Republicans, Demo
Gratis, Independents, Prohibitionsts, Green.
hackers, we meet in the cars, we put our fel
under the same tables, we gossip in Tho
streets, and everybody is ON the eve of d
Droau grin. Ion can not ma Democrat
there is always a sense of humor and good
fellowship in Democrat, who will not tel
you-unless he be one OF the old liners who
mas not yet been letinto the jokc-that he sees
through II us well rs you do, or who moi
perhaps in words of distinct admission. but
bysome indicative gesture, by the slight bnr
suggestive elevation and depression oi tho
upper and lower lids of tue right optic, or b,
some other pantomilne, will not acknowledge
that 1t is al n game, play for the dclusor
OF the people, Laughter
But my friends, the people have come Il
the conclusion that it is inc 10 ring the cur
tain down. They recall the promis,s &C 4
year ago and find none Of them redeemed
They lcok through the year curren, ami fin
not step forward, not one reform Instituted,
only the dreary frames of exploded fireworks
and chaIred Sticks Of fallen rockets. There