The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-03
BOLD BEN BUFFERS VISIT.
TheMan Of Many Nominations Addresses
the Citizens of Indianapolis.
Fifteen Thousand People Listen to a Charac-
teristie Talk from the Third Party's Can
didate-HiS Future Movements.

were crowded with curious people last evening,
when the /. & st. L. passenger train from Terre
Haute came in, at 625 o'clock, with Hon. Benia-
min F. Butler, the National Greenback candi-
date for President. ON board. The depot would
have been crowded even if Mr. Butler mad not
been expected, because there were several hun
dred visitors to the fair from neighboring towns
who were waiting for the departure of their
trains; but there was an attraction in the
presence of the famous "cock-eyed son of
destiny" which swelled the throng into curious
multitude, covering the open space in the vicin-
ity of the depot and extending up Illinois street
to the Grand Hotel. There was something of q
-, Vociferous demonstration-whichw was neither a
cheer of enthusiasm nor well-developed shout
of any expressiveness more than that which
greets the best clown as he tumbles into the
circus ring-when, in all the glory of his
renowned personal beauty, General Butler-the
original and only one-made his appearance on
the platform Of the car. He was
received by a committee of the
representative Greenbackers headed by
c. w. Brouse and Richard Gregg and without
any delay for the indulgence of the crowds
curiosity, was hurried into a waiting carriage
and driven to the Grand Hotel. He immedi-
ately retired to the room which had been as
signed to him. and a few moments later he took
supper in the hotel dining room, in company
with Colonel Jesse Harper, OF Illinois, who
came with him, and several of the local Green
hackers. A crowd Of several hundred thronged
about the hotel to catch glimpse of him when
he arrived, and fingered until he made his ap-
pearanee after supper, when starting to the
meeting in the court house square.
THE MEETING AT NIGHT.
At 7:30 o'clock, the time when it was an
nounced that Mr.. Butler would begin his speech,
there were 10000 people crowded around the
platform which had been erected for the occasion
on the northwest corner of the court house
square The speaker, however, did not make
his appearance until an hour later In the mean
time the gathering syelled to $4,000 people, who
stood closely packed in multitudinous mass
After waiting until o'clock, the crowd began to
grow impatient, and some of the more bolster
o1s became demonstrative, yell for the
speaker was started, and 'as there was no
cpeaker on the stand to assuage the growing i'm
patience, the crowd soon became a turbulent
mass, and for few moments panic seemed i'm
miDent Every person in the dense throng was
wedged in immovably, and all were SO closely
pressed together that it was almost suffocating
A railing had been built around a small space for
the accommodation Of reporters IN front OF the
speakers stand, and it was with difficulty that
the crowd could be kept outside, and finally,
those in front of the throng we're pressed forward
over these barriers, and for time the turbu-
lent crowd was unmanageable. The
women who were packed in the dense mass were
lifted over those in front to the platform to es-
cape sufocation or injury, and a general STAN
pede across the platform started, which it was
impossible to check until there was no longer
room fer more to move forward. The crowd about
and on the platform became excited, and for a
moment it seemed that panic could not be pre-
vented. The announcement that the speaker
was coming had the effect to quiet the turbu
lence some. The crowd not only covered the
northwest corner Of the courthouse yard,
back to within few feet of the courthouse,
but Delaware and Market streets. were also
closely packed, while the trees were filed, and
some had even climbed the telegraph poles, to
get a view of the scene.
1t was $50 o'clock before Gen. Butler appeared
On the platform, He was escorted from the
Grand Hotel in procession consisting of
Greshs Band and two carriages, containing, be-
sides the speaker, Messrs. Buchanan Gregg,
Medkirk, Brouse Canary and j. w. Richardson.
When Gen. Butler appeared on the stage with
SLOUGH hat pulled down over his face in
very slouchy manner and stepped to the fro1t
he was greeted with yell. He bowed With Ben
Butler graciousness to all sides of tae audience,
and retired to a seat. Mr.. Pan Buchanan adj
dressed the crowd Cor a moment appealing to it
for euIett land order, and concluded by intfodue-
Ing Gen. Butler, who asked thatthe should be no
interruption of his remarks by yells, which re
minded him of the old rebel yell, and as he ut
tered these words there was fresh outburst.
"Theres one now" he said, and he motioned
again and again for silence before the crowd be-
game orderly His speech was as follows:
GENERAL BUTLER's ADDRESS.
Fellow-citizens, Ladies and Gentlemen:
have come here upon great and important bust
ness, a business that is given to men in no other
country in the world. In no other country have
citizens the right to meet together to consult as
tn 9Th OF To- hail he MAJ vi
lege Of law making is usurped by ernperors,
kings princes, and mobiles. Here, In free and
happy America, we are soyereigns in our own
right, and all men should be enlightened as to
what is right to be done. What great over
whelming matter that has brought
this vast assemblage here tonight
What is there in the condition of the
:ountryl There used to be such meetings
twenty five years ago, when Sumter fell, and all
the people came together to know what should
be done to save the country and the flag. What
brings us here9 Has the good God been unkind
60 this country9 Has he sent a pestilence upon
usl No; on the other hand his gifts are richer
shan those given to any other land on earth.
All over this country are the most benefcent
crops. [Commotion in audience. Now what's
he matter2 man never makes himself to be
distinguished by disturbing public meeting.
Josh Billings said that a hornet could disturb a
whole camp-meeting
In the East there are thousands of men out of
employment, and in the West the mortgages are
eating up the farms, and the crops won't sell for
enough to pay for the cultivation. We have a
man, now and then, who gives an $4,000 ball.
but we have not been extravagant as people
Armor, Swift & Co. boast that within few
weeks they have made 81, 500 600 specializing in
pork. That is buying it cheap of the pro
aucer and selling it at a rate that will
enhance the price of this necessity of
life. l do not know that they are
10 be so much blamed We are to be
blamed for leaving the law so they can do it. If
poor man undertakes to save his family from
starving, and should steal pig, we put him in
The penitentary. What shall be done with men
who steal $25000 900 worth of pigs all at once
from the necessities of the people2 He becomes
your millionaire and you have no law to stop,it
To-day corn is eighty-fve cents a bushel in Chi
cago and eighteen cents in the farmers hands in
Kansas Whyl Because there is speculation in
corn-a prime necessity of life. Do you wonder
then, that there are starving men in the East