The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-09-16
BUTLER In NEW YORK.
Address OF the Peoples Party |"
Candidate for President.


seeger called the meeting to order, and
introduced Louis +. Post rs Chairman,
who, in brief address. introduced Gen.
eral Butler. The cheers that greeted
the General as he came to the front, con-
tinued for several minutes. When quiet
was restored, Butler said in part
"Friends and Observation-Disclosures
ing you for your kind greetings, I as
sumo your deep interest in the affairs Of
the country and political measures
which should be taken to relieve them,
has brought SO vast an audience togeth-
er. This is indeed ratification by the
great city OF New York of the inaugu-
ration of the Peoples party, the true
Democrats. Unlike the labored, tedi-
Gus and involved platforms Of other po-
lItlcal parties, that of the Peoples party
is short, incisive and comprehensive OF
every principle for the conduct ola Gov
eminent Republican. and can be easily
carried in the memory of each. 1t Is
this Equality Of fright, equality Of bur-
den, equality of power and equality OF
privileges TO all men under the law.
i
damental doctrines of the fathers OF the
Republic, adopted by Jefferson, elabo-
| rated by Madison and executed by jack
son. They were the doctrines OF the
Democrats when that party was indeed
the party of the people.
~ need not argue to you that In these
latter days, inequality Of rights and
power, burdens and privileges have
been imposed by the Governments ac-
| n
functions are imposed, and to whom
public franchises are granted, should be
the servants OF the people. But how
contrary Is the action of railroads, ele-
waited and surface. As soon as incorpo-
rated, by ingenious, and most often
fraudulent continuance, they erected
themselves into terrifying and outrage
GUS monopolies, by means Of which the
people are robbed Of their earnings, their
business hindered and crushed and the
many Impoverished for the sole benefit
of the few. The people have endeavored
to protect themselves by granting char
tiers to competing roads, lines which
promised to procure them lower prices
for fare and freight. But 1t is an axiom
ATTIC fact that railroad companies do al
ways end In railroad combinations, and
that these combinations are most fire.
quently directed to the destruction of
the other modes Of transportation which
they can't control. The capacity Of the
Erie canal should have been enlarged
years ago, and is there man who hears
me that does not know ii would have
been done had IL not been for the per-
sistence of the united and selfish OPPOSE
tion of railroads. Let 1t not be said that
this is State question. 1t rises to much
broader and higher proportions. 1t is a
national one. The burden on goods
that are brought upon the Erie canal to
the city of New York exceeds the ocean
traffic from the city Of New York, and
here Is done more than twO-thirds of the
commercial business of the country.
This now is the great national free
water way. II any internal improve
ments of rivers and harbors and water
ways by the General Government can be
justified, why is not the enlargement of
canal by appropriations the most
worthy object of them all, excepting,
perhaps, the improvement Of the great
Father Of Waters, the Mississippi. With
an alienation Of Democratic and Re-
New York, which has been powerful
enough to control the nominations
and elections of Presidents OF the
United States. why has not some
one representative moved this In
Congress? The answer goes back
again, The railroads would have
opposed it, They do not oppose the i'm
provement of the Mississippi river
which is therefore made the means o.
cheap transportation, which means
cheap food for men Of the East, and
cheap food means higher wages ant
more comforts. Cheap transportation
means opening for the manufacturers
workmen and artizans Of the East q way
to supply the men and women Of thu
West, who, If they can obtain fair price
for their provisions, can buy those pro
auctions.
Ought there not to be laws passed b,
Congress, under its great constitutions
power, TO regulate interstate commerc
by which the food of the West and com
forts Of the East should he interchange,
at the cheapest rate? All special priv
leges and special burdens for the benefi
Of the few should be lifted from tn
lives and comforts of the many"
General Buffers speech evoked grea
applause. and the crowd wanted him t
continue.
. AS he retired, the chairman introduce
ex-senator Thomas Il. Grady as 18th
little Napoleon the Sixth, the silver
tongued orator Of Tammany hall, out Q
which he came to go in for Butler" bu
+. when Butler retired the meeting gradr
ally dispersed.
Butler and Grady also spoke at eac
: Of the side stands, waking the same er
|. thusiasm as on the stand. Butler aftel
wards held reception at the Fifth A,
F.. enue hotel. Mrs. Lille Devereaux Blak
a was among the ladies on the main pla
form.