The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-10-15
RANDALL At BRISTOL

BRIsroL, TENN, Oct. ., 1884.
Editorial CorrcsPondence.l
The Democratic mass meeting at
this place to-day, though not half
rs well advertised as it should have
been, was a demonstration that will
long be remembered by the citizens
of the place, and those at distance
who were fortunate enough to be
present. Hon. Walter r. Staples,
Hon. Jno. Il. Harris and Hon. Sam
mel J. Randall were the speakers.
HAL 70 been generally known that
.ue .a~, named gentleman would
certainty Doe present TO speak on the
occasion, the audience from a dis
lance would have been immeasura-
bly, swellcd. As it was, the num-
her present in the large warehouse
was estimated at fully 1000 and a
more intelligent and orderly crowd
never assembled together in the
town.
The speeches of Messrs. Staples
and Harris excited unbOunded en-
thusiasm and elected round after
round of applause. ItRay be brief
~ said that they were pointed, eff
fective and will not fail in doing
good.
Mr.. Randall was introduced to
the large audience in beautiful lan~
guage by Judge Rhea, of Bristol,
who referred in eloquent words to
the manly and patriotic devotion
which that gentleman had evidenced
to the people of the South through
out his long career of public life,
and especially in the dark days OF
reconstruction in Congress, when
for forty eight hours he did not
leave his seat as speaker of the
House IN order to thwart the Radi-
Gals in their effort to pass the force
bill and repeal the habeas corpus,
perorating with the prediction that
at the next National Convention of
the Democratic party Sam J. Ran
dali would be the choice of his par-
" in Virginia and Tennessee as
their standard bearer for the highs
est gift at their disposal. The APP
pearance Of Mr.. Randall, the great
Pennsylvania statesman, was the
occasion of immense applause. The
audience arose from their seats en-
masse and amid waving of hats by
the men and handkerchiefs by the
ladies, the welkin rang with APP
plause and hearty greetings. Mr..
Randall made a clear, mastery,
statesmanlike address. He disclaim-
cd any purpose to appeal either to
the prejudices or to the partisan
judgments of his hearers, and be
didn do it. He applied the test of
practicabihty to every issue discuss
ed. aud made "a profound and last
ing impression upon his audience.
Beginning with the Constitution
aud the differences of construction
lists. he travcrsed the entire field OF
controversy. He charged unparal
leIed corruption in the administers
ton of the Federal Government by
the Republican party; condemned
the overburden of taxation, for
which there is no warrant in the
Constitution he demanded the re-
peal OF the surplus taxation and the
application of that now remaining
to the liquidation of the public debt.
He msrciless;y ridiculed Blaine's
to distribute the surplus,
charac;erizing it MS a smart Yankee
trick. He strongly advocated the
absolute repeal of the internal rev~
snue and tho collection of taxes from
imports, and he favored levying
lakes on imports, so as to afford in
protection to American la
oOr-protection per Sc, and not pro-
.ection for the mere sake of protee-
ion. tie discussed the robbery Of
he public domains, the frauds in
he navy, and many other points,
with mastery comPari-
on Of the candidates public records.