Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-10-24
4 Sick Meeting.

Saturday evening, after much
drumming, modcrately-tilled hall
va, present to Sce Maj Armstrong,
and hrar what local talent " had to
say Oh the political situation. Tie
master o. ceremonies was Mr.. \. \.
Phillips, and well he performed the
embarrassing ard arduous duties
imposed upon him. Ga the stage
sat Maj. Armstrong, MI. ). W. Rob-
iuson, Gov. Squire, Auditor Reed,
Secretary Owings, Treasurer Ford,
Special Agent Cavanaugh and c. 3.
Hopkins, constituting Il powerful
battery OF Blaine ma@natism with
which it was hoped the Major could
be placed in chapport.
Tie first speaker WIS Mr. Robin
son. His speech was i,,.c"'led as a
SYMPHONY TO haruoA L The ele-
ments; IA mcllinuous n,w of chm
music by which he hoped that the
audience would be placed in mood
that would tolerate much that was
to follow. The gentleman acquitted
himself to the entire satisfaction of
hi, Republican hearers, who consti-
iu'ed II ne-tentli of the audience.
He lcenn 10y sinnin. h, .nnuhs to
Blaine, he Moses who !, to lead all
Republican "Outs" INFO tie Prom
ised Land. He endeavored to draw
some hope from the Ohio returns,
although he knew that such IL foun-
dation was by no means stable, and
what there was of it owed its origin
to figures of constantly decreasing
magnitude. He then attempted to
compare the relative positions of the
two great parties on the tariff ques.
ton. He held that while the Re-
publicans favored american Industry
(what choice expressions the inse-
nuity of the politician can frame to
deceive his fellow man y the Demo-
cratic party was persistent advocate
of free trade. We will not in suit tie
intelligence of the learned gentle
man by excusing such a misstate-
ment on the plea of ignorance, nor
do we like to attribute it to malevo.
lence; but We must choose one or
the other horn of the dilemma, and
as most men would rather be ciassed
with the knave than the fool, it is
charitable conceded that he intended
to deceive, presuming of course that
his audience were not informed on
this vital question. While there is a
marked difference between the par
ties on this issue, it was abase per-
version of facts to class the Demo.
Gratis with free traders. 1t was the
trick of the demagogue 10 do so,
and an insult to the audience he ad.
dressed to suppose them such block
heads as not to be able to draw q
proper distinction between the two
platforms.
After this speaker came Major
Armstrong, who in plain converse
tional manner, stated his position on
the main question Of the campaign
forfeiture. He declared his entire
sympathy with the Republican plat
form, which favored strict compli-
ance with the terms of the railroad
charter, confirmation of the title of
lands already earned, forfeiture of
the grant on the Columbia river, and
an extension of time for the compile
ton of tho Cascade branch to Janu.
airy, 1888, with the condition that
the lands be sold ut $500 per acre
by the Government and the proceeds
be paid to the company when the
road should he completed; and if
tho road be not in operation within
the specified time, the subsidy to be
absolutely and wholly forfeited.
Gov. Squire then stepped toward
and took up the tariff refrain where
it was left by Mr.. Robinson. He
tried very hard to apply its opera
tons TO the lumber and coal pro-
duct of our Territory and claimed
that if the Demo cratic policy should
prevail, British Columbia would be
a dangerous competitor to Puget
Sound in these products. A broad
smile spread over the countenances
of some Of our loggers when this
absurd observation fell from the lips
Of gentleman whose bandboxy
appearance indicates anything but
sympathy with the working classes.
The gentleman's oratorical powers
are good. His voice is basso profun.
do, and is equally appropriate for
the rendition of "Shamus O'Brien"
or for auitatinp that mythical son-
culinary neither garment commonly
called "the bloody shirt" He con-
cluded his remarks by asking the
audience to stand and cheer for what
he regarded as the future repository
of political perquisites-The magnet
ic Blaine; but it was shabby trick
for him to suggest three more cheers
for Armstrong while they were ,
standing, for it necessitated a very