The Russellville Democrat., 1888-07-12
MIR. WHARTON.
The Speech Proven, NOtwith-
 standing His Denial.

Since the publication in the DEM ocRAT of the report of the speech of J. T. Wharton at the colored Bap. tlst church on the night of June l4th, two reports have been lndustriously circulated throughout the county.
 l. That the speech was false and we knew it.
 2. That Mir. Wharton could not obtain space in which to deny our report and adduce proof in support of his position.
 To disprove each of these reports we address ourselves and believe that before we are through we shal! have demonstrated to the satisfac' tion of every far minded man, be he republican, democrat or what not, that all we have claimed in regard this escapade of Mir. Wharton is wholly true and clearly proven.
 Before we decided to publish the report of the speech furnished us,we first satisfied ourselves as to the amount and character of testimony within reach to substantiate and support it. We became convinced
 l. That the meeting was private one.
 ?. That the door was closed, ii the windows were not.
 3. That no general invitation to the public had been extended, but that select few were invited.
 4. That the speaking began at 8 late hour say 9:30 o'clock, so late in deed, that no one would believe for a moment that an open portal await ed the approach of whosoever might come.
 Believing thus we gave space to the report and subsequent develop ments have proven the wisdom o doing so.
 Mir. Wharton is a candidate for { high and responsible office. Ills goings in and out among the people concern the public. He is the rep resentative of a political party. A party with a national and state plat form. He is expected to stand upor that platform and declare it's princi ples to the world. But what shall bt said of the man who goes back on hi party platform and hls speech. This is the present attitude of Mr. Whar ton. Among other things, the nation al union labor platform favors "the limitation of land ownership;" thai ''the means of communication ant transportation shall be own ed by the people," that 'the circula tlng medium shall be issued to thu people and loaned to citizens upoI land security at low rate Of inter est" Mir, Wharton advocated thl in his celebrated speech and nov has the unparalleled efronter. to deny it. Yet he canno evade the consequences of tha nights work. His auditors, both in side and without the building, re member too we'll what he said. H may deny it and get few partlzan to deny it for him, but there are oth CTS. and those, too, whose partizan ship does not run to the side tha opposes Mir. Wharton, whose regard for truth ana their own reputation in this community, who testify ths they heard the speech in question and that our report of it does not d Mir Wharton injustice and that 1t Il in substance true and correct.
 The first affidavit we present | one from Mir. N. K. Connelley, son o Judge Connelley, ofClarksvllle, wh' was in the office when Mir. Wharton asked for space to deny ou re port of his speech. l will be seen that he never was re fused space for denial and proof and his ''comments" were solicited for examination before granting space, the same as any other contrl button to the paper. This affidavi will show how utterly groundless tn report that has seen put in circula tion, the public can guess by whom and it will also show that his docu ments would have been publishes sooner if they had been offered, an' they could have been for the signsr of his affidavit have been here all tn time Perhaps there are some who's affidavits he expected to get an they refused to go on record in tn way!