Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-09-13
THE CAMPAIGN OPENED.

ernor Martin Addresses the huititude-
Other Distinguished Speakers-A Mag
nifcent Display.
LAWRENCE, Kan, Sept THE Republic
ans of Kansas have reason to be proud OF
their first rally of the campaign, which
took place in this city yesterday. Long
before the hour of meeting the great taber-
nacle at Bismarck Grove was filed, while
all around were hundreds who stood
throughout the entire meeting.
A telegram was received from Hon. l..
q. Humphrey conveying information OF
his illness, and his consequent inability to
attend. Otherwise the programme was
carried out as published. Judge Usher
acted as chairman of the day meet
ings. In opening the meeting, he
said: "We have met here to-day to
do honor to the soldier and the soldiers
friend; and while we give no thought to the
man who never placed flower on the dead
heroes graves, nor who ever even plucked
a flower to place there; who never visited
the cemeteries of our brave dead. but who
went fishing on a day when the Nation
mourned, we must give some attention to
the misdeeds of the party whose policy he
dictates" The Judge then briefly reviewed
the acts Of the present Administration, and
when he concluded Governor Martin was
introduced and delivered the address of
welcome to the Republicans of the State. He
said that when he read the announcement
that he was to deliver the address OF
welcome it struck him as being incongru-
Gus as he did not believe the time had ever
been when it was necessary to welcome
the Republican party TO the historic city
a city and county that had never faltered
in its devotion to the party. He said this
is Republican year and the people would
elect Republican President. He referred
to the false pretenses of the Democratic
party that had secured control by accident
and false pretenses, and instead OF de-
creasing had increased the offices. The
Democrats demanded to look at the books,
and having secured that privilege found
everything straight-every dollar in the
treasury. They promised a reduction of
the surplus, but instead had increased it.
The Republican Administrations for TWEEN
ty-four years conducted the business of
the country with absolute integrity
The Democrats, he continued, now
propose TO reduce the surplus by reducing
the tariff and have passed the Mills bill
with that end in view. In his Judgment,
and he believed when the facts are pre-
scented all intelligent people will concur,
that the way to reduce the surplus is not
through reduction of the tariff. A pro-
hibitive tariff would shut off the surplus
Immediately. A reduction of the tariff
would simply increase the receipts of the
Government by reason of increased i'm
pertation of foreign goods. He asserted
the belief that the Democratic party is to-
day as it was in 1850, aud as it was for
wears before the war, a free trade party.
The Democratic party is a constitutional
coward. 1t was unfortunate in some re-
spects that the Oregon election was
held when the Democratic convention
was in session in st. Louis, for it
furnished a warning in time to save
them from a complete Endorsement
of free trade, and he read an extract from
| the Confederate constitution in proof of
his assertion. The Southern people, he
| continued. were then and are now a free
trade people. It's representatives in both
houses of the Confederate Congress adopted
| the clause read and entered into great
war to perpetrate human slavery and to
establish free trade, the Siamese twins of
| the rebellion. General Taylor, of the Con-
federate army, in a recent article, declares
that the North was victorious because by
reason of the protective tariff they had
built up factories and were thus able to
arm, equip and clothe their soldiers.
And now these people are again at
tempting to do in Congress what
they failed TO do in the feld-destroy the
manufacturing industries of this country
by establishing free trade. In closing, the
Governor said: eve have for a candi-
date patriot soldier. The Democrats
| have for their candidate Northern cop
| perhead When the war came on Grover
| Cleveland was twenty four years of age.
| He had neither wife nor child to keep him
| at home. He was in sound health. He
was able TO carry a musket. But he did
not go to fight the battles of his country
He never spoke word in her behalf. Nc
| living man can point out a single act or q
single word of Grover Cleveland's that
would indicate that he loved his country
| On the other hand Benjamin Harrison was
| q Young married man. He had a wife and
| two children. He had just been elected tc
n rernunerative office. When his country
called he left his family, resigned his office
and volunteered to fight for the honor and
glory of his country. He served three
| years, valiantly. nobly. But this man in
| Buffalo, by some mysterious dispensatio1
of Divine Providence, was inflicted upon
this country"
Hon. D. r. Anthony and James F. Legate
also spoke.
During the afternoon special trains
| from all directions added thousands tC
the gathering hosts and at night the
| streets, balconies and windows were
thronged with people to witness the great
street parade. At an early hour the Kan
sas City Flambeau club, forty torches
Manhattan Club, sixty torches and Topeka
club, sixty torches and bands were ban
Quoted at the rink by the ladies. WheI
the line was formed the Cyclones, sixty
torches, Fred Douglass, sixty torches anC
the Union League thirty torches, all o
this city joined the visitors. Th'
fireworks display covered four blocks anC
added great splendor to the occasion. L
was nine O'Clock when the masses reached
the park. where two stands were erected
and speaking began. Ex-Governor Gsorg,
| T. Anthony, General Caldwell and Hon
Joseph ADV addressed the multitude, L
was estimated that fully 5000 people were
gather around each stand, while the
throngs witnessing the display on the
streets could not have been less than 1S,OO'
to 10000.
This first Republican rally was the mos
successful in interest and numbers OF any
political meeting ever held In Kansas by
any party.
|
| Afghan Troubles.
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