Morning journal and courier., 1888-10-31
THE GREAT JOINT DEBATE.

The Hyperion Packed to Its UtmoSt-
 A Great Outpouring OfPeOpIe to Hear
 MT. Sperry and MT. Sargent Discuss
 the Tariff, Free Trade and Protection
 The stage Crowded With Promi-
 nent Citizens-A Blg Sea ofFaces-Mr.
 Sargent,s Opening Arguments Mr.
 Sperry's Speech-Mr. Sargent Closes
 NIT. Sperry Awakens Great Enthu-
 s1asm.
 A surging sea of humanity packed itself in the Hyperion Theater last evening more close ly than sardines are usually slowed in box. Five thousand hale and hearty voters were there congregated to listen to the joint tariff debate by the prominent opponents of free trade and protection-Messrs. J. B. Sargent and N. D. Sperry. Fully as many more fingered outside longing for an entrance.
 Before 7:30 o'clock there was a corner in chairs and breathing space was at premium, while the doorwsys were literally blocked with people, many of whom had paid $3 or more for the possession of tiny pasteboard of admittanoe. Even then many failed to enter. The mammoth building was so throng- ed long before the debate commenced that 1t was not safe to admit one more man.
 Messrs. Sperry and Sargent accompanied by Judge R. A. Pickett and Morris F. Tyler came in promptly at o'clock, and the dem- onstratien that greeted them would gladden. the heart of any speaker. The cheering was prolonged and enthusiastic in the extreme.
 There were six hundred chairs on the stage, half of them provided by one party and half by the other, and these were all oe- cupied. From the stage sea of faces was everywhere presented-down stairs, upstairs and in the upper gallery.
 The verdict of Republicans as they came away from the meeting, in which many Dem oorats coincided, was unanimous that Mir. Sperry had entirely the best of the debate. On all sides could be heard such colloquial expressions as these: "Wasn't MT. Sperry a dandy" "Didn't he sail into Sargent in great shape s Sargent was nowhere along side of SpeTy," ''It was big thing for the Republican side," etc. Republicans were boiling with enthusiasm over Mr. Sper- rvs success, for success 1t was. Mr. Sar- gent was no match for MT. Sperry in enter ta1ntng and interesting the audience, and the former gentleman displayed but little hOArseness, his voice being clear but low. MT. Sperry was in his best vein, happy in his hits, pungent in his thrusts, beaming and happy in countenance and perfectly at ease, while his remarks were exceedingly well put and effective. The Republican por- ton of the audience at least were full of enthusiasm, applause being frequent. 4r.Sargent's remarks were mostly dry statements. unadorned by rhetoric or sallies of wit and humor or by jolly remark or happy Illustration. His presenta- tion of his case was devoid of spice. MT. Sper- " is trained platform speaker and knew his business Mir. Sargent got in one or two happy thrusts, especially when he al- luded to "raw material, i" emphasizing ttraw" with side glance at Mir. Sperry.
 Judge Pickett bespoke the respectful at- tention of all and no unruly or uncourteous demonstrations from either side Next week all could express them at the ballot box. Similar remarks were then made by Morris F. Tyler.
 The officers of the meeting were as fol- lows: