The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-18
wATTERsoN TALKS.
He Arraigns the Tactics of the Repub-
licans.

nConc.
LEXINGTON, KY, May l7.-Mr. Henry
watterson in his speech yesterday at the
Democratic convention said;
/ wish that we could look upon the
national campaign which we are about to
enter with the earnest but tranquil sensi-
bilitcs of men who feel that no matter
how 1t ends, the grace of God and the
glory OF his work shall he fulfilled. 1t is,
unhappily, otherwise. In certain con-
tingency we can expect nothing but dis.
aster, the undoing of all the good which
twenty years Of peace have brought to a
land once divided against itself and
drenched in iraternal blood and in no
contingency can we escape the disgrace of
rancorous party battle 10 be fought on
sectional lines, tearing away the bandages
applied by time TO wounds that were well
nigh healed, exposing all that is basest
in our natures and ali that is weakest in
our sustenance more 10 the scorn and
derision of mankind. had hoped for
better things. had hoped that this party
OF war, even II they lacked the virtue,
had borrowed yet little wisdom from the
school OF experience 10 which the people
sent them four years ago, and that chas-
tened by Adversely and admonished 10y
the defeat Of their prophecies, they
had acquired the capacity TO address them
selves 10 the needs OF the times and 10 deal
with the wants Of the country. ] was in
duced 10 hope this, the moro trustfully,
because they have been for years 80 loud
and 40 constant in the declaration that
what they really sought was square issue
upon the tariff. did not believe, for my
part, that they would find this square H.
sue to he what they claimed for II, and 40,
often at the cost OF much uneaslness and
occasionally OF some reproach from my
party associates, l did my best 10 give
them their desires. Well, at last they
have il, they have II square and they hav,
il fair, they have II plain in the message o
the President and they have IL dressed In
the measure OF the ways and means com
mittee, and now what do we scc2 First
let me tell YOU what We do not see. W,
do not see any picnic parties Of gay ant
sleek protectionists dancing 10 the music
OF the fishers hornpipc, and singing Will
every bumper "llere, 10 Good Old Bounty
Drink Il Down" We do not see any JOY
iul professions Of jolly Republicans split
ting their sides with laughter rs they
march under banners on which are en-
blazoned such mirih provoking inscrip
tions IA "rhe War Taxcs are Nationa
Blessing and Death. 10 the Siar-eye'
Goddess OF Reform"
But what do we scc9 We see the robbie
tariff driven once agnm behind the mu
heaps of obstruction. thrown up and 2
often successfully thrown up--io keep OF
the waters u reform. We see tho robb,
baron, sullen and disnhyed, Withdrawn
his castle, from whose turrcis only DANCE
signals appear, making but an indilercn
light and no warmth for the thousands q
striking and starving work people whom h
Is braycly protecting against the paupe
labor OF Europe by patriotic and valian
detachment OF Pinkorton detectives; and
finally, what do We scc7 Last Of all, an
worst OF all. that ends this dreadful spccta
Gle OF hypocrisy and cant, Of corruption
and rapacity, we see the flag OF the rcpul
lie hauled down from It's place above
great political party and in lis stead run u
the black flag Of eternal war against th
south. TO such base uses has come th
confident invitation Of the Rcpublica
leaders 10 n slatcsnanlike discussion
economic problems.