The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-06
MR.. Villas SPEAKS.
He Opens the Campaign at His Home.
A Stirring Speech Delivered at
Milwaukee Yesterday.
An Address Filled with Beautiful
Words and Eloquence.
He Handles the Republican Party
Very Gracefully.
Fully Is, 900 People Pay Close Attention
to the Secretary of the Interior,
and He Doubtless Con-
verts Many Minds.

MILWAUKEE, Wis, Sept. 5.-Col. VIM.
Villas, secretary,oitthe. Interior, opened the
Democratic campaign in Wisconsin tonight
with a speech at West Side Turner hall.
The jefferson and Jackson clubs, repre-
senting the Democratic organizations OF
three divisions OF the city, escorted him to
the hall, where there was an audience of
1900 persons. Tho members OF the
Ladies' Democratic club occupied seats on
the stage rs did the leading Democrats
from various parts OF the State IN attend
ance upon the Democratic State conven-
ton.
MR.. Villas SPEECH.
After referring to the duty Of the voter
and challenging criticism Of President
Cleveland's administration, he said: l in
yite you TO contrast the conditions, the
principles and professions Of opposing par
ties in this contest, and the promise OF the
future afforded by them respectively.
What is the Republican party OF today,
and wherein is IL better or more worthy OF
confidence than it was in 1882 II was in
the beginning more popular uprising
than political party. ltfound origin and
qulckenng power in the high appeal OF
Justice and tenderness for human brethren
In oppression, and in the honest zeal Of
deep conviction its following was we'll
nigh fanatcal. II was crusade against n
great national sin, and it fell upon the time
appointed OF heaven for the publication OF
the republic by fire. So it rose TO rapid
power like the whirlwind, and like
the whrlwind ii swept its course
OF destruction, through wholesome
violence. Within decade the evil which
had engcndered its being was more than
destroyed; it was dcracinated as by dyna-
mite, and the land was strewn with the
mighty wreck, where, in fantastic chaos,
lay States, constitutions and people amid
the wide flung havoc OF war. That was
the local period OF the party's existence. 1t
stood upon, or possessed, no doctrines OF
government, no principles for the guidance
OF the institutions OF freedom in the repOse
Of peace. II was not national, but sec
tional: party for civil war, not for ma
tional fraternity. But the heart Of n vic.
torious people was in It's grasp and the rage
OF war was long unspent. The party re-
tnncd unsackcncd control OF all lcgisla-
ton and taxation with all their possible
ties OF fraudulent gain. IL was the
opportunity Of opportunities Tor the pOliti-
cal free boOicr, and never for one
moment did they suspend their efforts nor
ever spare the exhausted people. Upon
one pretcxt and another, from almost the
earliest gasp Of Republican dominion, cor
ruption began It's work and schemes ior
dishonest enrichment Of the few 10 prevail.
II was In 1862 that, pursuing the scnti-
mont that national defense required q
transcontincntal highway, the Pacific rail-
I.....I.st.g. l..aguU AMI Ia 1871 that
with unrclcntng ingenuity Il was "a
amended TO diabolitical perfection that the
Government really built the roads and
gave them, with enough land for an en-.
pire, 10 the successful conspirators. Then,
also the earliest act Tor laying taxes, and
aitcrwari with q greed that heightened
with each new new gluttony, every revenue
measure was prevented and distorted by
ingenious touches, imperceptible 10 any
but the pTacticcd eve by which n private
tribute was cXtoried from the people five
times greater than the tax that went into
the treasury. Then Il was that the mon
strous vampire hidden in the tariff, which
scductiycy fans with the wings Of protcc'
ton, the laboror, whose hearts blood II
sucks, which bcgottcn in sin 20 rob the
toiling producers in the fields and forest,
OF the wealth they create. And when wal
lad ceased a great people with its COLLEEN
unlocked and It's resources exposed
Law before the spoilcr, white In The
exhaustion OF struggle and the hea
OF rage, national guardianship wa
GONE. Then followed such n seizure o
The national wealth by various devices, =,
rapacious, 40 gigantic, ~ ingenious In th'
methods 10y which the grasp was laid, a
has never been exhibited In history
Nothing Is comparable 10 Il but India an,
her Warren Hastings Other nations hav
been dcsp0icd by conqucrors in the opel
force Of unlicensed conqucsis; this pcopl
was robbed by the deyilish manipulation
Of is own legislation and emergencies q
administration In tho bands Of It's SUI
posed friends.
The secretary then referred TO CORFU
ton In public contracts, touching upo
The partnership Of Grant 4 Ward, 30 Gu,
farmhouse scandals, undcryaluations o
imports, navy Jobs aud star route contracts
and declared that these and other thing
OF like character had driven the best me
In the Republican party out OF IL, inslan,
ING sumner, Chase, Greeley, Trumbull an
Becchcr. These, lac declared, had gon
into the Democratic party aud their place
had been taken by those whom the Deu
cratic party could best afford 10 lose. II
declared that the only policy Of the onl
branch Of the government remaining II
publican since lssl-the Scnaie-was cou
priscd In two words, obstruction and mi
representation, ~ TO everything Tor Il
general good, aud instanccd the tard
confirmation Of Chief Justice Fullo
the rejection Of the fisheries trca
and delay In passing the retaliation b
asked iof by President Cleveland. III
proposed legislation, hc declared, was c.
rulatcd 20 inaict the heaviest damage {
Canada with the least hurt 10 thiscountr
The interests Of northern New Englan
lac asserted, were not 10 be compared wi
those Of the great west; besides, the tto
bic was all on New England's behalf "
Republican party, he continued, has !
come the bourbon party. Turning 70 Z
Democratic party, the speaker said III
the challenge In the national Den
cratic platform Of scrutiny In
ihe results Of Democratic adminst
lion was q safe one and continued as {
lows "li you turn 10 the department
state YOU End that everywhere
national dignity has been maintain'
national rights carefully and firmly p
toc,ed, and the republic Ia peace aud "