Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-30
RICHMOND R0USING.
INCREASED INTEREST AVID ACTIVITY
IN POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
Democratic Meetings Last tEight-Business-
Men Take Hsnd-Fortheoming
Rallies

Ilcirne, one Of the Democratic electors at
large and editor OF the State, as the first
speaker.
Colonel Beirne began his speech by saying
that In the past few months he mad had the
opportunity Of mingling with the Democrats
of all sections OF Virginia. lie bad been all
over the state and found the spirit OF the
people growing In favor OF Democracy. They
are determined not 10 let the party oi Ma
hone and John Wise rule the old State oil
Virginia.
CLEVELAND.
The speaker briefly sketched the history Of
the Democratic party from the war down 70
the election OF Grover Cleveland In 1884. lie
spoke OF the honest administration OF Cleve-
land, and said It has given general saiisfae-
tion and the people have rcnOminatcd him
for the high Office be now holds and have put
up the noble Allen G.. Thurman as his mate
The country, the speaker said. is determined
TO have the Government rernaln in incorrupt-
bic hands and will elect Cleveland and Thur
man.
GEORGE WISE.
Colonel Beirne then took up the record oi
the Hon. George d. Wise, who, he SAID, Is
growing In popularity in Congress. His in
he is getting larger and larger approprin-
tons for his district every year. lls oppo-
neni, said the speaker, Is ex-Judge WaddHL
oi HenricO. and be wanted 70 know what
Waddll nas done 10 recommend himself TO
the suffrage Of the people. He has repre-
seuted HenricO in the Legislature. aud he
hasn't done ANYTHING wonderful while there.
The House Of Representatives j. going to be
Democratic. and what will Waddill be able
10 DO for his district? George Wise Is now
upon some OF the most important committees
in the House, and is able 20 represent bis
district 10 the credit Of his state and 10 The
satisfaction and advantage Of his people.
Waadll would be A man without influence II
he should be elected.
NEEDS OF TIE COUNTRY.
Colonel Beirne, after eulogizing Bayard,
Thuruan, Hendricks, and other great
northern and western Democrats for their
stand i'm behalf oi the South in the days "
reconstruction and contrasting them TO
sherman and other Republicans, passed on
10 discuss the need of the country Tor great
navy. We do not want 10 90 TO war, said
the speaker and the best way to prevent
such a calamity. is 10 have a navy that VIII
be credit 10 the United States aud keep
foreign nations from thinking Of invading
our land. The Republicans were IN power,
and instead Of building mp great navy,
squanderCd the money which was ln their
custody. But since the Democrats have bad
control weare building upa very respectable
navy.
REPUBLICAN, SINS.
The speaker then arraigned the Rcpuhli.
cans for taking the public lands and giving
them 10 private corporations. Under Demo
"a Of fhf. l4n1
been redeemed, and is now held for actual
settlers.
When the Republicans were in power the
ra.cality oi Dorsey and Brady, the st1r-rorte
thieves. cost the country nearly 5i,OOO.OlO.
Under the administration of William f..
Villas, the young Democratic Postmaster
General. the country has been saved sZ,OOO,-
900 in this department.
TIE LAB0RER.
Referring 10 the question Of labor the
speaker said ne a. Democrat would De glai
TO welcome al honest immigrants from Eng
land, ireland. France. Germany, and any
country where men would hc willing % ac-
cept al the dignitics and responsibilities Of
American citizenship. But ho wanted
10 draw the line somewhere, and be
would draw l. upon the Chinese. Tie
wanted b. know the records of Nj.
Harrison and Of Mr.. Cleveland upon this
question. The former when a member
OF the United States senate and before
ne ever dreamed Of being q candidate for
President voted fourteen times 10 admit the
Chinese into this country. But now llarrl-
son says ne is opposed to Chinese immlCIa-
uou, but Colonel Belrne declared that he
would sooner believe Harrison n senator
than a. a presidential candidate. Mir. t,cve-
land is opposed to Chinese immigration and
has never been upon record rs in favor of
ANYTHING else.
The sneaker then referred 10 the contract
labor bill. and SAID the Democratic House o.
Representatives originated and passed the
measure which bas now become a Law abol-
ishing the contract-hbor system. Mr. Nor
ton. the man who will be President IN the
event Of Republican success and IN case Nlr.
Harrison should be gathered to hIs fathers or
yrandiathers before his term expires, had re-
Deatedly violated The law and brought con-
tract-abOr here 10 work upon his lands near
New YOrk city. MIR. Harrison had said that
q dollar a day Is enough for any laoorer, but
now this gentleman denies that be- ever made
such a statement; bat The proof is too con-
elusive for him TO escape from the position
into which be bias placed himself.
TARIFF.
Colonel Beirne then took up the tariff. lie
said when be- first began b. advocate tariff
reform here some advised him 10 20 slow.
lie believed then that he was right, and he IA
now glad to see the seed ~ truth soWn then
sprincing up and l7urshng.
Colonel Bcirne by facts and figures showed
that the Republican assertion that high tariff
makes high WAGES Is false. "hey come 10
YOU and talk about the wages being
higher here than in low-tarlI Eng
land. They do not compare 10 yon
vou the wages paid lahorers in France and
Germany with those Of England, whose cu>-
tom, more nearly correspond than England
and America. The waves in lOW-tU .u Eng
la0d are higher than those In hish-tarif
France and Germany. While the American
is paid more wages than the EnelishmaI the
former does more work IN n The latter. The
tariff does not regulate the price of labor,
for II i did 30 the wages would be uniform
as the tariff is uniform. ~ is the law OF sup
ply and demand that regulates the price OF
labor.
The speaker discussed the wages OF labor
under both the low and the hIgh tariff, and
proved 10 bis hearers that under The former
the country was more prosperous than under
the latter. While the Democrats are trying
I
the Republicans are calling them Free
Traders" The Mills bin only reduces the
tarin 80 per cent. The policy Ot the Demo-
crais Is 10 collect only enough tax for the
support Of the Government.
The speaker quoted several leading Re-
publlcans as recommending 4 reduction ot
The tariA, and said their plriy was afraid 70
take a stand for tariff reform. They are in
favor OF protecting the many fer the benefit
oi few.
The Colonel closed By saying that II be
believed protective tariff made high wages
ne would De one Of the first 10 advocate It.
Tie had tried to prove that the tari1 had no.
thing % do with wages. What bad seemed
at first 10 be q temporary taxation had
now become a permanent thing with the
Republicans. lie reminded the people
that they were fighting the very
same old party that they had been
combating fo- years. We are not ouly
lighting for this year but for next year. The
old state must be ruled by the white man.
He urged upon the people TO organize and
work for the success Of the party. Colonel
Beirre spoke about two hours. and his re.
marks were frequently appauded.