The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-29
The Tomlinson Hall Meeting.

At the hall another ovation greeted General
Harrison. The galleries had been open since z
o'clock, and were filed by the time the process
ion reached the doorsL AS the clubs marched
on the main floor, followed by later corners, it
became apparent that the big room would not
begin TO seat the audience. and q struggle for
heard began. Men climbed to the stage over
the place below where the report
ers sat facing the audience with
their legs hanging over the edge OF the
stage. Even in the window seals above the Sec
ood gallery men, women and children were
perched, and in the aislss and corridors below
the crowd was packed until standing room Was
no longer available. The audience put in the
time singing '.Marchine through Georgia" and
asserting the all-riRhtness OF a variety of Repub-
lican individuals and organizations, until Gen.
eral Harrison appeared. Then there was an
outburst which astonished even regular attend
ants upon the vociferous political meetings OF
this locality. Cheering began the moment Gen.
eral Harrisons countenauee was recognized,
aud for thirteen minutes thereafter it would
hsyo been impossible for q man
With a ealliope to play a. tune
in the hall so that it would bs
distinguishable. Most Of this cheering was done
By people who stood upon the seats and waved
flags, banners, lsnterns, umbrellas, capes.
torches, hats. handkerchiefs and anything else
that was available, so that the Demonstration
Appealed 20 the eve as well as the ear. STAND
ing on the reporters tables and looking forward
or backward the audience looked like q mass OF
whirling color, In which white and
green lanterns and red, white
and blue umbrellas predominated, every
drum In the house was being beaten, every
bugle, horn and whistle was being blown, and
for nearly a quarter Of an hour General Hsrri-
son stood looking out smilingly on this spectacle
and listening TO this thunderous greeting.
When it died away he began speaking, but not
until he had uttered savaral sentanreS WAS nv
thing like good order obtained. General Harri-
son said:
My friends Of the Railroad Republican Clubs
Before your committee waited upon me to re-
quest my presence here o-night l had resolute-
another address in this campaign. But
when they presented their suggestion
that / should meet my railroad friends
/ said to them the kindness which has been
shown to me from an early period in this cam
paign by the railroad men OF Indiana has been
80 conspicuous and SO cordial that l could not
deny any request that is presented In their
name. lCheers1 And 80 I am here tonight,
not TO speak upon any political topic but only to
express, II / can find words to express, the deep
and earnest thaukfulness / feel towards you who
have shown so much kindness and confidence in
Inc. Cheers Very early In this campaign
there were those who sought TO make a re-ch
between you aud me. A voice: 'They
didn't do it."l You did not wait for my answer.
but you made answer yourselves. tCheersl
And time and again you have Witnessed your
faith that my disposition toward you and to-
ward the men who toll for their living was one
OF friendliness. aud the principles which / rep
resented and have always advocated were those
that promoted the true interests of the working
meu OF America. Prolonged applause / have
always believed and held that the prosperity of
our country, that the supremacy of it's institu-
tons aud its social order ell depended upon our
pursuing such a policy in our legislation that
we should have in America a class Of working
men earning adequate wages that would bring
comfort into their homes, and maintain hope in
their hearts. [Grest cheering A despairing
man, a man out OF whose horizon the
star OF hope has gone, is not q safe
citizen in q Republic. Applause. Therefore
the highest possible scale Of wages to our worS.
ing people. lGreat applause know the stout
hearts, L know the intelligence. 1 know the en-
terpriee of those men who man our railway
trains and push them at lightuing speed through
darkness and storm. L know the skill and faith
fulness OF those who sit Of the telegraph instru-
ment, holding in their watchfulness the safety
of those who journey. / know the fidelity OF
the men who conduct this business, which has
grown to be a system as fine and perfect as the
finest product OF mechanical art. Applause.
And so / value tonight this evidence of your
cordial respect, and let me say THAT whatever
may happen TO me In the future, whether l shall
remain a citizen of indianapolis to ~bear with
You the duties and responsibilities Of private
citizenship, or shall be honored with office, l
shall never forget this great demonstration of
your friendliness. IGreat and prolonged cheers.
Following the Generals address, which was
cheered heartily throughout. the Harrison and
Morton Club sang 'The Year Of Jubilee" and
Hon. Mathew O'Dohersy. OF Louisville. KY.
was introduced by Chairman Finch. Mr..
ODoherty began his speech with an acknowl-
edgement of the hearty greeting he recsived,
which he said was very refreshing after q long
sojourning among Kentucky Democrats. After
some further preparatory remark. he proceeded
to make an areume of considerable length
against the claims of advocates Of British free
trade doctrines as opposed to the American sys-
tenn of protection. In closing, be spoke as fol-
lows:
az am mindful OF the tact that a large num-
Der of those whom / have the honor TO address
tonight. like myself, first saw the sunlight In
that island of sorrow whose sad history, better
than anything ] have said tells of the blessings
that will certainly come to America when she.
too, becomes the dupe or victim of British free
trade. Irish-Amsrican citizens have not and
cannot have in the pending or any future con-
test that may arise in American politics, an in
terest separate or distinct from that OK the great
masses of Americans generally. Americas in
terest is their interest, for this is their home
and must be that Of their descendants
as well. While this is so, it is as useless to
deny as needless TO conceal the fact. that as
the burned child breads the fire more than
the child who has not been burned. SO Irish
American citizens are more aDprehensive than
others may be of what British statecraft and
British cunning may accomplish when Britain
plays for a great prize. such az the American
markets would be TO her.
IF W. knew nothing OF Irish history, the
history OF America would sufficiently warn us
against the designs OF British free-traders.
When unwise aud unpatriotic men were plan
ming the overthrow of the Union of the States,
when the armed hand of rebellion was raised TO
strike down the starry banner. English free
traders saw. OF thought they saw, their opDor-
tunity. The headquarters OF the Confedsrscy
was only NORMALLY at the real head
quarters was in London. where the confederate
bonds were discounted. and where they are still
held, and where they will remain, let rs
bope, for some time 10 come. But
why did ENGLAND back the misguided
men of the South in their mad effort TO over
turn the government of Washington and Jefer-
sonl Was it that she loved the men OF the
South any better than she did those of the
North Oh, no. Read the Confederate States
Constitution. Article 8, and you will soon see
why England backed the South. II was because
the South had guaranteed TO maintain British
free trade. No protective tariffs We're ever to be
imposed. The agreement vas not to hang on
any mere statute, which might be changed by a
majority vote in Congress. but was incor-
porated in the Constitution itself. and thus
placed securely beyond the reach of accident
My friends, the people Of the South ought to
thank God that they failed TO maintain
that constitution. and that they were saved
from the ruin it would have brought upon them,
by Abraham Lincoln and the Republican party.
Under that clause IN their Constitution the Con-