Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-09-13
Official Paper Of County and City.
A ROUSING RALLY.


gathered to listen to the eloquence OF
..Our BurtonT and the other dlstln-
guisbed gentlemen who had been IN
yited to address the meeting.
There was observable throughout the
evening an intense earnestness ana
hearty enthusiasm which made the
audience a peculiarly receptive one.
The generous applause which often
broke out proved that the speakers
efforts were heartily appreciated.
The meeting opened with music by
the Arion quartette.
ID. r. Gorden, president of the Abb
lene Harrison and Morton club, then
briefly introduced Hon. j. r. Burton
who first quoted the famous lS4O stanza
commencing Have you heard from
Maine, Maine, Maine, how she went
hell-bent," ETC., and gave happy paro-
Gy which aptly describes the result OF
the coming Maine election. lie then
read in his talented style short, we'll
known poem, 1.-The Empty Sleeve"
written by David Barker, brother OF
our distinguished townsman, Col. Z.
II. Barker. He formally opened his
address with an account of things in.
Maine. He anticipated a glorious re-
suit at the State election and told sew
eraI interesting anecdotes OF his trip TO
that commonwealth.
The speaker then referred to the
promised visit of Mr.. Blaine to Abb
lene. Mr.. Burton said that at
his first interview with Mr.. Blaine and
with Chairman Manley the coming OF
the great Statesman was conditional
upon a transcontinental trip. Hence,
Kansas being SO strongly Republican
might have to miss him. Afterward
MIR. Blaine talked more encouragingly
but said he wanted votes and perhaps
he would think it best to remain in the
doubtful States.
Turning to other matters Mr.. Burton
referred in glowing terms to his feel
ings Of thankfulness for the honor
which the 6Sth district conferred upon
him last week.
Entering upon discussion of politi-
cal matters, the speaker put the issue
before the audience in the words of one
Of the oracles of the dominant wing of
The Democratic party, Henry Waiter
son, free trade on one side and pro-
lection on the other" The English
press, he said,. construed the Presi-
dents message as free trade docu-
nent. Each party claims to be III
favor of labor and it is grand lesson
for the Nation. Work is an absolute
necessity to happiness and the dignity
of.labor is the dignity of the Nation. For
forty years before the war the Demo
cratic party dictated the policy of the
country. They believed practically in
free trade. This resulted from the
fact that the S0utherners did not want
protection. No manufacturing indus
Try grew to amount to anything. Under
protection, manufactures have spread
over the continent. 1t is no wonder
that England wishes us to adopt free
trade. Cleveland has done the best he
could but even if great he is less than
his party. His party is the same as
before the, war. To prove that the
Democratic party aims to hold labor in
chains Mr.. Burton read from Waiter
sons Forum article admitting that
there is no fairness in the treatment of
the laboreTS of the South.
The speaker declared that he did not
believe in the usurious rates of interest
charged in Kansas, and that if elected
TO the Legislature he would work for
the reduction of the rate of interest in
this State (cheersl.
The free whisky cry was discussed.
Democratic Office holders, saloons and
MASTERS are being taxed to support st.
John. The only four temperance
States were made so by Republican leg
islation. The saloons(?) of Maine
were spoken of, and the circuitous
routes necessary to reach them were
humOrously described. He had found
Prohibition there success. Regard
ing the ''trust" cry of the party he re-
ferred to Henry B. Payne's and Secre-
tary Whitney S records. Trusts should
be controlled by State law. He would,
if elected, try to place upon the Kansas
statute books strict law against
them. Z
After a brilliant peroration he
toueMngiy thanked the people of abb
Iene and this county for their kindness
in hOnoring him and closed.
- Senator II. p. Hardness, of CLAY
Center was next introduced and dis
claimed any idea of making a speech.
He, however, devoted about twenty |
minutes to discussion of the prohibit
ton question as opplied to Kansas.
Tie cited the work of the Republican |
leA -isIature of thr State and its readi-
ness 70 enact and amend any law that
the people can ask for. His case was
a clear, Io.rical presentation of the