Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-10-25
THE CAMPAIGN IN INDIANA.

Judge Thurman Talks to an Immense
Throng ut Fort Wnyne-Plafn Words
About United States Bonds and the Sur
plus.
Fort WAYNE. Ind, Oct. 1S.-Thousands
OF persons visited this city yesterday to
attend the Democratic barbecue and to
listen to Judge Thurman, who arrived the
previous night and had refreshing sleep.
The procession took place at noon, pro-
ceeding to Hamilton fields, where the
Judge made a short address. In the even
ing torchlight procession was held, tho
streets being lined with additional multi
tudes brought in by the afternoon trains.
A mass meeting was held at the Rink, an
overflow meeting being held at the Opera
House, the latter being addressed by SEN
ator Voorhees, and Governor Gray. At
the Rink Judge Thurman commenced as
follows:
Friends ladies and gentlemen: am here TO
night to speak to you in the plainest language
l can possibly use. I shall not scatter any
flowers OF rhetoric before you. You will not
find in what I have to say any spread eagles
whatever flying either high or low. am here,
Cod helping me to do so, to speak the plain
common truth to the best OF my knowledge and
bei1ef. I am here to give you such reasons as
seem right in my sight why you should re-elect
Grover Cleveland President of the United
States. lApplause.1 And for the first of these
reasons 1 have to say that for the three years
and a half he has administered the Government
OF this country with such ability, such courage
such patriotism that he is entitled to the good
will and confidence of the American people
lApplause.] In the second place. he stands up
on a platform that commends itself to the con-
sideration and approval OF every wise and
thinking man.. [Applause1
You have heard how only about month ago
there were S133 600 900 of money in the treasury
OF the United States that had been drawn from
the pockets OF the people. not one single dollar
OF which was needed for the legitimate wants of
Inc Government. That surplus has been re-
duced somewhat since then by the purchase OF
bonds and otherwise, yet it now amounts to
S1O,OcOOcO or S8 1000 90, lying there idle taken
out OF the channels of commerce, out OF the
wants, necessities and uses of the people
There is not q man o t reflection but knows that
that Is grievOuS wrong. There is not a man
here but knows that while it is his duty to con-
tribute out OF his means such sum as NAV be
necessary on his part to maintain and carry
on the Government, when the Govern
ment takes from him more money than
1t has any necessity for it does him wrong
that he ought never to forgive. Applause
That wrong was going on, it was increasing
until, II 1t had not been stopped-and it would
| not have been if that brave man Cleveland had
not compelled Congress to consider it-no one
can foreSee what would have been the condi-
ton OF this country in short time, for, my
friends that money which the people need in
| their business, with VIII CHI your factories must
be worked and your crops cultivated and gath
cred and taken to market is simply buried in
the vaults of the treasury. 1t is realization
OF the Scr1ptural account OF the foolish man
who buried his talent in the earth instead of
making it useful. [Applause.] Cleveland
stands on a platform that condemns such a pol
icy as that
The Democratic platform says don't take
from the people more money than the Govern
ment needs. Now what is the remedy? There
are several ways in which this surplus can be
reduced General Harrison thinks it can best
De reduced II understand his position-and if
msrepresent him shall be ready to apollo
gize, no man more so-by buying the outstand-
Ing bonds of the Government, which are at q
premium OF % 90 per cent. Think of it a
moment. Who would be benefited by thati
IL were disposed to create a feeling of antago-
| nism on our part against the men who hold
| these bonds I might relate little history
| that would stir your blood. You remember
| that what are called the $50 bonds were
purchased with greenbacks when green
| oacks were worth only 50 or 60
| or at most 20 cents on the dollar in coin. You
remember that those bonds were converted in
to these per cents, and you recollect perfectly
well that the first act OF Congress under Cen
| eral Grants administration was to make those
bonds, which were payable according to their
| face or Endorsement in greenbacks. payable in
| coin; and you know that the effect Of that was
| to send them up 30 or 40 per cent. in value and
you know that now they worth % per cent
| premium, which makes profit to those who
| originally purchased them of So per cent. You
know that, and yet the theory of the Re-
| publican candidate for the Presidency is
| that your money should be taken from
| your pockets without necessity-these
bonds not being due until the year
ashland poured out with this immense pre-
MUM into the pockets of the bondholders of
| the country. LApplause.1 I am not going to
| say word against the men o hold these
| bonds. but between them and the hard working
| people Of this country I am on the side of the
| people. Applause, during which Judge Thur
1 I.:-
| with a renewed outburst] Whenever take it
| out there is shout and then the Republican
papers say: 1.-THE old fellow is at trick; he is
playing actor; it is monkey trick of his to pull
out his bandana." Well, it is not so; that is all
| am going to say about it now.
The Republican party has admitted that this
| surplus is an abuse its United States Senators
| have admitted it, for they have brought in a
| bill which they say will reduce the annual in
| come OF the United States about seventy five
| million dollars. Observe, howe yer, these grave
| and reverend seigniors, the Republican Sena-
| tors. do not say, as General Harrison says to
| reduce it by buying bonds They know very
well that II the Government were to announce
| its purpose to do so the premium on the 4 per
| cent. bonds would go up right away to so or
| even go per cent premium. Applause. ]
IT, indeed, there could be found any
| body holding any considerable amount
! of them who would sell to the Government at
| all. No" they say, as the Democrats say.
| ''let US reduce the income of the Government"
| But there is striking difference in the
methods. We propose to reduce the income by
| reducing the tax on the necessaries of life.
! [Applause.l They propose to increase the tax
| on the necessaries OF life and reduce the in
| come by taking the tax from tobacco and
whisky to great extent and from one neces-
| sary of Gfe-sugar. We say: "Give the labor
| ing men OF this country cheap clothing. cheap
| tools and cheap lumber with which to build
their houses and shops" The Republican
porty says: mo, increase the duties, 81
| as their bill proposes on the clothes that
| the poor man and his wife and children wear,
on his implements Of industry, on his lumber,
| or to make but a trifing reduction on that and
thereby make the burden OF taxation fall prin-
cipally upon him. IA voice: Il say no.''1 And
| say It is hard enough that taxes have to
be collected by means of a tarif, for We do not
intend to abolish all custom houses and all