The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-08-31
HE DID SAY 1T.
Three AffidavIts to Prove that Can
didate Brooks Made Those
Elegant Utterances.

Many Democratic and Prohibition
papers in this vicinity have denied that
DIR. Brooks, the Prohibition candidate
for vice president, ever uttered the now
notorious sentiments in regard to having
been a rebel and Democrat, but, he
thanked God, he had never been Re-
publican. The following dispatch to the
Inter Ocean will settle the matter to the
satisfaction of Republicans and give the
other fellows good-sized job If they
attempt to disprove the statements
made therein:
DECATUR Ill. Aug. 1.-THE recent utter
ance of DIR. John A. Brooks, the Prohi-
bltion candidate for vice president, at
Decatur, in which he thanked God he
had never been a Republican," has
called forth so many inquiries from all
portions of the country that to satisfy
them the affidavit of Mr.. j. ii. Young,
Jr., the city editor of the Decatur Daily
Republican,, has been procured and is
herewith appended. Plenty of afidav-
its could be procured TO the same effect,
but as DR.. Brooks admitted in his speech
at BLOOMINGTON, ILL.,, two days later,
that he had made the assertion referred
to, it Is hardly necessary to multiply
statements, though two are added to
show that others heard the language
one from the Rev. S. P. Hoy, who has
been an anti-saloon Republican, and
one from L. +. Muzzy, ESQ.,, who repre-
scented the second ward of Decatur as
apti-license alderman in the city council
for six years. The DENIAL of DIR. Brooks,
&C 80 ha Varh in ha
cago paper, is as to ''the intention ofthe
statement made, and does not deny the
language, and coming as it did after the
Acknowledgement in the Bloomington
speech, requires no further comment:
STATE OF ILLINOIS, MACON COUNTY, S.
John ]. II. Young, Jr., being first duly sworn
upon his oath deposes and says; am 81 years
of age, and have lived in Decatur, H., slice
1856. am by occupation newspaper report
er, and in that capacity attended the series of
meetings of the National Prohibition camp
meeting held at Oakland Park. Decatur, ILL.,,
during the month of July, 1888. was at said
July 20, 1858, when there was a large crowd
present, many of whom were Republicans.
At said time and place DR.. John A. Brooks.
the ex-confecerate Prohibition candidate for
vice president, addressed the meeting and
gave utterance to the following language: II
have lived in the South and owned slaves
there. / sympathized with the South and
prayed for the success of the confederate
cause, but my prayers were not answered. /
have been q Democrat, but thank Godp-here
the speaker shook his head, at the same time
raising his arm and shaking his finger at the
audience-"I have never been Republican.
will never have that sin to account for"
Affiant further states that the above language
OF DIR. Brooks was taken down by him at the
time of delivery as reporter for the press.
JOHN J. II. YOUNG, JR.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th
day of August, A. ID. lsSS.
THOMAS LEE,
Notary Public for Macon Co., Ill.
STATE OF ILLINOIS, MACON COUNTY, S.
L. F Muzzy aud s. p. Hoy, being duly sworn,
deposes and say that they were present at the
Prohibition campmeeting, Decatur, ILL.,, July
%, 1898, and heard the speech delivered by DR..
John A. Brooks that day. The language above
quoted in the affidavit of J. J. II. Young, Jr., Is
correct SIMON p. HOY,
L. +. MUzZY.
Subscribed and sworn to before me by L. +.
Muzzy and Simon P. Hoy this 18th day Of Au-
gust A. d. 1888. GEO. p. HARDY,
County Clerk, Macon Co., ILL.,