Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1888-09-05
DIR. BROOKS DECATUR SPEECH.
"Thank God | Meyer Was aRspuhlican."

DECATUR, liz, Aug. 10, 1883.
The recent utterance OF. DR.. John A.
Brooks, the Prohibitionist candidate
for vice-P President, at Decatur, to the
eject that he ''thanked God that he
had never been Republican," has
called forth so many inquiries from all
portions OF the country that to satisfy
them the affidavit of Mr.. ]. H. Young,
Jr., the city editor OF the Decatur
Daily Republican, has been procured
and Is herewith appended. Plenty OF
affidaylts could be procured to the
same effect, but rs DIR. Brooks admit
ted In his speech at Bloomington, ILL.,,
two days later. that he had made the
assertion referred to, 1t is hardly
nscsssary to multiply statements,s
though two are added TO show that
others heard the language-one from
Rev. Q. P. Hoy, who has always been
an anti-saloon Republican, and one
from L. f. Muzxy, ESQ.,, who repre-
sented the second ward Of Decatur as
an anti-license alderman In the city
council for six years. The denial Of
DR.. Brooks, as to the report published
in the Chicago Tribune, is as to "the
intention of the statement made,"
and does not deny the language, and
coming as 1t did after the acknowl-
edgment in the Bloomington speech,
requires no further comment.
[CoPY.l
STATE OF ILL.,, Macon County-ss.
John J. III. Young. Jr., being first
duly sworn. upon his oath deposes
and says: I am 81 years of age, and
have lived in Decatur, Illinois, since
1856. I am by occupation news
paper reporter, and in that Capacity
attended the series OF meetings OF the
national Prohibition camp-meetlng,
held at Oakland Park, Decatur, Ill.,,
during the month fully, 1883. L was
at the said camp.meotlng on the al
tsrnoon of Thursday, July 70. lsSs,
when there was large crowd present,
many of whom were Republicans. Az
said time and place DIR. John A..
Brooks, the ex-CoL federate Prohibi-
ton candidate for Vice President, adj
dressed the meeting and gave utter
anoe to the following language: II
have lived in the South and owned
slaves there. IsYmpathized with the
South and prayed for the success OF
the Confederate cause, but my
prayers were not answered. l have
been Democrat, but thank God"-
here the speaker shook his head, at
the same time raising his arm and
shaking his finger at the audience
have never been Republican. will
never have that sin to answer for"
Affiant further states that the above
language of DR.. Brooks was taken
down by him at the time of delivery
as u reporter for the press.
JOHN J. FL. YOUNG, JR.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 18th day of August, A. ID. 1883.
THOMAS LEE,
Notary Public for Macon Co. ILL.,,
[CorY.l
STATE OF I'LL, Macon County-ss,
L. F. Muzzy and 8. 2. Hoy, being
duly sworn, depose and say that they
were present at the Prohibition camp
meeting, Decatur, ILL.,, July e. 1888,
and heard the speech delivered by
DIR. John A. Brooks that day. The
language above quoted in the affidavit
of j. ]. III. Young, Jr., is correct.
L. F. MUZxY,
SIMON P. Hoy.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
by l.. F. Muzzy and Simon P. Hoy
this 18th day of August, A. D 1888.
GEO. P. HARDY,
County Clerk, Macon County Ill.
What have our prohibition friends
to say to the above?