The Colfax chronicle., 1888-12-08

mat speech At the Dufley Hall Ben darrSsOu
praised the bravery and pstriotism OF the DIFF
and as Harrison was quitting that portion OF
his address an old gentleman, with an Irish ac-
cent asked: How about the Irish, and where
were Meagher Sheridan, Shields, Mulligan
and the othersy that the crowd hissed the
question and shouted: Put him out and the
old gentleman was put out; that Ben Harrison
said in answer to the question: 1t is easy
to know that mans race; you all know
what they are: II 1t were not for them we
would not need half our penitentiaries, which
are almost full Of them; they are only good TO
shovel dirt and grade railroads, for which they
receive more than they are worth, as they are
NO acquisition to the American people, Affiant
further says these words from Harrison were
followed with applause, and that affiant then
left the hall Af1ant says that he mentioned
Harrisons speech and the circumstances that
very evening to his neighbors, and that he fire.
quently thereafter mentioned the same In dis
cussing politics with his friends long before
Ben Harrison was nominated for President.
Afhsnt says he has paid so much attention to
Harr. sons speech because, among other rea-
sons, Harrison was then prominent Republic
an, having been beaten for Governor OF Indi-
ana but q short while before. Afiant further
swears that after Harr:son's nomination for
President afnant for short while thought
Harrison made his speech against the Irish but
eight years ago. instead of twelve years ago.
this inaccurate impression arising from the
fact that afiant had SO often mentioned Harri-
sons speech that the words were as fresh in
his memory as q recent event. Afiant swears
that In the letter which he wrote to Golden, Col,
and which was afterward published in tho
papers, he never said any thing about the num-
ber OF Irfshmen in any place who would vote
for or against Ben Harrison for President,
but that various numbers were added to his let
ter, as published by various papers, by report
ers or editors whom afnant does not even
know. Afiant swears he was the first to have
the inaccuracy about the date Of Harrison's 8
speech corrected. which correction appeared in
the Bu,ieffn before any OF the Republican
papers began the controversy about Harrison's
speech. Afiant says, In conclusion, that he II
neither ofhce-holder nor ofice-seeker.
WILLIAM C0NDON, SR.
"Subscribed and sworn TO before me, this
aOth day of September. A. d. 1854
ID. s. PEARSON, Notary Public"
Other afidavits are made by Michael
F. Purcell, John A, Wilson. Robert
Saunders and A. G. Greed, all we'll
known and respected in this COM
munity, who swear they attended the
Durley-hall meeting in 1876 and re-
member the words of Harrison and
the scene substantially as Mr.. Condor
has given them. John McCann, James
ID. Mellinger, John Morgan, and u.
O. Andrus are among others who
were then present at Durley hall and
may be quoted as substantiating the
above sworn testimony. To make it
more binding" as it we're, the Bulletin
here publishes several affidavits of per-
sons who recall Mr.. Condon's men,
tioning the Durley-hall incident to
them on various occasions and before
the Republican candidate was thought
Of as very much of a possibility
Bloomington (IH.) Letter.