The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-20
WELCOMING THE OLD ROMAN
Large Democratic Gathering Held Last
Night at the English 0pera-HOuSe.
1t GreetSJudge Thurman with Great Enthu.
siasm and Listens with a Like Spirit to
His Speech-GOyernor Gray Also Talks.

emoClonai DemOcraCS AT o O'CLOCK lhSb evening"
and several hundred who could not get inside
romped and roared in the Railways and ap-
proaches of the building. On the stage, which
was rather dimly lighted, was . plaster bust OF
President Cleveland, on a pedestal. which was
draped with the American flag, aud the top Of
the proscenium arch was also decorated with the
American colors and pictures of ex-Vice-Presi-
dent Hendricks aud Cleveland and Thurman.
Under the flags sat q number Of prominent
Democratic citizens. among them Messrs. 81
Sheerin. Jackson Landers, Thos. Taeeart. Aus
tin FL. Brown, Judge Claypool, W. a English,
John j. Cooper, Marshal Hawkins. DR.. Thomas,
DR.. Lewison, VIM. Christian, John p. Frenzel,
Col. j. B. Maynard, Smith Myers, Judge John
A. Holman. Pierre Gray, Luke Walpole and
others; and the presence of q considerable num-
Der of ladies lit up the rather sombre scene
in which the stage was set. The main
floor and second tier were filled
with adults for the most part, but the balcony
next the roof was monopolized largely by small
boys who, at the outset, manifested an earnest
desire to take charge of the meeting. The sight
OF half q dozen vacant chairs reserved for the
speakers, which were located On the stage, in
the rear of the plaster bust. seemed to be a
source of considerable irritation to the part of
the crowd that had to stand I'D, and there were
frequent inquiries, in terms moro forcible than
elegant, as to the whereabouts Of their intended
occupants.
AT S:l5 o'clock Judge Thurman. leaning on tho
arm Of Governor Gray. and backed MP by the
stalwart figures Of Allen Thurman jr. and Chair
man Jswett, of the Democratic central commit
tee, entered from the right wing, and the house
set up q veil. which was accompanied by q Wig
orous waving Of hats aud bandannas. Judge
Thurman looked pleased but nervous. and
walked with that hesitatine, dragging step pc
culiar to those who are infrm and to neople who
are approaching the head of a steep pair Of stairs
in a dark passageway. He seemed relieved
when, piloted by his son Allen, he found the chair
reserved for him.. Chairman Jewett gave him
time to rest a little and filled in the time with
q few remarks. the substance Of which was that
Judge Thurman had come to the homo of Hen
bricks, and, like the latter, was destined to oc-
cupy q vice presidential chair; that he had not
come to make a speech, but to save his vocal
organs for Brazil to-morro "; that Governor
Gray aud others would tend to the speaking.
and that tho guest of the evening would merely
look in to the faces Of those among whom MIR.
Hendricks lived and loved. Others would attack
monopolies, and in that connection Mr.. Jewett
desired to say that Tomlinson Hall. which was
the gift OF q good man and was intended for
the use of the public. had been rented
for the evening by some monopolist,
and was not available for immediate
address he rubbed his hands vigorously to-
gether and was heartily applauded, some of his
audience encouraging him with cries OF Slug
EN- again and go on" but the chairman ex-
| planned that Governor GRAY and not himself
was the slugger and with a final encomium upon
Judge Thurman as a lofty man. introduced him
to the audience
As the latter cheered aud waved hats and
| handkerchisfs Judge Thurman came forward 10
the speakers table and a, this time his physical
weakness was painfully apparent. His son
helped him to rise, guided him forward to the
table and stood by him an instant to see that ne
was in shape to talk while the Judge stood wait
ing for an opportunity TO be heard. He seemed
to be q good deal annoyed at the confusion in
the audience and referred to
!, n.. once T or ' S,ss.,,tv during in r, his
him ut first. but his voice filed out as he pro-
ceeded, some of his sentences recalling his old
time vigor as an orator: but the greater portion
Of his remarks we're made In a conversational
way, and many Of them were obscure aud indis-
tincr de spoke as follows:
II came into your State last Monday. and
from that day to this / have received a hospi-
tality and kindness that no words OF mine can
adequately acknowledge or repay. l was told
yesterday that although / had no appointment
for this goo6ly city Of indianapolis, If l would
stop here and spend q day, 1 should see many
friend. and many Democrats, aud that / should
pass my time in quiet in order 10 recuperate for
the further labors of the campaign. Four years
ago | came to Indianapolis to aid, as well as |
could, In the election ot Grover Cleveland, and
that noble man whose bust stands before US.
Pointing to bust of Hendricks. Cheers 1
shall never forget that however feeble my eff
forts may have been on that occasion, it was
thought by him that they were of some service
TO the good cause. and the attention and kind
ness l received here then require of me, as long
as / live, TO think kindly OF the people Of this
great city Of this great State. Cheers. That
talking is excessively annoying. 1t is so be-
cause IL / have to talk at the top OF my voice
now, l don't know that 1 will have any voice to
speak with tomorrow. My friends, we are oncs
more in a great presidential campaign. The
first question before the American people is.
shall Grover Cleveland be re- elected President
OF the United Statesl [Cries of Yes yes.'I"
This led Mr.. Thurman to extol the Cleveland
administration and the President personally,
who ever sat Ia the presidential chair. He
claimed that he was conscientious in everything
he did. and that he never went TO bed until after
midnight, spending all the time in public
lands methods of work as being those
of a man devoted to an honest performance of
duty. Referring to the prosperity OF the coun-
try, be claimed that it had. during the present
administration, been more prosperous than ever
before, and then asked where is the Union sol
der who has been deprived OF his pen
sion under the administration of Cleve-
landl This caused a reference to the
money that had been awarded to pensioners by
Grover Cleveland, and by allowances by the
Commissioner of Pensions Judge Thurman
did not know OF any rebel soldier who had been
pensioned. ''If he could pc found" said he,
''Barnum would buy him forthwith as a matter
for show"
The Judge then passed TO the tariff question
which he said was a tax, the receipts for which
are in every ones pocket. 1t is concealed in the
clothes one wears and even in the price of the
speakers baudauna handkerchief. He then, by
the Illustrations he has frequently used, sought
TO show how the tariff, as a tax, was oppressive.
He brought out no new argument and rested
this phase OF the question upon the claim that
the importeredds the duty TO the price at which
he sells, and 60, in turn. it reaches the consumer
who pays the tax in the end.
He drew upon the present prices OF calico and
shoes to illustrate his position, and, while they
were lower now than they were years ago, he
said the protective tariff had nothing TO DO with
the reduction. 1T rather increased the price
OF those shoes" he continued, $50 far as il of
fected the price at all. The price was reduced
for several reasons. Our improved machinery.
by which one man makes ten pairs of shoes in a
day. is one thing-the cost of each pair being sc
cents for making them. Betsy buys her calico
for q cents now because of the improved ma