The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-14
seems unnecessarily TO involve a cheaper
man or woman under the coats"
,,tu.pNpSa Va FNTRANAGaNCF


which invades every home in the land with
higher prices, declares that "cheap and
nasty 20 together and this whole system or
cheap things is badge Of poverty: for
cheap merchandise means cheap men and
cheap men mean cheap country" we In
dignantly repudiate such an Interpretation
| of American sentiment.
And when another one, high in party
councils. who has become notorious as the
advocate Of a contriyance To perpetuate
partisan supremacy by Outrs geOus interfer-
ence with the suffrage, annohnces that ''the
cry for cheapness is un-American," we
scornfully reply that his speech does not in
dicate the slightest conception OF true
Americanism.
| will not refer to other utterances OF like
import from similar sOurcs 8. ] content my
self with recalling the most prominent and
significant. The wonder is that these things
were addressed by Americans to Ameri-
| cans.
what was the occasion Of these condem-
nations OF cheapness and what had honest
| American men and women done, or what
were they likely to do that they should be
threatened with the epithets "cheap,"
snasty." and 'un-AmericanV
IL is hard 10 speak patiently as we answer
these questions. Step by step vast num-
Der of our people had been led on, following
bindy i'm the path of party. They had
been filled with hate and sectional preju-
/ dice; they had been cajOled with misrepre-
sentations and false PROMISES; they had
been corrupted with money and by appeals
to their selfishness. All these things led mp
to their final betr 'yal 10 satisfy the de.
mands of those who had supplied the fund
for their corruption.
This betrayal ,Jas palpable; and 1t was
impossible 10 deny or conceal the fact that
the pretended relief rendered 10 the people
| in fulflment Of a promise 10 Tighten the
burdens Of their life, made by the party en-
trusted with the government, was but a
scheme TO pay the debts incurred by the
purchase of party success, while 1t further
increased the impoyerishment OF the
| masses.
THE PEOPLE AROUSED.
The people were at last aroused and de-
manded an explanation. They had been
| taught for one hundred years that in the
distribution Of benefits their government
| should be administered with equality and
Justice. They had learned that wealth was
not indispensable TO respectablity and that
| IL did not entitle its pOssessOrs TO especial
governmental favOrs. Humble men with
scanty incomes had been encouraged by
| the influence and the spirit OF our instltu-
tiOns. 10 practice economy and frugality to
the end, that they might enjoy to the utmost
| the rewards of their toll. The influence OF
the American home was still about them.
| In their simplicity they knew nothing OF a
new dispensatiOn which made cheapness
| disreputable, and they still loved the cheap
coats Of Lincoln and Garfield, and hundteds
of their cOuntryman whom they held in
yeneratiOn. And thus these unsophisticated
| Americans, unconscious of their wrong
doing, demanded the redemption OF party
pledges and clamOred for cheapness, IN Or
/ der that they might provide the necessares
and comforts of life for themselves and their
| families at the lowest possible cost.
The leaders Of the party, which was
caught in the act Of the robbery and which
was arraigned by the people for violation
of its trust, were forced by their sad pre-
dicament - a desperate eXpedient. TO at
| tempt 10 reverse the current Of true Amerl-
canism and discredit the snOst honorable
sentiments belonging to American man.
hood, were the disgraceful tasks OF those
who insnted our people by the announce
ment of the doctrine that to desire cheap
ness was TO love nastiness, and 10 praclice
economy and irugality was un-Amerlcan.
INSULT TO AMERICAN SENTIMENT.
Thus do we plainly see that when the path
pointed out by patriotism and American
citizenship is forsaken by party IN power,
| for sche nes of selshness and for unscrupu-
lOus conspiracies for partisan success, It's
| course inevitably leads TO unjust faNOrlte-
| ism, neglect of the interests OF the III asses,
entire peTVersiOn of the mission OF repuOli-
can institutions, and, in some form, TO the
most impudent and outrageous insult TO
| true American sentiment.
1t cannot be denied that political events
| i'm the past have gone far toward encourag-
I g mr.
! thoughtful and patriotic man has at time I
been disappointed and depressed by the ap-
parent Indifference and Generalization OF
the people,
But such reflections have no place in the
| felicitatiOns OF tonight. This is tlme
when faith in our cOuntrymen should be
| fully Fe.established. The noise Of recent
political revolution is still beard throughout
| The land: the people have Justdemonstraled
that there is point beyond which they can
not be led by blind partisanship, and that
| they are quite competent 10 examine and
correctly decide political questions concern
ING their rights and their welfare. They
have numerically resented every attack
upcn true American manhood, and have
taught party leaders that, though slow &c
anger. they take terrible reYenges when be-
| trayed. They permit us 10 forgive our hon.
Ofed guest for all the cheap coats he has
ever worn, for they have declared them t.
! be in fashion. They have also decreed thai
the decaOgue has place in our politics
for they have enforced the command Thou
shalt not steal" and have rendered an en-
phatic verdict against those who have borne
false witness.
AN EXEMPLAR OF AMERICAN MANHOOD
Nothing could so well accompany the
bonors we pay our distinguished guest
as the celebration on his birthday OF th'
I victory which has been achieved in ylndi
| cation of American citlZenship-fOr IN MN
we honor the man who has best illustrated
true American manhood. Our rejoicing
| and his are increased, as we also ceiepralt
tonight the triumph Of n Democratic prln
ciple for which he fought and fell but Two
short wears ago; and TO complete our JOY
and his we are permitted to indulge III true
/ Democratic enthusiasm over the steadlasI
ness and devotion 10 its creed exhibited by
Our party. which knowing. no discourage
ment, has fought to victory in the peoples
cause.
Who can now doubt our cOuptfymen';
appreciatiOn of that trait. so well illustrated
i'm the character of Allen q. Thurman
which prompted him throughout his Ions
| career. at all times aud in all clrcum
stances. and without regard to personal
consequences, TO do the things winch his
conscience and judgment approved, ano
which seemed to him t0 be III the interests
of his country and in accordance with Ms
| Democratic faith? Who can nov d0uO
that conscience and courage point out The
way to public duty
| If ws entertain more solemn thoughts or
this occasion, lot them be concerning The
responsibility which awaits ps as 9u
fellow c0lntrymen place in or keeeptns
their hopes and their trust, We shall fai
in our obligation 70 them if we stiie con
science and duty by ignobIe partisanShip
hui we shall meet every patriotic expecta
/ tion if, in all we do, we follow the guidance
of true and honest Democracy, illumineC
Inv the light of genuine American citizen
ship.
1 OTHER TOAsTs.
The speaking was still in progress at mid
nieht. Ex-senator Mcdonald, of Indiana
and Congressman W, J. G.. Brecklnridge
General living, Governor Boyd,, oenera
. y =, uo.rx WaftprsOn Colonel La