Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-10-22
Established in 1913.
HASTINGS AND WATSON.
A Big Meeting at Court House Hall
on Friday Night.
State Issues, Tariff and Silver Discussed
to the Detriment of the Democratic
Party Republicans En-
thusiastic.

House Hall on Friday night. addresse
by Attorney General Watson and Gener;
ID. H. Hastings, was great success. Th
UniontOwn Cornet Band was present an
walked the echoes by several very creC
liable selections, both before and afte
the meeting, and did much to enhanc
the enjoyment of the occasion. Th
meeting was called to order by Count
Chairman Weems, who announced Gee
Jepson, Esq, as the presiding officer 0
the evening. Mr.. Jepson, without delay
introduced Attorney General Watson il
few well chosen words.
Mr.. Watson began by remarking tina
the occasion was fitting time for Re
publicans to celebrate, thirty-twO yegr'
ago that very night, John Brown having
struck the first blow at slavery. Then ht
spoke of the great Governors Ohio ha:
had, naming Dennison, Tod, Brough
Cox, Hayes, Lloyd, Foster, Foraker, and
finally, in a few weeks to be, Major
William Mckinley. Proceeding, he told
of the manner in which the infamous
outrage of unseating Lieutenant Gov
ernor Lampson and seating Marquis was
accomplished, and characterized the act
as an outrageous steal. He mentioned
the record of the Legislature on ripper
legislation, and spoke particularly of the
Springfield ripper bill and how it was
knocked out by the Supreme Court.
Then, going ON to National issues, he de-
voted some time to the tariff and clearly
showed how the Mckinley bill was oper-
ating in the interest of the people as
opposed to the Democratic policy of
taxing the neceSsaries of life, such as
sugar, tea, and coffee, to raise revenue.
He cited numerous instances to prove
the rule that under the tariff prices de-
crease and the falsity of the Democratic
assertion that the consumer pays the tax
General Hastings was introduced and
was received with applause. The General
said he was in favor of the principles of
the Republican party, in favor of pro-
lection, an honest dollar, and the election
of Major Mckinley, and that he had no
doubt that when Ohio speaks it will be in
favor of the Republican party. Then,
speaking of Ohio, he paid grand tribute
to the resources of the State and to the
greatness of her illustrious line of men,
in civil, political, and military life.
He next proceeded to talk on the tariff
and incidently to reply to some of the
arguments made by Mr.. Mills, of Texas,
and Governor Campbell. In reply to
Mills wall about the poor mans salt
being taxed, he said he could fill Mills
full of salt for three cents When the
tariff was placed on salt that article was
selling at 81 a barrel, and now any
quantity can be bought for 45 cents a
barrel. The same is true of every other
article We produce, differing only in slight
degree. On the question of wages being
raised under the Mckinley bill, he said
the framer did not promise to double the
wages of every laborer, but he asked how
many had had their wages reduced be
cause of the Mckinley bill. In addition.
he made pointed and telling answers to
many of Governor Campbelrs arguments |
The people do not pay the tax on foreign |
importations because they do not buy
foreign goods when we can produce them |
here. He told how strikes were settled |
in free trade England. There, as soon as
a strike takes place, there are five men |
standing ready to take each place vacated,
and the strike is over That is the reason
they have no strikes there. On tin plate,
he said he could sell Democrats all they
wanted of pure American made tin plate,
every bit of it made in Philadelphia. As
to why he was prutectiOnist he told of |
how his father had been able to get a
home for his family under protection.
when before that time he had had to
work for 80 cents day and then seldom
received the money for it.
We need, said he, good dollar. A
dollar that is worth 100 cents. We don't
propose to pay France, Italy, Germany,
England, and all other parts of the world
a dollar for seyenty-fve cents worth of
silver because the Ohio Democracy wants
us to do that. We don't propose to coin
their silver for them for nothing and
board ourselves, yet, that is just what the
Democracy asks. A Democratic speaker
said that by free coinage we would save
a year on pensions. Free
coinage would rob the old soldier of just
that much. The General paid glowing
tribute of esteem to the old soldiers, and
his denunciation of Democratic schemes
against the soldiers was strong, pointed,
and pertinent.
The addresses of both speakers were
listened to with rapt attention, and were
interrupted by applause. The
hall was crowded, many ladies being
present, and they seemed as deeply inter
ested as the stronger sex. The meeting
was success from every point of view,
and will do the Republicans good in this
locality.