The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-29
FREE TRADE GOSPEL.
Preached Last Night to King
County Democrats.
MISSIONARIES FROM THE EAST.
The krmory Filled for the Rally
Usual Statements Against the
Republican Party.

The Democrats of King county turned out in
fine force at the Armory last night to receive
the bread of political life from the party mis-
sionaries from the East Hundreds were seated
around the platform and hundreds stood about
the side OF the room and in the gallery. Many
wives of prominent Democrats were
in the big audience, and the yeo-
many from the smaller towns - such
men as Luke McRedmond and VIII
lam Cochrane - sat the front rows.
On the platform were the high priests OF the
faith, Ex-Governor Chauncey F. Black, OF Penn
sylvania James NJ. Beck, of Philadelphia;
Senator C. j. Faulkner, OF West Virginia, and
Congressman William d. Bynum, OF Indiana;
Percy w. Rochester, d. H. Gilman, c. d. Emery,
Will II. Thompson, John Collins, Daniel Gid
bons and James Hamilton Lewis.
When the band had stopped playing VIII H.
Thompson stepped forward and appropriately
took an illustration from ancient history to IN
troduca the first speaker OF the party ar
Thompson told how during the battle OF
Lake Throsymene an earthquake occurred, but
every body was 80 interested in the fight that no
one noticed any shaking whatever. Mr. ThoInp-
son continued that by next year when the pres
fdental conflict is raging everybody VIII be SO
excited that he will pay no attention 10 earth
ouakes much less 10 sober reasoning. Accord
ingly the missionaries had come out from the
East while people were cool enough to listen.
Ex-Governor Black then began his speech,
greeted by burst OF applause. He came ont
fatfooted for state rights-a doctrine which.
he said. his transcontinental trip had strength
ened in his mind. His travels had confirmed
him In the belief that Florida should not make
laws for Oregon or Washington. Mr.. Black told
how Hamilton had wanted government with
centralized and almost unlimited power, while
Jefferson had worked for state rights. Hamilton
was the founder of the Federalists, who were
the political fathers of the Republicans of to-
day, but Jefferson was the founder and patron
of Democracy.
The speaker further argued that the framing
OF protective tariff law was not sanctioned by
the constitution; and he declared with much
feeling that so far as the tariff was concerned
Americans were Slaves. He continued with
remarkably straight face TO make the astOuish-
Ing statement that frugal Republican govern
ment OF national, state, county or municipal af-
fairs was unknown, and even impossible. This
declaration he matched by saying that since
1s60 the Democrats had been largely in the ms
jority. Charges of corruption, malfeasance, in
timidation, fraud and oppression were piled UP
against the Republican party, while Democracy
was praised as the representative of all that was
good, and true, and beautiful. The Democrats
had always appeared angels of light to the
rapt vision OF Mr.. Black.
He regarded il as quite certain that Washing
ton would always hereafter be the brightest
gem in the Democratic crown of glory As he
said this the faithful burst into wild applause,
and he sat down.
The second speaker was James NJ Beck of
Philadelphia, who made brilliant address. He
has wonderful vocabulary--a swift stream of
glittering words-a clear and ringing voice
that could be heard distinctly in the
remotest corner of the room. Mr. Beck began
buietly aud received little scraps of applause,
until in passing he mentioned the name of
Grover Cleveland. There was tremor of ap-
plause, shout, and then the building shook
with a tumult of clapping, stamping and en-
fhnsiagtip Tar hat no
of approval were frequent and hearty. The
speaker accused the Republicans of the
last congress of tramping on free
speech, free elections and fair trial by
Jury. He made a bitter attack on
Speaker Reed for counting quorums in the
House of Representatives, and for refusing recog-
milton TO certain members. Thus, Mr.. Beck
held, free speech was stifled- He regarded the
federal elections bill as an attack on free elec-
tons. Trial by jury, Mr. Beck asserted, had
been taken away by the administrative portions
of the Mckinley bill. Any question over
the appraisement or classification of i'm
ported goods was formerly settled in
court in the usual fashion. Under the
Mckinley bill the determination, Mr.
Beck said, left to a partisan board ap-
pointed by the treasury department, and the
right to submit the dispute to a jury abol-
ished.
The speaker contended that the Republicans
had shown special lavors TO some: he tried to
rouse the feelings of the "masses against the
classes" and he condemned the reciprocity
clauses Of the Mckinley bill which gave the
president the power to suspend the provisions
OF the bill in trade with certain countries
These powers were too extensive, Mr.. Beck ar
gucd, To be exercised by president
The close of the speech was devoted 10 the
Mckinley tariff, which denounced in un-
measured terms. The main point urged was
that the tariff is a tax, and the logic OF the argu-
ment for free trade pure and simple Re-
vision OF the tariff was apparently not the end
sought by the Democrats, but absolute free
trade. The declaration of President Harrison
that cheap coat seems to involve a cheap man
md woman in the coat Mr. Beck characterized
as the most detestable piece of snobbery ever
uttered by in public life
Were Harrison to run agaiu--as every true
Democrat sincerely hoped-that sentence would
cost him his election; for Americans do not be-
heve that the coat makes the man. Mr. Beck
also painted doleful picture of the "terrible
state of corruption in the country-a condition
which he attributed wholly to the presence of
protection.
He was accorded shouts of applause as he
closed, and then came cries OF "Faulknerl
Faulkner" Mr. Thompson introduced SEN
ator Faulkner as the man who had
stood fourteen hours on the floor of the
Senate 10 oppose the "force bill" The audience
chcered. applsuded and threw hats into the air
the senator came forward. He was too
hoafse 10 speak more than minute or two.
Congressman ByDum warmly welcomed
but he content with saying little be-
yond acknowledgment OF the compliment
The First Regiment band, which had
furnished splendid music for the occasion.
played a stirring march 10 end up the love feast
Alter the meeting the speakers held an informal
reception.
This morning they go to Tacoma. where the
Youns Mems Democratic Grub will give them
Q banquet tonight On Wednesday the party
passes on to Portland.