The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-05-27


from the Hendricks club and es-
NA corted to the Grand hotel,
%NN where leading democrats from
-<,tzas~ the city and state called up
on him. Early in the evening crowds
began to make their way toward the Hen
dricks club hall, and before the club
started to escort the speaker to the scene
every seat was filed. and before the speak
ing began hundreds had been turned
away. The democracy showed itself alive
and enthusiastic aud throughout the
evening gave hearty democratic applause
to the telling points of the orators adj
dress.
The Hendricks club, the Gray club and
the German-American club turned out in
force and proceeded to the Grand hotel.
where Congressman Wilson was taken
up and the line of march formed. Thou
sands were out on the streets and the
magnitude OF the parade, in view OF all
the circumstances, surprised even the old
campaigners. The Hendricks club men,
who, as one might say, 'were doin' OF
it." were radiant, and the casual observer
might have Judged from the enthusiasm
that the city was in the throes of q red
hot campaign. 1t proved conclusively
that the democracy is here to STAY.
When the audience was seated Sterling
r. Holt, who presided at the meeting,
rose AMI said:
We meet tonight to pay homage TO man
who is honored 10y the nation, one who is fully
worthy OF this reception, one OF the most con-
spicuous statesmen before the eyes of the
American people and whose public service
titles him to the honor and respect of the peo-
pie among whom he ives and OF the whole na-
tion-the Hon. William L. Wilson of West Vir-
gina.
Mr.. Wilson advanced to the center OF
the stage and, when the hearty round of
applause had subsided, said that he had
just returned from a six weeks visit to the
Pacific coast and through the West, where
he had enjoyed the privilege and oppor-
tunity of addressing gatherings TO which
the elementary principles of political dis
cussion were a novelty. Tonight he adj
dressed men with whom such prin-
ciples were familiar club whose
name dedicated it to sound democratic
doctrine a club whose long-formed mill
tant democracy was of the kind that slept
on its arms and that knew neither dis
couragement in defeat nor elation in vic-
tory. 1t was encouraging to find that
such gatherings could be gotten out to
listen to speeches in what was termed an
off year in politics, but under govern
ment like ours. where the people gov
erned, there were no Cd years.
1t would be strange in country where
everything comes from effort and labor
If that which is rarest-free institutions
could come without labor. Other ma
tions have been great in war, in literature,
the arts and science, but ours was the
greatness of freedom. Ii We achieved
this it was greater than all else added
together. This was a country governed
by the people, and whenever its govern
ment WAS intrusted to others its liberty
was imperiled. The government was the
servant of the people to keep their free
dom and they had long enough been
emancipated from the superstition re-
garding the divine right of rulers.
AS he crossed the continent, Mr. Wilson
said, he felt that that trip in itself was a
democratic education-an education such
as no study would afford. Free govern
ment is seli-government and self-govern-
ment must be local government within
and by the states. When he was in Den
yer there was in session in that city what
was called the trans Mississippi
congress. Until the election of
democratic president the Missis-
sippi river had been the western
boundary line OF the United States. The
men who framed the constitution of this
country believed that if free government
was possible at all it was possible only
within limited area. The first demo-
cratic president doubled the area of
the American union and the terri
tory dedicated to it. Thomas Jefferson
declared that of all governments we were
best adapted to an extensive empire and
great freedom. and with one stroke OF his
pen added to this country the great North
west territory, reaching from the Mlssls-
sippi river to Puget sound.
In this country the people elected only
one branch of the federal government,
and a political revolution only changed
the house of representatives. The diner
ent states elected their officers of every
description. They performed their duties
directly under the eye OF the people, and
if they were unfsithful they had brought
down upon them both the condemnation
of public sentiment and law. There was
no greater danger than that policy which
sought 10 centralize the government In
Washington to the derogation OF that OF
the states. While the democratic party
was the champion OF local self-gov-
ernment IL had never hesitated to grant 10
the general government all the authority
necessary to do the work committed to il.
The old cry of Capitalization and Consol-
idation" was heard every campaign and it
would be heard every campaign through
out the existence of the government be-
cause it was standing menace to free in
stitutions. If any one doubted this let
him examine the calenders of the two
houses OF the last congress, which con-
tanned more bills than were passed by the
first thirty congresses. Let him recall the
history of the last congress
and note how narrowly a meas
ure escaped passage which would
have struck deadly blow to the freedom
of the country. The elections or force
| bill, which was so nearly passed, out
stripped in destructive Capitalization the
alien and sedition laws. 1t was aimed at
the most vital point and was designed to
take from the people the right to hold
elections in their own way and put them
in the hands OF the federal government.
"You are a free people, said Mr.. Wilson,
because you control your own elections.
| The force bill sought to take this right
| from you and put it in the power OF the