People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-09-16


some questions which my distin-
guished friend put to me the other
day at Sandersville. He asked me
if / admitted that there were evils
growing out of the legislation of the
country. / do not know that | quote
his exact language.
Mr.. Watson. [ said said, "suffer-
ing among the people growing out of
vicious legislation
Mr.. Black. My friend says, EDO
you believe there is suffering among
the people growing out of vicious
legislation ?" do believe that there
is suffering among the people grow
ing out of vicious legislation. But 1
told him there, and I repeat it here,
that | believe it is exaggerated.
Great cheering and cries of derision. }
Now, in his reply he said that l did
not read my platform-my own party
platform. Now, mark you, l did not
say, even by intimation, that the
Democratic platform exaggerated
these evils; but [ do say that the
Peoples party platform exaggerates
these evils. (Long continued cheer
ing and great confusion)
Mr.. Black. Now, my friends, let
me 60 on. You are my trends, but
you are annoying me.
A voice. Oh, let us holler; let us
enthuse, Mr.. Black.
Mr.. Black, Now, let me say to
you, as 1 stated here to- day, and look
into your honest faces, that there are
some evils that are not the effects of
legislation, and for which no legisla-
ton can furnish you remedy.
A voice. We will send Mr.. Wat
son to find the remedy.
Mr.. Black. That is your privilege,
my friend, but give me your atten-
ton, and say here to my friends,
now, that you will confer a favor
upon me by giving Mr.. Watson the
same respectful attention you gave
me.
Same voice, evidently. Yes, we
will listen.
Mr.. Black. Listen! / say that
this platform of this new party-no,
not this new party, but an old party
under new name. That old party
with the same platform and princi-
pies; this old party that has done
what has never been done before,
and what could not be done in thirty
years by the Republican effort this
old party that has made inroads on
the people of the South, and made
inroads and discussions that ought
not to exist. Now, what does this
party say in its preamble. (Reads.)
The conditions which surround us best
justify our cooperation; we meet in the
midst of nation brought to the verge of
moral, political and material ruin. Cor
ruptlon dominates the ballot-bOx, legis.
latures, congress, and touches even the
ermine of the bench.
I say that, in my opinion, that ex-
aggerates the condition of the coun-
try at large. do not deny that there
has been corruption; I do not deny
that there has been corruption in high
places. Theres always has been and
always will be. But l do deny most
emphatically that the conditions sur
rounding us justify such exaggera-
ton. deny that we are brought to
the verge of political and material
ruin. | say that corruption does not
dominate the ballot box, Congress,
legislatures and the ermine of the
bench.
A voice. Where am I at, Mister
Speaker?
Mr.. Black (without noticing the in
terruption). say that there is yet
some virtue in the land; I say that
there are good men and virtuous wo-
men in the land; [ say that there are
good men in high plaoes-uncorrupt-
ed and incOrruptible; say that cor
ruption has not touched the ermine
of the bench; and / say that while /
would not attempt to explain away
any of the evils that exist in our po-
itical and social life, yet these things
do not demand the intervention of
this new old party. l say that there
is more virtue than vice; there are
more good people than bad people;
there is more interruption than cor
ruption; there is in our midst more
of the characteristics of a great and
good civilization than the reverse
and over all, and in it all, and through
it all, the Lord God Omnipotent
reigneth.
CThe cheering was so prolonged at
this point, and the confusion so great
on account of it, that some remarks
addressed to the speaker by his
friends could not be heard by your
reporter.)
Mr.. Black. Please keep quiet, my
friends; you are my friends.
A voice. Undoubtedly we are.
Mr.. Black. Now, my friends,
there are a great many statements
made in this preamble not sustained
by the facts of the case. For in
stance, that workmen were denied
the right of organization for self-pro-
lection. Who does not know that
there is not city in the United
States where there is not an organ