St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-09-01
DEMOCRATIC RALLY.


evening they had big political rally
in Music Hall-the first big rally they
have held in ST. Johnsbury for many
years. The St. Johnsbury band were
there and pictures of Cleveland were
on each side of the stage, but the
democrats needed no music or
pictures to kindle their enthusiasm.
Every seat in Music Hall was oc-
cupied and in the large audience were
a good many republicans who cheer
ed Justify when the speaker referred
to President Harrison's unimpeach-
able character, and made courteous
reference to Gov. Mckinley as the
man of whom it might truly be said:
None knew him but to love him none
named him but to praise
Elisha May presided and intro
duced the speaker of the evening,
Hon. John E. Russell of Massachu-
sets. Mr. May said the best men
of both parties well said this was an
educational campaign and that we
could go to no better place for an
educated speaker than Massachu-
sets. Mr.. Russell was then in
PRODUCED as farmer democrat.
The ex-congressman begun by ex-
pressing his surprise at seeing SO
many present and hoped the demo-
Gratis would not lose their courage
in Vermont even if they were out
voted by the republicans. 1--WE
want the cheer to go all over the
country, and as you have the
Australian ballot now you can vote
without business domination or
social oppression"
Mr.. Russell arraigned the repub-
Leans because they never considered
a democrat fit to serve the govern
ment except in the army or navy.
Today under a republican admins
tration there is not a democratic
office-holder in the land. (Cries of
yes). The nomination of Harrison
at Minneapolis in June was not by
the states that are going to vote for
him, but by the 139 federal ofice-hold-
ers controlling the delegations they
brought with them"
The speaker criticised Gen. Swift
for leaving the Boston custom house
to stump the state of Maine,
and declared that the only reason
Whitelaw Reid was nominated on
the republican ticket was because he
could add one million dollars to the
republican campaign fund. Steven
son, on the other hand, was nomin-
ated because he was poor. He was
assistant pOstmaSter-gene under
President Cleveland and appointed
good postmaster at St. ,Johnsbury.
(Cheers). 1 think it was about time
the democrats should have a hack at
it."
Mr.. Russell then touched upon the
greenback craze in the seventies and
said Stevenson was a greenbacker
then and so was Rutherford B.
Hayes. Both branches of congress
passed bill at that time initiating
the greenback currency, which Pres
ident Grant vetoed.
This led naturally to the discussion
of the coinage question. THE coun-
try today is on Sc cent paper dol
lar basis. Why is it :? Because Cleve-
land was not reelected in 1888.
Harrison was elected on platform
containing a silver plank of Senator
Stewards and he had to urge more
liberal silver legislatio upon con-
gress to keep his pledges with the
Western states. Congress had to
pass more liberal silver bill or else
choose free silver"
Congressman Russell took up next
the subject of state banks and re-
piled to that part of Gen. Woodford' S
recent address in ST. Johnsbury which
related to state banks. The speaker
said he himself put the plank in the
democratic platform asking for the
repeal of the 10 per cent tax on ma
tional bank notes
The last half hour ofhis speech was
upon the tariff, in which he defended
the Mills bill and denounced the Nc
Kinley bill. Tariffs can be raised
but they can't be lowered. \ free
people control the public purse, but
under republican domination they
have lost half their power, the pow
er of lowering taxes. We passed the
Mills bill in the house and republi-
can senate made another bill, and
this IN defiance of the constitution Of
the United States which forbids the
senate originating such financial
measure You know how the people
registered their verdict against the
Mckinley bill in the fall of 1890
The president then snubbed the PEG
pie when he urged the senate to make
T. -
is not tax, they say. Then wher
we prove it is tax, they say the for
eigner pays the tax. When you
prove the foreigner doesn't pay the
tax, then the republicans say. it en-
ables US to pay higher wages.
Now nine-tenths of the American PEG