The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-06
Mr.. SHANKLIN ELUCIDATES
He Addresses a Fair Crowd at Tomlin-
son Hall on Political Measures.
His Remarks a Deviation from Beaten Paths
Resolutions of Re~spect-Mse,ings to
0ccur-New Clubs Organized.

C9AaN0 A4ot 1tent~ ~ oICootOh
of clubs and q speech Dy John Gilbert
Shanklin. leader of the 90 per cents. who
were for Cleveland at Chicago, and who
were supposed to be for Shanklin for Gov
ernor. but were outwItted by the Matthews-
Gray 10 per cent. The address was preceded
by g street demonstration of q number OF
uniformed clubs, each accompanied By a
drum corps. 1t was a hat longer pro-
cession than at the ratification meeting
after the Chicago convention. but still not
one stirred commensurately with the en-
thusiasm the numbers would suggest. The
line of march was from the State-bouse to
TomlInson Hall. 1t was twenty minutes
after s when the procession started. and by
along through the hall and county Chair
man John X. Wilson had called the meet
ing TO order. This was q signal for q band
to start Q medley of stirring airs. The
first the crowd caught was the old rebel
tune of Dixie" which received one of the
most enthusiastic cheerinRs which sounded
.orth during the evening. When the med
ley reached Marching Through Georgia."
there was no sign of recognition.
Dir. Wilson, with his usual aversion,
sailed modesty by. some. to practical poll
lies aud close contact with the rank and
hle, turned over the chairmanshID of the
evening to Hon. William III. English. The
latter was given a cordial reception.
He went on to say that he was born
Of Democratic parents and that
10 had been faithful TO his
birth and rearing. He. however, acknowl-
edged that he had scratched q ticket oc-
~casionaily. thus giving high precedent for
n nrQQffQa swhlrh the DanOrrarlN marty
leaders are fearing in this campaign. With
assertions that he o expected to witness q
Democratic victory all along the line, the
chairman then presented Mr.. Shanklin as
a "brainy and gamey Democrat"
Mr.. ShankIin received q very fiatfering
reception as he arose to speak. He found
himself IN the presence OF an audience that
hlled two-thirds of the hall. or about two
thousand people. A majority of them.
however, had seemingly come merely 10
see the orator and the leader who had set
the Cleveland ball q rolling. for they did
not stay throughout the meeting. BY twOs.
and threes. and sixe0fhe rows of seats
cleared, until not more than eight or nine
hundred were present. Those who stayed
10 the last, however. were well paid. for
reasons not political. Mr.. Shanklin lett the
beaten path. and, under the inviting sur.
roundings of none but Democrats.
drew eloquently upon the historic in
formation he had gathered IN France
and other countries The audience. 1t was
clearly noticeable, was most attentive and
best entertained when his remarks had
little bearing upon politics. Mr.. Shanklin
has rather q ponderous style of speech.
but speaks with many graces, and Is enter
tanning. He is, apparently. not q deep
thinker or deep student, but is not bitter,
and has q great deal of dignity. He is as
fair as a Democratic advocate can be and
be logical. HIS Democracy is evidently
of the Southern type.
Mr.. Shanklin strove at the onset to ap.
e n ~ ADDlA - HA aard
IL was not necessary to dwell upon its plat
form, because it Is so nearly identical with
the Democratic platform that 1t were un-
necessary so to do. The point was a clever
to the hordss of Democrats who
are joining the hated popuIists that 1t Is
not necessary TO change parties TO ind all
the free-coinaRe of silver. debased money
and other fallacIous reforms Tor which they
are striving. But az the last of the speech
the orator threw of the mask and boldly
appealed TO the apostles. as he
held them to be, 10 return to
the fold. His argument was that
they should not leave the house
of their fathers. where they had been born
and bred. The appeal was embeIlished
with o lengthy but well-told allegory, re-
calling the prodigal son story.
Mr. Shanklin gave much of his seventy
five minutes speech TO n discussion of the
tariff. His audience was somewhat startled
when he proclaimed that Alexander Ham,
ilton. father of the Republican principles,
did not favor q protective tariff. Mr..
Shanklin had made a new historic discov-
cry. important If true. Again, when he
attempted to refute the statements In re-
cent public papers from the President and
Hon. James u. Blaine, that Jefferson
favored a protective tarif. his words
against such authority had little weight.
The first excuse advanced for the protective
idea, he said, was TO foster infant indus
tries. When. after the great civil war. the
class who had grown rich rs army contrac-
tors were unwilling TO forego government
aid ana changed the cry to protection to
American labor" This led to the adoption
of the high-tariff law for the benefit of the
few, said the speaker. when the under
standing of the country was that, the war
being over, the foreign policy of a tariff for
adopted. The speaker played up
on the Carnegie company's con-
fict with organized labor. which he
charged to the Mckinley bill. He then
closed his eyes TO the difference between a
protective tariff and "A revenue tariff and
pretended to be greatly confused because
the Republican party removed the tariff
from sugar, not needing the revenue. and
retained IL on wool aad iron. Speaking of
the free list, be 'uade sport of such articles
as balm OF Gilead. acorns, dra CONS blood
and snako-skins. which were treated In the
Mckinley law just as they were in the Mills
bill. being on the free list in both.
The orator was most earnest and eloquent
on the force bill issue. He painted u plot
ure of the prosperity In the South, and pre-
dIcted that under the Lodge bill it would
all he wiped out. The negro would be re-
instated To power, only TO plunge the
States into all the despair and troubles of
the reconstruction period.
DO we WISH" exclaimed the orator. Ito
impose this hideous indignity and curse
upon our kindred IN the Southfn 1t was
evident Mr.. Shanklln was deeply moved
with sympathy for millions of whites In the
South who might be overcome by a few
hundred thousand negroes. In the course
OF his speech he had before shown his SYM
pathies and the reason of his hatred to the
Grand Army by referring TO the rebellion
Is a revolt
Ii IL we'll known that the Evansville ora
tor was invited TO Indianapolis to show
that he is IN line with the party ON the
state ticket. This being the purpose. some
hearty Endorsement of Claude Matthews
was ex pected. Nh. Shanklin confined him.
self TO saying that the Democratic state
ticket merits the support of the party, ana
that be hoped all Democrats would vote
the straight ticket Then he rave Mat
thews what help ne could without naming
him, by abusing Governor Chase for being
o Christian minister. His remarks excited
no approving plaudits. His audience did
not believe in his sincerity IN his COM
mendation of the Democratic State ticket.
At one time. toward the close of the
speech. the audience was seen to be par
~ticularly quiet. Chairman English stopped
the speaker to give John w. Kern oppor-
tunity to present resolutions of respect TO
the late James H.. Rice, so long a high
counsellor among the party lenders. Mr..
Kern read In a voice filed with emotion.
ana the resolutions prevailed unanimously