The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-23
WILSON AND HARTER.
Two Eminent Exponents OF What
Some Democrats Believe.
WILSON FOR FREE TRADE
MIR. Harter, the Facetious Opponent of
Bland, Devoted Himself to the Subject
of Free Coinage - Local Democrats
Tried TO Look Happy.

If the Democratic party does not sue
work and arousing little enthusiasm
now and then better than the Young
Democracy at the banquet at Music Hall
last night, they won't be worth doing bat
tie with in the coming fall. There was a
chiliness about the whple affair from
start to finish.
Not even the speakers from afar could
get their political blood to boiling. There
was no boil in them. Congressman Will
son of West Virginia got n cough and a
stamp now and then during his discourse
on the tariff and TRADE on the party of
American protection, but when Harter
of Ohio declared himself on the coinage
question there were looks askance as If
his hearers were not quite certain whether
they agreed with him or not.
Both speakers keep their hands out of
the local political muddle, and by their ac-
tion seemed TO say, ''let them fight il out
among themselves" They were also
against Hill or Cleveland. and not once
during their eloquence CD were the names
OF these mentioned Ii was all free trade
and coinage. The Hill-Cleveland wrangle
played no part in the proceedings last
night.
1t was o'clock when the National Band
struck up the soul stirring strain Listen
to My Tale of Woe to the music of which
the Democrats marched into the hall and
took their places ut the four tables. There
were nearly 300 of them altogether, in
cluding the invited guests. At the main
table sat Baker and Wardwel. Brennan,
Carroll and Honey, all with knives con-
cealed under the table cloth while they
told funny stories to each other and ap-
peared TO be friendly Frank Owen sat
at the head of the table and ofiiciated as
prompter All the old war horses of the
party were there with him, including Con-
gresham Iaphan, eN-Gov. Davis and
other ex-ofiicials. AT the other tables
were seated the young men OF the party
who will make known their political
wants later on.
Congressman Oscar Lapham was the
first speaker, and in his five minutes dis
course urged upon his hearers the neces-
sity of united effort in the coming cleo
tions If the party was TO get any where
near the coveted goal.
Then came Congressman William J..
Wilson of West Virginia The subject
assigned him was THE Tariff and lie
told the same old chestnuts about the
poverty OF the country under the Nc
kinley bill, which all those of his political
belief have been trying to crowd down
the throats OF the intelligent voters ever
since the country entered upon the pres
ent prosperous period. lie told them how
happy and rich England was under the
free trade system, aud that il was the
only thing which could bring this coun-
try out of the slough Of dependency and
place ms on level with Great Britain and
other free trade countries. In conclusion
he warned I is hearers against allowing
the great principles of the party to be
come entangled in any Presidential con
troversy or subordinate 10 any other
issues.
The last speaker was Congressman
Harter of Ohio, who talked on the coinage
question. He abused Tom Reed and his
billion dollar Congress" and said il re-
quired 50 out OF every 50 on hand 10 meet
the appropriations of last years extrava-
giant Congress. lie said IL was not the
quantity OF money, but the quality that
we wanted. He declared against the 20
cent dollar and said we wanted one which
would be accepted for "a dollar anywhere in
the world. lie had no use for "A man who
would not come out hat-footed aud tell
where he stands on the great question.
Like the other speakers he predicted sue
cess for his party IN the coming tight.
Congressman McAdoo of New Jersey
and Gen. John VI. Corcoran of Massachu-
Setts were advertised TO be present: but
they did not materialize.