Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-08-18
STEVENSON SPEAKS.
Kentucky Democrats Addressed
by the Illinois Leader.
An Important Event In Democratic Circles
Praise for the Party-A Word from
Watterson on the Political
Situation.


On the occasion of the opening and
dedication of the new Watterson club
house at Louisville, KY. on the even
ing of August 4. Adlai E. Stevenson, of
Illinois, democratic candidate for vice
presidency. was the guest of the even;
ing, and in response to very cordial
greeting spoke upon the club and it's
purposes, and in reference to the noted
Kentuckian after whom it was named
said:
..As an nlinoisan may be pardoned for re-
ninding you of the fact that knew Mr.. Wat
presidency which Immediately preceded our
great war. His political fortunes, like my own,
were cast with the great democratic chieftain,
Stephen A. Douglas. When the momentous is
sues that then divided people and sections
passed from the domain OF debate and of the
ballot to the dread arbitranent OF arms, I be-
Heved with the great senator of my state that
the directest road to peace lay through the
most stupendous preparation for war From
the beginning to the close Of that great conflict
was for the maintenance, at whatever cost, of
our federal union. With the crowning victory
at Appomatox, the disbaDding of the hostile
armies and the restoration of federal authority
in all Of the states, came questions which to the
people of the south overshacowed all other
questions.
IT believe with the democratic party in the
feet restoration of the union was to be wrought
out-not in the spirit OF hate, but in the Hottest
spirit of patriotism, that sublime patriotism
which inspired the words: with malice
toward none with charity for all, with firm
ness in the right as God gives US to see the
right
With some of the states Of this union the
period Of reconstruction was but another name
for misrule, for political ostracisIn of the white
race, for robbery OF people already innpoyer-
iShed by war, for outrage upon rights OF prop
erty and of people-so nonstrous almost
to challenge belief. In a word. all that was
Ioathsome and all that offensive in that
which by missioner was called government in
many of the southern states can be summed up
in the one word: Reconstruction
cit would serve no wise purpose to revive the
memories of this era, but for the reason thai
we are now confronted by the startling fact
that the party in power stands pledged to the
reenactment of the force bill History would
but repeat itself The evils that would follow
their counterpart only in those which make
up shameful a part of the reconstruction
period
IN view of what I have mentioned, and for
the further fact that with such powerful auxl-
iaries in northern enterprise and northern capt.
tai the south stands upon the threshold OF q
material development unknown to this genera
ton, can it be possible that the American
people will now consent that the hands be
turned back upon the dial and the err. of mis-
rule, of outrage and Of violence again be inau-
guratedf
II have suggested Mr. President and be-
lieYe that the dedication of the Watterson club
house is an event which may DC far-relching in
lis consequences Within its walls great pub
lie tions viii be discussed. I cannot doubt
that in the pending struggle for political SUI
premacy, and in those which to follow, the
WatterSon club will prove the faithful ally and
counsellor of the great historic party which
came in with Jefferson, and which for near a
century has been the bulwarlZ OF the rights Of
der
that stands for justice to ali. with special i'm
ulUnities TO none, which stands for tariff re-
form for q free ballot unawed by power; which
stands for the honest methods IN government,
economy in public expenditures and relief
to the people from the burdens of unjust taxa
ton
more than all, with the years Will come new
problems for solution; grave problems, the
OutgrOwth of advancing civilization: problems
which pertain TO social government and munich
pal admins traton; which pertain. it may be,
to diplomacy and to war, aye, which take hold
of the very foundations OF the social fabric. Let
trust that in all the coming years from the
hall dedicated tonight there viii spring an in
fac2cs and power ever for the right, ever for
The defense of the unfortunate and of the cp-
pressed, ever for that which Is noble ana pure
at the hearthstone and in the council, ever for
the maintenance, at wha tever cost of our DEM
ocratic institutions and the peFpetuity of the
American republic.
Mr.. Watterson, though still suffering
from his recent illness, made an ad-
dress, in which he said:
1--WE are upon the threshold Of another ma
tional campaign. It is the duty Of each one
Of US to pull OF his coat and put his Shout
der to the wheel For my own part I have
been steadily and hard at work since the adj
journment Of the national convention, leaving it
for detractors who know not whereof they
speak TO waste their time throwing tufts Of
grass. It seems to an2CSe them and it does not
hurt me, SO why should I explain?
81 have all my life Advocated the wisdom OF
the many, and if its verdict at Chicago had
been never so much opposed to my wishes I
should not have dreamed of disputfng it.
But, as matter of fact. it is known to all my
intimate associates that went to the national
convention satisfied that nothing could pre-
vent the nomination of MI Cleveland Indeed,
three weeks in advance of the convention I
wrote to friends IN the east, holding an i'm
portant relation to its action, proposing the
withdrawal Of further opposition and declaring
that would take part in no movement to work
the two-thirts rule against the will of the ma
| jority. / reached Chicago, expecting nothing
except Cleveland; I got Stevenson for vice
president and ringing declaration in favor of a
tariff for revenue only. What else do you sup
pose would have been required to satisfy NE?
The earth?
mo. no, gentlement we are democrats. dyed
in the wool, and, when the party speaks the
word with US is close ranks and move for
wardl This club and its associate CLUBS in the
city and throughout the state guarantees Of
democratic unity and devotion Before the ma
tional convention we had our choice OF c.ndi-
dates, as was the right of each of Us to have.
Now that the convention has made the ticket
and fixed The lines we are and all for Cleve-
land and Stevenson, with no 1ongings or re-
gretS, with no bac!zbitirGS or backslidingS, but
before Us the robbcr horde Of the robber tariff
and above Us the broad ensign OF the true faith
bearing The inscription: We deHouncc repub-
Ican protection Us a fraud, taxing the labor Of
TIE great majority of the American people for
the benefit of the few. We declare it TO be q
fundamental principle OF the democratic party
that the federal government has 70 power to
impose ard collect tariff duties except for the
purposes OF revenue only, and we demand that
the collection Of such taxes shall &c limited 10
tie necessities CT the government when honest
IS and economically aG11iaistcred' -
SCIENCE As Ii FLIES.