Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-10-14
M. A. Hildreth Speaks on Demo-
cratic Doctrine for Two
Hours.
Democrats are Pulled Into Line and
Republicans are of the Same
Opinion Still.
Democratic Rally.

received until he affair come to a focus,
leading democrats were busily at work,
and with creditable energy and persever:
ance arranged affairs, so that the rally
was attended with a moderate amount
of success.
There was not much enthusiasm
among the democrats during the after
noon and the early part of the evening.
The Bismarck cornet band was routed
from its quarters and made to take it's
place on the band stand, from whence
was discoursed strains of ~enlivening
music. Prominent on their repertoire
were Hail Columbia" "Marching
Through Georgia" and Hail Columbia"
After the rendition of these selections,
some one down the street displayed an
audacity deserving of severe criticism in
setting fire to a Roman candle, which
sputtered angrily and refused to go off.
Then a bonfire was lighted in front of
the Atheneum. Not a sound was heard
all this time: everything was still as the
grim and silent grave.
The monotony was broken by the ar
rival of a train from Mandan bearing two
carloads of democrats. They or at least
some of them, brought with them some
brass horns of intricate workmanship,
with which they made some of the most
delightfully."- horrible noises aver heard.
Striking up an air which resembled a
funeral dirge, they marched to the
Atheneum and the fun began.
The audience was composed literally
of ladies, who took advantage of the
cordial invitation extended them by the
committee. The hall was we'll filled,
and those present attentive and appre-
ciative. After a selection by Prof.
Fetzer's orchestra, AID a spasm from the
Mandan band, the noticeable feature of
which was a wild, irrepressible desire on
the part of one of them to, hammer the
head out of the bass drum, the speaker
of the evening, M. A. Hildreth, was in.
troduced by Mr.. Braithwaite. Follow
ing the customary introductories, MI.
Hildreth said that he owed the people of
Bismarck an apology, in that when he
came to the state of North Dakota it
was his intention to locate in Bismarck,
but had been induced to change his in
tentions and take up his residence in
Fargo. He announced the subject of
his speech as taxation, and then
plunged into the occasion with spirit.
He began by saying that he would
deal with many figures and some facts,
and he laid especial emphasis on the
"some," as though it was strange for
democrats to use facts in proof of their
assertions. He said that the republicans,
or at least many of them, were being
converted, and that more of them would
be converted after the next election. AT
which doubtful statement there was the
usual amount of applause from the
democrats.
Mr.. Hildreth then dealt with most Of
the subjects which are usually taken ur
by democratic orators, and in much the
same manner. He, like Cleveland, sue.
ceeded in lodging the tariff issue. The
republican mode of government was, Of
course, all wrong, but he failed to state
wherein 1t was wrong, and to give any
suggestion for improvement, except tha1
ambiguous something, "tarif REFORM" G
something which few democrats are able
to define.
1t would require too long q time to q
into the address in detail. Seyera
things are worthy of note, and anon
them the following: II think every maj
who votes conscietiously will cast biz
ballot for Shortridge for governor anc
O'Brien for congress. I forget thu
names of the other members of thu
ticket" It was a bitter pill to man,
that Mr.. Hildreth could not supplement
his statement and add: "And for Grover
Cleveland for president" But an all
wise executive committee has placed il
out of the power of democrats to vote 70,
Grover, and MI. Hildreth's statement
was tame for this reason. But there
was no way ont Of it and it had to b
swallowed.
But when he came to figures Mr.. Hill
dreth was in his element. He handled
| figures with that wild recklessness char
! acteristic Of a democrat. He commenced
with, the astounding information tina
way back in the sixties there were il
the neighborhood of THREE BILLIONS q
families in the United States
living in somewhere about til,
same number Of houses. He gradual,
increased the number until he hae
living in these United States absooul'