The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-05
Stevenson, the Douglas Demo.
crat, Alarmed for the South.
ABUSES OF RECONSTRUCTION,
General Aldai Assists in Dedication of
Watterson Club House at Louisville.
Nebraska Republicans in . Deadlock
Over the Gubernatorial Nomin alton
-Farmers' Alliance Poll Big Vote

LOUISVILLE, Aug. 4-This has been q
great day and night for the Kentucky
democrats. The opening and dedication
OF the new Watterson Club house drew to-
gether all the leaders OF the party in the
state. The governor and staff came down
from Frankfort. and the legislature was
lelt without quorum. But the chief
feature OF the occasion was the presence
OF Hon. Adlai E. Stevenson, Democratic
nominee for vice president. who came
at the invitation of the Watterson Club,
ana spoke both to great crowd Of people
at Liederkranz hall and to smaller
gathering at the Watterson club house,
where he was given reception and where
Watterson, in spite of his recent severe
illness, of which he shows decided traces,
also spoke. Flags and bunting shone
everywhere. The Watterson club house
was gorgeous with decorations by day and
ablaze with illumlnations by night. Hon.
John Young Brown, governor of Ken
lucky, introduced Mr. Stevenson to the
mass meeting. He was greeted with tu-
inuituous enthusiasm. Among other
thing he said:
when the momentous issues that divided peo-
pie and sections passed from the domain OF de-
bate and the ballot to the dread arbitratment of
arms, believed with stephen A. Douglas that
the most direct road to peace lay through the
most stupendous preparation for war. From
the beginning to the close of that great con-
hict was for the maintenance. at whatever cost,
OF the federal Union, with the restoration of
federal authority. He believed, with the Demo-
cratic party in the North. that perfect restora-
ton OF the Union was to be wrought out in a
spirit OF patriotism, and not of hate.
With some of the states the period of recon-
ftnv, bob e.
political ostracism OF the white race, for robbery
OF people already impoverished by war, for out
RACES upon the rights of property and person
SO monstrous as now almost to challenge belief.
In word, all that was loathsome, all that was
offensive in that which was called government
in many Southern states can be summed up in
one word, Reconstruction" 1t would serve no
wise purpose to revive the memories OF this era,
but for the occasion that We are now confronted
by the startling fact that the party in power
stands pledged 10 the re-enactment of the
force bill. History would but repeat itself. The
evils that would follow the legislation now
threatened would find their counterpart only in
those which make up SO shameful a part of the
reconstruction period. In view of what have
mentioned. and the further fact that with such
powerful auxiliaries as Northern enterprise and
Northern capital the South stands upon the
Threshold of material development unknown
to this generation, can it be possible that the
American people will now consent that the
hands be turned back atSsa .hs dial and an era
OF misrule, outrage and violence again be inau-
gurated?
believe the dedication of the Watterson Club
house an event which may be far-reaching in
its consequences. Within its walls great public
questions will be discussed. / cannot doubt
that in the pending struggle for political SUI
premacy, and in those which are to follow, the
Wattersou Club will prove faithful ally and
counselor in the great historic party which came
in with Jefferson and which for nearly a GEN.
tury has been the bulwark of the rights of all
the people. More than this, with the years
will come new problems for solution;
grave problems, the outgrowth of advauc-
ing civilization; problems which per-
tain to social government and municipal ad-
mnistration; which pertain, il may be, to ques-
tions of diplomacy and OF war; aye, which take
hold of the very foundations OF the social fabric.
Let us trust that in all the coming years from
the hall dedicated tonight there will spring in
fuenee and power ever for right, ever for the
defense of the unfortunate and the oppressed; !;
ever for that which is noble and pure at the
hearthstone and in council; ever for the main
tenance at whatever cost of our Democratic in
stitutons and the psrpetuity of the American
Republic.
Speeches were made by Hon. J. Proctor
Knott, James Mckenzie, Hon. Bovd
w iHCHesteis IiOH. hicclI o. W HIS ana
Others. After the adjournment of the
mass-meeting Mr.. Stevenson was given a
public reception. The members of the
Watterson Club and guests then repaired
to the club house, where repast, followed
by feast of reason and flow of soul
awaited the Democratic braves Waiter
son made an address. in which he said
that before the national convention
Democrats had their choice of candidates
as it was the right of each to have. Now
that the convention has made the ticket
and fixed the lines, they are one and all
for Cleveland and Stevenson, with no
Ion uojnpS or regrets.