People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-09-30

ing commenced anew long, continued,
uproarous, and, if possible, becoming
more insulting.
Mr.. Watson. There is many man
here tonight who came to hear these
questions discussed, possibly with his
mind not made up, and do you not see
how you are disgusting such men? DO
you not know that fair-minded men,
white and black, will go away with
scorn and contempt for the men who
resort to such rowdyism for party
| that will not allow fair discussion.
When a political party attempts to
| deal with a political situation, it de-
clares it's principles in what is known as
platform. 1t is perfectly fair always
| to hold a party responsible for its plat
form. Further than that, it is held re-
| sponsible for non-fulflment of its
| pledges made in its platform.
| ALTHOUGH your reporter followed the
speaker step by step, being at times in
! touch, it was with the greatest difficulty
l heard his words.
| Mr.. Watson. Now let us consider the
Democratic platform let us see pre-
cisely what it says to the country; let
us see what are its announced prin-
clples let us see whether they are such
as to meet the needs of the country.
| No man doubts that we are in a situa-
ton of grave commercial distress. More
| business troubles, more failures than
ever before. Howls of 1t amt SO; it
| amt so. There is more tenantry less
| land owners more incumbered homes !;
| lessening of prices for labor's products
and an advance on the necessities which
| the laborer consumes. Oppression of
| that sort strikes the common laborer
first, the small land owner next, the
stOre-keeper next then the professional
man ; and the nearer you get to the top
the more general the distress becomes.
| [Howling increasing.
Now, If the Democrats will hear their
own platform they will see that that
| platform declares to the country that
there are two billion five hundred mill
! ion dollars of mortgages on the real es-
tate Of the country, and that the govern
ment is denounced for fostering no in
! dustry so much as it does that of the
sheriff.
AT this point the rowdyism became SO
aggressive that q gentleman with two
laoles withdrew from the meeting. The
| crowd surged up on the platform and
stood eight or ten deep between the
| ladies on the platform-the wives and
| daughters of our best citizens-and the
speaker. These ladies were cut off from
retreat for some time by the yelling de-
MONS From now on could only catch
disjointed sentences.
| Mr.. Watson, Gentlemen, for shame,
don't you see that gentleman withdraw
ing his ladies, probably his wife and
daughter (Cock-a-doodle-do Bow,
wow, WOW. Meow.) Is that a sample
of your manners? Here in the presence
of perhaps your own wives and mothers.
(Cock-a-doodle-doo bah meow.)
My God! have Georgians got to the
place where they Go not respect the fair
womanhood of this grand old State
(Yow, VOW, VOW. We're tired. Bow
WOW meow.) Now you are very anx-
ious to have these honest white working
men and these colored men hear these
questions discussed, are not you?
CLOSING SCENES.
At this point my pen, inadequate at
the best to give more than a very faint
conception of the scene, began to stag
ger IN hopeless imbecility. gave it up
and in the words of an illustrious Demo-
crat asked myself the question, 'Where
am I at %
| The police, who seemed to make no
effort to quell the rowdyism, did offer to
make passage from the hall for Mr..
Watson. They also made way for your
reporter and a lady, who in an unfor-
tunate moment, he escorted to this infa-
mo us gathering.