Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-05
BLUE GRASS DEMOCRACY.
A Great Day for Kentucky
Democrats.
Dedication of the WattersOn
Club House.
Gen. A. E. Stevenson the Orator of
the Occasion.
Don M. Dickinson Made Chairman of
the Democratic Campaign Conn
mittee-GeneraI Political
Intelligence.

By the Associated Pressl
LOUISVILLE, KY, Aug. 4.--This has
been great day and night for Ken
lucky Democrats. The opening and
dedication of the new Watterson club
house drew together all the leaders of
the party in the state. The governor
and staff came down from Frankfort,
and the legislature was left without q
quorum, but the chief feature Of the oc-
casion was the presence Of Hon. Adlai
E. Stevenson, the Democratic nominee
for vice-president, who came at the in
vitation of the Watterson club, and
spoke both to great concourse of peo-
pie at the Liederkranz hall, and TO q
smaller gathering at the Watterson club
house, where he was given reception,
and where Watterson, in spite of his
severe illness, Of which he shows de-
cided traces, also spoke.
Flags and bunting shone everywhere.
The Watterson club house was gorgeous
with decorations by day, and ablaze
with illuminations by night.
Hon. John Young Brown, governor of
Kentucky, introduced General Stevenson
to the immense audience. He was
greeted with tumultuous enthusiasm.
Among other things he said:
"When the momentous issues that
divided people and sections passed from
the domain of debate and ballot to the
dread arbitrament of arms, 1 believe,
with Stephen A. Douglas, that the most
direct road to peace lay through most
stupendous preparations for war. From
the beginning to the close of that great
conflict, was for the maintenance. at
whatever cost, of the federal union. With
the restoration of federal authority, I
believed with the Democratic party in
the north, that the perfect restoration
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 re-
construction was but another name for
mlsrule-for the political ostracism OF
the white race for the robbery OF the
people already impoverished by thewar;
for outrage upon the rights and prop
erty of the people--so monstrouR AZ now
almost to challenge belief. In word !,
all that was loathsome, and all that was
offensive in that which was called gov
ernment in many of the southern states,
can be summed up in one word--recon-
struction.
"It would serve no wise purpose to
revive the memories of this era, but for
the reason that we are now confronted
by the startling fact that the party in
power stands pledged to the reenact-
ments 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 30 shameful part
of the reconstruction period. In view of
what i 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 shall be
turned back upon the dial and the era
of misrule, outrage and violence again
be inaugurated?
81 believe the dedication of the
Watterson club house is an event which
may be far-reaching in it's consequences.
Within its walls great public questions
will be discussed. | cannot doubt that
the pending struggle for political su-
premacy: and in those which are to fol-
| low, the Watterson club will prove a
! faithful ally and counselor in the great
historic party which came in with JEFF
| ferson, and which for nearly century
has been the bulwark OF the rights Of
the people. More than all, with years
will come new problems for solution !;
grave problems, the outgrowth of
advancing civilization; problems which
| pertain to social government
and municipal administration, which
pertain, it may be, to questions of di-
plomacy and OF war. Aye, which take
hold of the very foundations of the So
4 cial fabric. Let US trust that in all the
coming years from the hall dedicated
tonight, there will spring influence and
power ever for the right; ever for the
defense of the unfortunate and Of the
oppressed; ever tor that which is noble
and pure at the hearthstone and in the
council; ever for the maintainance al
whatever cost of our Democratic institu'
tions, and the perpetnityof the Amer
ican republic"
Speeches were made by Hon. J. Proc
tor Knott. Hon. James A. Mckenzie
Hon. Boyd Winchester, Hon. Albert s
Willis, and others.
After the adjournment of the mas
meeting, General Stevenson gave pub
lie reception. The memberso Of the Wat
terson club and guests then repaired Il
the club house, where repast, followed
by a feast of reason and flow of soul
awaited the Democratic braves.
Watterson made an address in whicl
he said that, before the national con
vention, the Democrats had their choic
OF candidates, as was the right of eacl
to have. Now that the convention ha
made ticket and fixed the lines, the
are one and all for CLEVELAND and Ste