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

before you his own public record,
and that I feel called upon to notice.
1t is admitted by him, it is admitted
by all candid men, that when man
presents himself before the people
soliciting their suffrages for any high
office that his public record is the
subject of fair, just and legitimate
criticism.
A voice. That's all right, Colonel;
do it fair.
Mr.. Black. He says that he has
enlightened us. He says that we
lack information. He has said in
other places that we did not read. [
believe that in one of our discussions
he asked the question, with an air of
triumph, whether or not the Demo
Gratis could read. Laughter. Well,
I think they can read. [ think they
have read his public record. / think
that they have read the ridicule, the
invective and the abuse that he has
heaped on the Democratic party
the very party that put him in power.
The very party that entrusted him
with its commission when it sent
him forth with an honor rarely con-
ferred on one so young, to Congress
to take the place of Alexander IL.
Stephens. How did he go there?
Did he 90 there representing the
farming element? Did he 60 there
representing the Alliance ? Did he
go there representing any particular
class or interest? No. He went
there representing the great Demo
cratic party of the Tenth congress-
ional district.
Many voices. Hurrah for Black.
Counter cries-Hurrah for Watson.
Other voices-traitor, traitor. A
gentleman on the corner of the stage,
shaking his head deprecatingly,
You had better stop that, boys.
Mr.. Black. If you have any re-
spect for me, my friends, be quiet
and respectful.
The influence of fear did what
the appeals of Mr.. Black failed to do
Monday night in Augusta, namely,
made them act like gentlemen dur
ing the remainder of the speech
Mr.. Black. I was saying he went
there representing the great Demo
cratic party Of the Tenth congress
slonal district. addressing his re-
marks to Mr.. Watson.) The very
party in which you were brought up.
(Facing the audience.) The very
party that had nursed him. The
Democratic party is his own political
mother. In the arms of that
mother he was tenderly nursed; from
the breast of that mother he drew
the milk that] gave him sustenance
and sustained his life. He went out
Of the Tenth congressional district
and into the Congress of the United
States with the now hated, and de-
spised, and deprecated name of
Democrat written with his own hand
upon his own brow, and now he
comes back with the red sword of
an enemy in his hand. (Cheerlng)
Now, be quiet. l cannot consume
my time going into his political
record in detail, beginning with 888,
when he was Democratic elector.
When he went before the people of
the State of Georgia as an elector on
the Democratic ticket of Grover
Cleveland, this same Grover Cleve-
land who is to-day the standard
bearer of the Democratic party.
This same Grover Cleveland whom
he tells you entered into an unholy
alliance with the monopolists of
Wall street. Why did he not tell
you that in 1888? We had three
political parties then. Do you not
know that ? No voter in 1888 was
confined to the Democratic and Re-
publican parties. We had party
known as the Union Labor party-a
party that has the same financial
platform as your Omaha platform
party almost identical with your
own substantially the same on the
income tax, and the land question,
and these great distinguishing planks
of the parties Of the present day,
with Mr.. Streetor as It's candidate for
the presidency, and in the face of
that party, and in the face of that
platform, and in the face of that can
didate, representing these very prin-
ciples, he went before the people of
the State of Georgia as an elector
for Grover Cleveland and advocated
his claims as a man who had the
courage Of his convictions, as a man
who had the courage to meet every
issue, as man who had the bravery
to strike at every abuse.
A voice. But we were not In
formed then.
Mr. Black. You say you were not
informed. Why did your leaders
not inform you? You say to-
day that for twenty-five years the
Democratic party has been deceiving
you. Then why did not your lead
ers undeceive you?
A voice. Because we were not
organized. Voices from the Demo-
Gratis. Be quiet now, and don't in
terrupt.
Mr. Black. Those statements are
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