People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-09-16


party, but my answer to that indict-
ment is, that while all these wrongs,
all theseIevils were being perpetrated,
all of you, my friends of the third
party, were members of the Demo
cratic party. While putting faith in
this indictment, you are only arraign-
ing yourselves4 You may make
it as black as you please, but, as I
said at Charlottesville, you might
make every Democrat a devil, and
every follower an imp, but you would
only be blackening your own politi-
cal record and the record Of your
associates. You have laid down in
the same political bed; you have
.partaken of nourishment at the same
political table; you have been fed
out of the same spoon, and whatever
sins of omission and commission you
prove on the Democratic party, you
are particeps criminis, and the blacker
you make out this Indictment against
the Democratic party, the blacker
you make your own record. Great
cheering and long continued applause
interspersed with shouts of derision.)
Where were you then? You farm
ers, who are gong to purify every
thing; you men who are going to
tear down the old flag and put up
new one in its place; you who are
going to abolish poverty and bring
abundance to everybody, where were
you then, ask? You cannot say
you did not know it.
A voice. Our leaders did not tell
us about these things.
Mr.. Black. Why did not your
leaders tell you SO?
The same voice; We let the old
leaders go; we have young leaders
now. Laughter and cheering from
both sides.)
A voice. Hurrah for Watson,
where are you at?
Other voices. Hurrah for Mr..
Black, hit 'em again, you can do
it.
Mr.. Black. (Facing in the direc-
ton of the first voice. My friend,
you have done a timely and a
friendly service. Turning to the
audience.) He has come to my re-
lief, even if I have not got any relief
for him, and while he does not know
it, am always willing to give a
man thanks for a favor even if it is
is unwittingly bestowed. Turning
to the voice again with mock gravl-
ty) I am very much Obliged to
you, indeed.
Listen now, my friend, when these
leaders come before you on this plat
form and say that for quarter of a
century they have witnessed the
struggles of the two great political
parties for power and plumber while
grievous wrongs have been inflicted
upon the people, just ask them this
question, why did you not tell us
that long ago?
Listen. They say that this has
been going on for twenty-five years.
Now, if you be gracious, if you be
charitable, if your heart is filed with
milk of human kindness, if you want
the truth, remember that they have
been sleeping all the time that this
has been going on. They belonged
to the same political party, and eat
ing out Of the same political crib.
A voice. Directly in front of
the speaker.) Hurrah for Watson.
Mr.. Black. Well now, Mr.. Wat
son will have an hour and half, and
[ have no doubt but he will be able
to entertain you. Don't disturb me,
please.
Mr.. Watson. directing his words
to the voice1 [ can take care of
him; you boys be quiet, please.
Mr.. Black. Now then, proceed
ing further on this platform, I do not
know what my friends Interpretation
Of it is. would be glad if he would
furnish it to me.
I do not want to do him an injus-
tice. But you will find in the plat
form of this old new political party,
out of which this has been evolved,
a plank in favor of female suffrage.
Many think that there is nothing
but sub treasury in it, but there is a
great deal that you perhaps never
sat down patiently and gave earnest
thought. Listen to this, in the pre-
amble of that platform. (Reads.)
Believing that the forces of reform
this day organized, will never cease TO
move forward until every wrong is
righted, and equal rights and privileges
established for all men and women in
the country.
Now, [ do not claim that that is
in the platform, but it is in the pre-
amble. If woman's suffrage is not
a settled purpose, the trend at least
is in that direction. Some of their
leaders certainly favor it, but do
not say that it is announced as
distinct princip pie, but they do say
that they intend to keep up this agi-
tation until equal rights and equal
privileges are securely established
for all men and women in this coun-
try. Does that mean female suf-
frage? Does that mean that this
agitation is to be kept up until they