The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-20
FIRSTGUNOF THE CAMPAIGN
Prominent Republicans Speak at a Big
Political Gathering in Boston.
Issues Discussed by Senator Dolph and Ex.
Speaker Reed-Commissioner Roosevelt
and Assessments-TheH Harvard Club.

BOSTON, April 19.-The dinner of the Re-
publican Club at Music Hall. this evening,
was the largest political gathering of the
season. and there was sounded the opening
gun of the national campaign in this State.
Hon. John Simpkins. president OF the club.
presided. Others present were: Senator
Joseph n. Doiph. OF Oregon; Hon. Theodore
Roosevelt. chairman of the United States
Civil-servIce Commission; ex-senator Hill,
of Colorado; ex-Speaker Reed and John l..
Dodge. president of the Harvard Repub-
lican Club.
President Simpkins delivered brief
opening speech. He then introduced Sem
ator Dolph. who spoke upon the silver
question. He said. in part Il believed Mt
the time that the Presidents speech at AL
bany upon financial questions had more to
do with the restoration of confidence and
the renewal of prosperity than all other
causes combined. and to-day the knowl-
edge that free coinage Is impossible as long
as Benjamin Harrison is President post
pOnes the coming of that time when our
stock of gold will no longer be able to
maintain at par our silver currency.
Whatever diversity of opinion there may
be IN this country as to the effect of free
coinage. there is no diversity of opinion
upon 1t among the fnanciers and statesmen
OF Europe; none can be found
who believe that free coinage of
silver in the United States would have the
effect to permanently increase the value
of silver. much less to raise it to 1929.
feel that q change of public sent iment has
taken place in most OF the Western States,
ana that neither of the national cOnven-
tIons will have the temerity to declare for
tie tree coinage of silver. and If the Ques-
tlon Is In issue the verdict OF the people at
the coming presidential election will be
against it," The Oregon Senator was fire.
quently interrupted by applause, and was
listened to with deep interest. A state
menr that a free-coinage bill could not be
passed in the Senate. and his reference to
President Har.ison's opposition to such
legislation called forth loud applause, as
dld his statement OF his own position and
that of his party in the West
The pext speaker was John l.. Dodge,
president of the Harvard Republican Club.
He declared that the ma ajority of students
at Harvard are aud always have been
adherents to the principles of the Repub-
lican party. Reference to President Har-
rison and Secretary Blaine elected tre-
mendous applause.
Theodore koosevelt was then introduced
and was apDlaIded when he prefaced his
speech by thanking the previous speaker
and SAY ing that Harvard was in as likely
danger of becoming Democratic as it was
of becoming Mormon. Said Mr.. Roosevelt
IN part; Il have yet one more possible
ahead of me. and in this fight L
am confident / can reckon on the
hearty help of the Massachu-
setts Republican Club. Next fall intend
lection of political assessments, by no mat
ter what party. IN Washington; and in.
. tend publicly 10 attack and to interfere IN
every way with any person and any COM
mittee that may be engaged. directly or in
directly. In levylng such assessments in
violation of law. We have now had Re-
publican administration for three years,
and for two years We had q Republican
Congress; and l say that the record made
by tho Republican administration aud
made by the Republican Congress entities
the party TO the gratitude of the American
people and gives 1t right to ask their
suttrages for it's continuance in power
Finally. ex-Speakor Reed was warmly
greeted. and spoke in part thus: "rariif
and silver bills are tremendous instru-
mentalIties for good or evil. But the
present and Immediate future of this
country depends upon the state of the
human mind this moment more than any
thing else. We are on the verge of pros
perity, and all that keeps it Oft is uncer-
tainty born of the Democratic party. No
tariff bill they could frame would be worse
talnty under which they are keeping us.
Uncertainty IS the bane OF modern busi-
ness. Modern business demands there
should be no tluctuation. and has its hope
in the small percentage OF q steady business
After full discussion before the people we
passed q tariff bill which, day by day, has
been growing In the favor Of the people.
Is II entitled to q chancef / do not find
any fault with any man who criticises the
tariff. Ii has errors. which can be correct
ed. But there is n wide margin between
the correction of errors and the revision of
the tariff. i have seen two revisions of the
tariff. and every one of them had as many
errors as the preceding. and the Demo-
Gratis were always maddest at the last.
Democrats say the silver legislation of 1880
was all wrong. Perhaps IL would not have
been passed If some Democrats had
been. IL 1890. of the opinion they
think they are in 1872. But, passed
when il was. it saved this country from
free coinage of silver. from disaster.
Whenever you want anything done You
can come back 10 that old fountain which
flows necessarily with noble deeds the
Republican party of Abraham Lincoln.
That WAS an inspiring remark of Mr. Crisp
when he was elected Speaker. No step
backward III they can prevent themselves
from slipping backward then they are in
the full sunlight of grace and glory. With
ns We know that shadow can never turn