New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-03
THE RHODE ISLAND BATTLE
TWO STIRRING REPUBLICAN MASS-MEETNGS
IN PROVIDENCE.

MAsTERLY SPEECHES BY GOVERNOR M'KINLEY
AND EXsPEAKER REED-MR. BLAINE's LIT
TER-MR. CLEVELAND READS SPEECH
ON THE OLD LINES TO AN ENTHUsI-
AsIIC GATHERING OF DEMOCRATS.
FROM A srAYF CORRESPONDENT TRIBUNE
Providence. r. l., April 2.-To-day has been
political carnival in Rhode Island, with the num-
merry the Democratic side, and with the
pleasurablc excitement Of well-conducted campaign
Oratory the Republican side. There no
joint debate between Mr.. Cleveland and eX-Gover.
nor Campbell in favor Of tarifSmashing and
Governor Mckinley and Mr. Reed in defence Of
the protective system. The Democratic committee
declined to accept the Republican proposal for
joint debate, and did it with Characteristic
wriggle and very poor grace. The party pro-
grammes carried out without modification
Mr.. Cleveland arrived at the station early in tho
afternoon. received with great cordiality by
large audience at the Opera House. and had
public reception at the City Hall in the even-
ing. While he failed to bring with him tho
collateral required by The Providence Journal"
before his authority to speak for the Democratic
party could be recognized, he produced virtuous
homily upon the duties and obligations of citizen.
ship and the virtues Of tariff reform, and ex.
cited not a little enthusiasm
remarkably stirring mass-meetings, in which Ma
tional issues were discussed by masters Of poiti-
cal debate, without equivocation or reserve.
Governor Mckinley, after speaking in Woonsocket
late in the afternoon, returned here in time TO
make two eloquent and well-sustained argumenta-
tive appeals on behalf of honest money, and the
tariff which bears his name. Mr. Reed was also
at his BEST being as dry as mummy wrapper
and as bright and sparkling in his epigrams as a
Providence jewellers showcase. The Democratic
mummery in the streets and the racket Of jostlng
crowds and marching clubs were designed TO dis
turb the flow of argument and TO break the force
Of oratOry at the Republican meetings, but the
plans of the jewellers thwarted by the earnest
of the speakers and the enthusiasm of the great
audiences gathered to listen TO them.
Mr.. Cleveland was expected as early as o'clock,
but owing TO the detention Of the train, the great
audience in the Opera House was compelled to
wait until half past before he appeared upon the
platform During this long interval it enter
tained by various speakers, and allowed 70 dis
port itself much as it pleased. EX-Judge Wilbur.
Of Brooklyn, made violent TRADE a recreant
Republican who gored in his shame, and bias
phemousy declared that all the good Repub-
licans were either in Heaven or in the Demo-
cratic party. Iceman' Turner from Washing
ton, took up mis- parable, and sought TO interpret
il as tariff reform. Then there were wild shouts
from opposing factions for their rival leaders.
Honey, Brennan and McNally. Mayor Honey
excused himself. with striking presence of mind;
and the Brennanites and McNallyites were howled
down. At fifteen minutes past 4. when the audi
ence was swetering in heat and foul air. there
was great jubilee from the band and furious
uproar from the audience.
1t was a false alarm. II was not Mr.. Cleye-
land but only Governor Russell, who had time
for a five-minute speech before catching the train
for Boston. He had enthusiastic welcome.
and at once referred to Mr.. Cleveland as the
Democracy's great leader, and to tariff reform rs
a sacred principle Of political faith. lie described
the pending election weighted with respon-
sibilities and opportunities for the Rhode Island
Democracy. 1t was within its power he declared.
TO lead the Democracy of New-England and
the Democracy of the Naton and 10 de-
eide the Presidential election in advance.
After another exchange of compliments between
rho followers of Brennan and McNally, Congressman
NcAdoo started in to fill the remaining paIses, and
was SO interested in his work that it was with
difficulty that he was choked oil by the committee
men when Mr. Cleveland had actually entered the
hall, at the rear Of the stage. Then the pah'lhg'
exhausted and excited assemblage gave vent To Its
emotions by tumultous applause for Mr.. CleVe-
land long continued and emphasized at the
end bv cheers. Mr.. Wardwell, the Democratic
candidate for Governor, attempted 10 say
few words and then to introduce
Governor Campbell but the crowd had been
waiting for hours for Mr. Cleveland. and would
not listen to anyone else.
Mfr Wariwell then introduced Mr.. Cleveland
a. the ex-Prcsident and the next President ap-
parcntly overlooking the fact that Mr.. Cleveland
had recently severely reprimanded Senator Hid
for going about the country and working ardu-
ously 10 secure nomination. Mr.. Clevellnd
spoke for more than half hour. reading his
manuscript and being closely confined To MS
notes He was not distinctly heard in all parts OF
the house, and evidently spoke with difficulty IN
the close atmosphere of the overcrowded stage.
He began by referring TO Rhode Islands place OF
honor in the Presidential year, and declared Ia
his shrillest treble that bribery and corruption
could not smother the awakened conscience OF thc
Nation He then described the cause IN whlch
the Democracy was enlisted as the peoples cause
and drew from those words intimations of inspra-
ton for American manhood. He was interrupted
by a hoarse cry: Give us some silver put
went on pacidly ringing the changes on the peo-
pies ca tse, until he succeeded in deciphernS Oh
the banner the words Tariff Reform
That principal he anayZcd in smooth and SYM
mctrica generalization, until at last he announced,
amid frantic applause that fidelity to tarih reform
was a test of loyalty to the peoples cause After
quoting from an eminent jurst, whom he did
not name. this reference TO the tariff: "lt is
none the less n robbery il done under the gulse
of law and called taxation, he proceeded in glow
ing periods to define tariff reform as mission OF
the highest patriotism. There followed a his
torical reference to the origin Of tarih reform
under his Administration to its disastrous deieas
in 1853. and to the Waterloo of Protection IN
1890 He reviewed the arguments employed
against tariff reform in 1888, brought in the evils
of the surplus, and drew consolation from the over
whelming Republican defeat of 1890. "We have
never lowered our standards, he exclaimed, In