St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-27
SHERIDAN's SPEECH.
He Opens the Republican Cam
paign in Rather Unsatis-
factory Manner.
The Hall Is Packed When He
Opens Up, but They Thin Out
Before He Closes.

The Republicans have opened their
campaign. They did it with a meeting
at ArmOry hall, Minneapolis. last night.
They will spend today wondering why
they did it; or, if it was absolutely nee
essary to open it, why they didn't do it
with can opener. Armory hall was
filled when the meeting began; it was
only partially filled when the meeting
closed. Minneapolis Republicans really
desired to do this campaign opening
right. They honestly wanted to atone
for the snub to Benny contained in
the Standardization of that
ratification meeting last June. With
the best intention in the world, they in
up from Chicago and deliver a rafting,
rOuSing campaign speech. Sheridan
came up. and was properly introduced
by the junior senator from Minnesota.
Then. in spite OF the good intentions OF
the Minneapolis Republicans. they were
forced into virtually insulting Gen.
Sheridan. Hundreds of them left the
hall in the middle of his speech, and
some of those who remained We're
so unmannerly as to hoarsely call,
''Knute! Knute!" while Gen. Sheridan
was talking. They just couldn't sit
through Sheridan's speech: that was
all. Even so enthusiastic Republican
as John GoOdnOw had to march out
while Sheridan talked. Poor Sher dan !!
He was not to blame. lie did the best
he could. But nature never intended
him for campaign orator TO
charm the listening thousands with
the power of his eloquence and
convince them with his logic. His
voice was all right, but he has habit
of pumping" out every other word
strikingly like an auc,ioneer shouting
Going" "Going!" ''iome!" and his
speech was prosy. He tried to be
funny once in awhile, but his jokes
were all old and dog scared, the one
about The plumbers affinity for his
victims money, for eXrmple. Gen.
Sheridan's speech would not be worth
further mention, had not the Republic
ans gone to the expense OF bringing
him 10 Minneapolis and hiring hall
for him to speak in.
10 begin with, Gen. Sheridan grasped
the bloody shirt with both hands, and
faces of those in the front row, tossed
it to the roof, caught it again in one
hand, gave it another flourish and
wound it around his arm. where he
would have it handy for further
use. This exhibition of juggling
evoked little applause from the Union
Veterans league members down in
front but nowhere else. Gen. Sheridan
did that quite spell. Then he turned
to what promised TO he discussion of
the tariff. But the promise was never
fulfilled. Gen. Sheridan must be given
credit for one tminS-ability to learn
from the experience of others.
From the public's reception OF,
and press comments on Gov. Mckln-
ley'S Western speeches he had learned
that il does no good 10 preach that The
American tariff is not a tax and that the
foreigner pays it. So he turned to the
almost equally shop worn argument
about prosperity the child of protection.
He devoted good many minutes to
telling how The vast forests, the mex
haustible mines. buundieSS fertile
praires, the mighty rivers. all
the wonderfully abundant resources
that have made this country
great, are the direct result ) of the beneti-
cent workings of the protective talitf
Then he argued that wages are lower i'll
England. where the population is several
dozen times denser that it is in the
United States, than in the United
States solely because the United States
has protective tariff.
And that was all Gen. Sheridan had
to say i'll his speech. He said it, but
not word of it in new way or such a
way as might condone for his saying it..
No speaker that has been heard in Min
neapolis, not even Judge J. l.. Macdon-
aid, of the Peoples party, has evoked
SO little enthusiasm.
No, Gen. Sheridan will not be asked
to make Republican speech in Mime
apOlis again.
Knute Nelson sat on the platform all
the time Sheridan was speaking. He
looked bored. He said few words at
the close, but didn't say why he was a
tariff retormer four years ago and pro-
tectiOniSt now. Z. }. Buell. wasn't there
to ask him about it. But Sheridan had
lett him SO little time to say anything
that he may be pardoned the omission.
Neither speaker attempted to defend
the Mckinley bill or the force bill.