The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-10

tHsihians THAT Tney Are worse Than
the Ante-bellum Slave-His Speech
Noticibly Devoid of Suggestions for
Bettering the Condition of the People.
The political campaign was opened in
Roanoke last night by Judge W. J.
Kerr, of Colorado, who made an address
OF two hours in length in the old OpeIa
House to an audience Of about 500 voters,
composed about equally of Republicans
and DEMOCRATS, great many of whom
seemed to be, Judging from the applause,
in sympathy with the silver statesm an
of the West.
In listening to Judge Kerr the con-
clusion Is soon reached that he is an
able lawyer, an educated man, an orator
and humorist. He started out by Civ
ing glowing description OF the pro-
gress OF science and industry in America.
I'VE have" said he, "solved all human
problems save one and that is the prob
lem OF government" Though in the
whole two hours peech no solution was
offered except to refrain from voting the
Democratic ticket.
The judge claimed that Virginia is
100 years behind the civilization that
existed here before the war, except in
the instance OF human slavery
The condition of Virginians now
are worse than those of the chattel anti
bellum slaves. The people before the
war were out Of debt and any farmer
could loan you $500 or $500.
He made the startling assertion that
in the last twenty five years Virginia
farming land had deprecated in value
at least so per cent.
81 deny" exclaimed the Judge, "tbat
this is the land of the free and the
home of the brave. We are not brave
people. Our moral courage has become
reminiscence of tho past. And you
noke as we ara in Colorado"
The existing state O! affairs, he said,
was brought about by the legislation OF
the old parties that we had always wor.
SHIPPED. The civil war has not cos. this
section as much as the Solid South has
cost it. In 1854 he stumped several
States for Grover Cleveland, and no
hoped God would pardon him for IL.
The judge swore he was as good Dem
ocrst as Dave Hill, and allowed that if
Jefferson and Jackson were here ,hey
would not vote with Sherman and
Voorhees, for the unconditional repeal
of the silver pure hasing clause.
Then he talked the silver question.
The first mint he said was established
In 1894 when dollar represented q
value and there was no such thing az a
gold dollar. The first real estate trans.
action was made with silver and from
the earliest dawn OF history to the late
civil war silver was the standard. Silver
was first demonetized by England after
Waterloo when all the world owed her.
Germany did the same thing when she
compelled France to pay that enormous
debt of 81, 900, 900, 900.
He said gold and silver was the only
money that does not establish relation
| of debtor and creditor. There never
was anything but fat money in the his
| tory of the world from the coon skin
money to the present day. A dollar is
not 100 cents worth of gold or silver
but an idea. Speaking about 60 cent
dollars the speaker would like job
of redeeming silver dollars at % cents,
for ever and ever, amen.
When the Government, he said, issued
bonds, it committed treason more damn.
able than did the South in firing on
| Fort Sumpter.
He drew graphic and fearful picture
| of idle shops, starving men, pale-faced,
emaciated women crying for bread and
the country on the verge of ruin. This
he attributed to men thinking moro oil
party than Of country.
The New York World had published
letters from every town in the State
that the people were unanimously in
| favor of the unconditional repeal OF the
| silver bill. This he said was lie and
| the World never could tell anything
| else.
At this juncture the speaker took off
his coat, laid 1t down on a chair ana
proceeded TO talk of the relations be.
tween England and the rest of the
world Great Britain was the grand
buHco steerer OF the universe and Uncle
Sam was the gentleman from the rural
districts. He nuently and brilliantly
closed by asking how in the name OF
God people could go on voting the Dem
ocratic ticket.
Fighting in the Argentine Republic.
BUENos AYREs Sept. Desperate
fighting occurred in the streets of Tcuma
to-day. The people of the town fred
upon the rebels from the house tops
but they were finally forced to fee.
The rebels seized the railroad station
and dislodged the force of troops which
was guarding the government cabildo
Gang of Counterfeiters Arrested.
ATLANTA. Ga, Sept. "a gang OF
twenty-three counterfeiters operating
In Clark and neigh boring counties have
been arrested. They melted britannia