Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-03
ROSSER AND PENCE.
THESE TWO ADDRESS THE popULIsT
MEETING At THE THEATRE.
The Former Makes a Rambling s,esc, and
the Latter Very Ingenious One
Democrats Present.

Der OF Democrats and youths.
Mr.. Walter Grant. Of Henrlco. presided,
and a full brass band furnished music.
In each Of the boxes were several ladies'
Mr.. Grant introduced the speakers, pre-
senting General Thomas l.. Rosser first
GENERAL Rosser was received with cheer.
but two-thirds OF II was for Rosser, the
dashing Confederate cavalry leader He
spoke Tor nearly an hour, and his re-
marks were very rambling.
General Rosser commenced by saving
that he was before the audience 10 tell
them the truth, which had moved him
to go In the direction he hoped they would
also go. He alluded to his war record.
and said that In this contest he was still
nghting for Virginia. The Populists. he
asserted, would win now because they
were getting aid from the North and
West. Virginia would not lose now as
she did in the war between the States
General Rosser went back to the first
settlement Of the country and then took
mp the Inauguration Of this republic and
the birth of the star Of liberty which in
spired the tongue OF Henry, the pen Of
Jefferson and the sword Of Washington.
He explained what State sovereignty
meant.
VIVA RI liJNS l 1 I ll'Ns
Finally he came down to the new party.
as he called It. and said the first land
grant ever made TO a railroad was made
by the Democratic party 10 the Illinois
Central. and that when party granted
the public domain II violated the Com
stitution OF the United States. He claimed
that the railroads were already con-
trolled by the government. Freights We're
not toll. but tax, and when they dis
eliminated they robbed the people. Cen
eral Rosser next touched upon banks and
said only the sovereign State could issue
money The government had control Of
the banks and II IL Disseminated against
any one class II violated the Constitution
As 10 the question of tariff. If Con-
gress comes forward with a bill TO re-
duce tariff II will be found that IL can
not be reduced much. What was col
lccted at the custom-houses would not
pay the pensiOn-rOl.
When Mr.. Cleveland was first nomi-
mated the cry of the Democrats was
turn the rascals out The speaker was
in Minnesota at the time, and cried It
as loud as anyone else. Mr.. Cleveland
was elected on that issue. but when he
failed to turn the rascals out and in
crease the currency the people turned
him out Mr.. Cleveland he claimed,
had fooled the people once. an1 he Ros-
SER believed he would do it again.
PROMISES NOT FULFILLED.
General Rosser reviewed his own work
IN the last presidential campaign. and
what he seid he promised the people
on behalf OF the Democratic party, but
his promises were not fulfilled. The
first blow the extra session of Congress
struck was at money. He claimed that
Cleveland had violated the pledge he
had taken when he was nominated.
General Rosser in paying his attention
TO the repeal bill, charged that II had
been lcbbied through Congress by cor
porations, flnanciers. etc, and then
went into dissertation on the wicked
ness of corporations, ancient, medieval.
and modern. He asserted that in some
States the legislatures were owned 10y
the corporations, judges were controlled
by them. the press was subsidized by
them, and the pulpit apologized for
them.
The speaker next referred to Colonel
O'Ferrall, and charged that hs had
been Inconsistent, and said that he be
leved II his duty to oppose his election.
He claimed that the repeal bill was not
Democratic measure. because II had
been passed by the aid Of Republicans.
At this point some excitement was
created by Gentleman, who gave his
name as Bernard. rising In the audience
and asking permission TO answer Gene
raj Rosser. There were loud cries of
"Rosserl "RosserW Bernard" Der
nardw Put him OUT Let him speak, "
etc, but finally Mr.. Grant answered that
no interruption would be permitted, and
Mr. Bernard sat down.
General RpSspr then closed his speech
with an anecdote.
Speech of Mr.. Pence.
At the conclusion Of General Rosser S
remarks Mr.. Grant introduced Hon. Laie
Pence OF Colorado.
Mr.. Pence began by quoting Colonel
O'Ferralrs remarks regarding Captain
Cocke-that when you took nothing from
nothing. nothing remained, and claimed
that Edmund Randolph was positive
factor. He had been something In peace,
and something in war. and something
added TO something had made governors
of Virginia before. He insisted that Cap
tain Cooke, who was behind tho scenes,
come forth.
Captain Cooke did so. and was re-
celved with great cheering.
Mr. Pence resumed. but Mr.. Bernard
again arose. and wanted TO divide time,
and a colloquy ensued which at one time
threatened 10 end in row.
a POWER IN RICHMOND.
At last quiet was restored and Mr..
Pence made a third start, in which he
claimed that the Third party was a
power in Richmond. If. he said, there
was I'm the hearts and minds of the people
substantial reason why the Populist party
should exist il would continue. Political
parties. he claimed, were not created by
men, but created themselves. He made
an ingenious presentation OF the respec-
tive positions Of the rich and the poor IN
this country; complimented Captain Cooke
and grew pathetic when he referred to
the trial involved In breaking away from
old political ties.
Mr. Pence then took up the financial ques-
ton. and went over the hackneyed sta
tistics regarding the amount of money
per capita some years ago and the amount
now. He contended that the present con-
dition of things was concentrating the
money of the country into the hands OF
the few, and the direction OF his argu-
ment was that this could only be- RENE
died by the triumph of the Populist party.
He read from the Democratic platform of
1884 on the money question and charged
that the party violated its obligation. lie
also charged that the kepublcans hau
done the same thing. He paid his atten-
ton to Wall street. and asserted that the
whole country had been buildins up the
money interest of New York city. and
catering to the State of New York even
TO the nominating of Presidents.
SILVER, SILVER, SILVER.
The latter part of Mr.. Pence's speech
was devoted To criticising President
Cleveland and Colonel O'Ferrall and the
rest Of the Virginia congressman, except
Mr.. Jones. for their vote on the silver
question, and in so doing he by way OF
parenthesis paid compliment 10 Senator
Daniel lie attacked the money-ienders
without gloves. Mr., Pence was very
clever in many of his hits. He Is smart
and quick. and drew applause even from
those who did not agree with him.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Fences speech
Mr.. Pierson introduced Captain Cooke
who spoke very briefly, and the meeting
then adjourned.