The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-17

$3.50 ., Oohhoit uhhoo W the IOpul1HC cOlu
Tho Gentleman From Kansas" Barely
Touched Upon the FREQ Silver Plank
of tho Third Purity Platform, But Do
clared That His Party Followed the
Counsel OF Washington, Jefferson,
jackson and Lincoln-Mr. Jones Finds
no Argument to Answer, But Gives "a
Clear and Comprehensive Review OF
the Record OF the Democratic Party.
AT 1870 yesterday the Salem town
hall was about three. fourths full of
citizens, who in quiet way had dropped
In to hear joint discussion between
the Hon. w. Baker, member Of Con-
gress from Kansas, and Lawyer S. Z.
Jones, of Roanoke. John Hanna, of
the county, stated the object of the
meeting and introduced Mr.. Baker, who
thereupon descended from the stage
and spoke to the people in a pleasant
conversational manner upon the floor of
the hall.
The speaker started of by informing
his audience that whilst he might not
possess the burning eloquence of Patrick
Henry, yet that Virginia blood coursed
in his veins as his father was born in
the Shenandoah Valley, and that he
had been taught to venerate much that
belonged to Virginia. he came to call
sinners to repentance and believed his
views were right. ."If / am wrong"
said he. ~ want you to take the medi-
cine of the other fellow, but believe |
am nearer Jeffersonian Democracy than
good many who call themselves
Democrats"
Mr.. Baker then stated that all the
principles in which Populists believed
were based upon those found in the fare
well address of Washington, the Decla-
ration of independence. of Jefferson, the
message TO Congress of Andrew ackson,
and the speeches of the immortal Lin
coin. After this he gave short account
OF the farmers OF Kansas, who, he said,
found themselves a little poorer each
year than they wero before. He then
compared prices of farm produce from
1850 down to tho present, showing that
there had been q steady decline, until
now it was selling in several instances
below the cost OF production.
Continuing. Mr.. Baker said: SIN 1868
Secretary McCulloch stated that the
American people as people are vir-
tually out of debt. In 1890 Senator
Plumb, of Kansas, announced tuat a
debt of twenty billions OF dollars rested
on the American people. Senator Sher-
man in recent number OF the Forum
writes that three fifths Of all the wealth
of America is to day in the hands of
81 1000 people. In 1860 this was land
of homes. In 1893 it is land of
mortgages" In this pessimistic tone
the Congressman endeavorei to show
that the country was fast going to
perdltion and that the only safety lay
In the success OF the Populist party.
Taking for his text these words:
"Gold and silver have proven them
selves adapted to all the wants OF trade;
If you destroy one you double the value
OF the other; If you destroy one-half of
a peoples money you double the debt of
the debtor class and double the credit
of the creditor class" he proceeded
then to show that in the past twenty
years the rich had become richer and
the poor poorer, and that for every
millionaire there are thousand
beggars, condition which the Peoples
party wants to reverse.
After paying handsome tribute to
Mr.. Cooke, the Populist gubernatoria
nominee, Mr.. Baker launched into
somewhat mixed harangue on the free
silver question which, however, he did
not present in the clearest manner
possible and ended by urging his hearers
to join the Peoples party and help to
bring the Government back to the
purity of the days of our fathers.
MIR. JONES REPLY.
Capt. M M. Rogers then thanked the
gentleman from Kansas for his good
In 10ar nt In ooh
5. e. Jones, of Roanoke This gentle
and put his audience in a good humor
by starting off with an amusing anecdote
at the expense of the Congressman.
why should you desert the standard of
Democracy" said Mr.. Jones. HAS
the gentleman from Kansas given you
a single reason why you should desert
the time-honored flag and flock to the
Populist banner? | am proud of the
Democratic party and its record. What
has the Democratic party done here for
the people of Virginia?'
The speaker dwelt upon the satisfac
tory and honorable settlement of the
State debt; on the free schools of the
State, reminding his colored hearers
that the whites paid taxes to support
their schools; on the pensions paid and
homes found for wounded Confederate
soldiers, and upon the maintenance of
asylums for those of infirm mind-all
the work of the Democratic party.
AS to the hard times spoken of by the
Congressman, Mr.. Jones admitted th;e
fact, but asked WHO is responsible
for this? Is it the Democratic party?
II any party is responsible the Republi-
can is, because the Democrats have not
been in power for thirty years. They've
had no opportunity no breathing spell
till March, 1893, and that's q LONG tinna