The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-03
THE POLITICAL ARENA.
PENCE AND RossER HOLD FORTH
FOR THE POPULIsTs.
Large Crowd at the Theatre-Curious
Democrats Present-Oiher Items OF
Political interest TO the City.

efforts on the ely OF Richmond laid
great stress on the public meeting TO take
place al the Richmond Theatre last even
ing. A good crowd was present, the Blues
Band was on hand. and the local leading
Populists from Richmond were all in
evidence. General Rosser, the most valued
proseyte to the Peoples party ranks, and
Congressman Pence from South Dakota.
were the speakers.
General Rosser was the first speaker,
and a large number OF Democrats were
attracted TO the theatre to hear him in
the new role which he has assumed. The
orchestra chairs were filled with a good
sprinkling Of Populists, and nearly all the
applause came from that locality. The
kpubhcan contingent was on hand as
usual, and went into ecstacies at the
abuse Of the Democratic party by its
former adherent.
The dress circle was filled with Demo-
cratic voters and the galleries held quite
a large number of negroes.
Mr. Walter Grant presided ard briefly
introduced General Rosser who spoke for
nearly an hour in one of the most ramb-
ling political discussions ever heard from
a Richmond platform. He failed TO raise
any enthusiasm, and his pOintless efforts
fell fat upon the ears or his audience. He
referred 20 his experience In the west. and
hkened the present political campaign to
the late war, and the political condition to
the distress Of that period. and declared
mat ne was now struggling for the peo-
pes rights as he did i'm those DAYS.
lie viewed the history OF Virginia from
lhe ume OF the first colony and dwelt at
length upon the sovereignty Of the peo-
pie. which he seemed to think was defend
ed only by the New Party. so called TO
distinguish it from the old parties which
me people have had I'm their midst so long.
and which have utterly failed them in
their last hour"
lie charged the Democratic party with
making the first railroad land grant. and
mus violating the Constitution and des-
troying the sovereign rights of the people.
Referring to the charge made that
the Populists wanted the government TO
take control Of the railroads and banks.
ne claimed that the railroads were but
the agents Of the State, and that the
government really had taken control
Of them already in the matter Of rates
ana that the government had a right TO
control them for the good Of the people.
As TO banks General Rosser said that
y.
that the national banks are the agents
of the State and that the government
alone has charge of them and can con-
troll them
BY long jump the speaker then passed
to the tariff question, and prophesied
that Congress would disappoint the peo-
pie on that question as it had done on
the money question. He said that the
tarif was necessary to pay the expenses
OF the government, and that II could
not be much reduced without making Il
necessary TO turn 10 some other source
for money. and that the next step would
be TO sell bonds.
He then entered into a general criticism
Of the Cleveland administration. abused
the President and the party for not
carrying out its pledges.
After a rambling discussion Of the
silver question, I'm which some of the
points We're Obscurely doubtful. General
Rosser turned his guns on American
politics in general and charged that the
country was dominated and controlled by
ring rule; that wherever he had been the
Legislatures were the agents Of great
corporations, the governors Of States but
puppets, the press subsidized Che boped il
Was not so in Richmond. the courts
their registrars, and the State their prey.
and that the same state Of things now
seems to be our doom as it is in the
West
General Rosser next turned his atten-
tion 20 Colonel OFerrall. He said. sar-
castically, that he would not attack his
personal character as his friends would
take care of that, but he would show his
inconsistency in Congress. and charged
that Colonel O'Ferrall had voted on three
ratios Of silver and then voted against
them ALL
General Rosscrs speech e.as Giscon-
nected and failed TO raise any enthusiasm.
LATE Pence.
The next speaker was Hon. Lafs Pence.
Congres sman from South Dakota. He
has a small why figure with a vehement
style of speaking, which resorts to
good deal Of clap-trap TO keep up the
dramatic and noisy effects for which he
untiriI ely labOrs.
Opening with a reference to Colonel
OFuIalIs criticism of Captain Edmund
Cooke on the same stage a week ago,
he made a splendid defence of that
gentlcmans character and standing, and
when closing his complimentary remarks
with a soar of sentiment, he suddenly
wheeled towards the wings Of he stage,
aud raising his arm On high, exclaimed:
"and here now comes the next Cover
nor of Virginia" Captain Cooke stepped
upon the stage, and the dramatic ef-
feet was complete. This ingenious Incl
dent created considerable applause, and
gave Mr. Pence quite a send of.
To follow the Dakota Congressman
through a dry and dreary discussion Of
Western political creeds and all-around
abuse Of the Democratic party, would
take a page Of this paper.
He claimed the right TO come TO Vir-
ginia TO speak on the ground that his
great-grandfather and grandfather were
natives OF Rockingham county and sol
diers Of the early wars of the country
Then, resorting to his unique dramatcs
again, vehemently declared, if the priyi-
lege was not granted him on that ground,
ne would claim IL as an American citizen.
He spent "A whole half hour telling of
himself-how he was born and raised,
now as a Democrat he carried a torch
and spoiled his clothes with the oil. what
a good opinion his wife had Of him, and
other interesting bits Of family history.
Mr. Pence gives all this inspiring inf0rma
ton in q stentorian voice and a spread
eagle style worthy Of the most enthusi-
astic FOurth-of-July crossroads orator.
He spoke at length. but, Ike his pre-
decessor. did not stick very closely 10 any
special line Of argument, but satisfied |
himself with discussing monetary mat
ters and abusing the Democratic party |
for all the ills of the country. Mr.. Pence |
is typical representative Of the wild and |
woolly West, and his style Of oratory will |
hardly change the sentiment OF this sec |
ton.
Captain Cooke made a few remarks at |
the close Of the Dakota congressman's |
speech, which were well received
In the East End.
A big Democratic rally was held at |
Johnson's Hall. on Twenty-seventh and |