The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-30
REED AT ST. LOUIS.
The E~x-speaker Talks TO Merchants
md Later In Music Hall.

ST. LOUIS. Mo-, Oct. 29-Hon- Thomas
B.. Reed, ex-Speaker OF the national House
OF Representatives. held a reception at
the Southern Hotel this morning. which
lasted until almost noon. This afternoon
he addressed the member OF The Mer-
chants Exchange. This evening Music
Hall. in the Exposition Building. was
filled with a crowd numbering between
1000 and 5000 people. many of whom were
ladies. The ex-Speaker received an ova-
ton when he arose, and Ii was some time
before he could begin his address because
OF the applause. He held the attention OF
the audience throughout, eliciting almost
continuous laughter by his witty remarks.
He said:
"At present we are all Interested in the
future of this country, peopled with N,OO.-
600 of intelligent human beings. In 1892
we were a little less intelligent, and as a
result are now seeking repentance. For
thirty years the Republican party had
been IN power and the country had been
blessed with prosperity, but now we are
passing through four years of experience
that will bring victory to the party that
was defeated two years ago. We are be-
ginning TO see the sunlight of a partial
Republican victory, burt we cannot have a
complete victory for a time. 1t will take
two years more OF the present administra-
IlOu - dSSuIe no.
"The great cause of our unhappiness dur
ing the past two years has not been the Nc
kinley bill, as our Democr attic friends will
have Ii, but the utter uncertainty as TO
what the Congress of our opponents would
do for the country 1 predict that the com
ing two years will be as full of uncertainty
as the previous ones, unless you curtail the
power of the Democrats r. the next Con-
gress- When the first Wilson bill was in
troduced in the House there was a shudder
throughout the country. > When the Senate
made $50 amendments to that measure the
had been listening to the voice of their con-
stituents. Nevertheless, what they did by
changing the bill did not much better It
j have no praise for the bill now and do
not think II will prove satisfactory.
us there any voter who predicted one
tenth OF the disaster of the last two years?
AS / look over that time and remember
t.nue in power the party that caused them
The record being made by the present adj
ministration VIII operate all over the cour =
try in turning many Democrats over to The
Republican party. / believe that protec lof
IS not the taxing Of the many for the few,
but the best method for the distribution OF
our wealth of conSumable material tor
the people of this country. If / did not be-
American market is the foundation Tor
American prosperity. In 1880 We had the
best market in the universe, because we
had 10000 people here with money to
ty years the Republicans had control of
this country Ia fact without parallel in the
history of the world). retained by repre-
American people,. The record of the past
two years has added splendid lustre to
those thirty years Commonplace arguments
have become simple facts.
I'm closing. / would exhort Missouri to
stand nc longer with the party or the past,
but take a position in the front ranks OF
the party Of the future"