The record-union., 1894-04-30
Special to the REcoRD-UN1oN.

WASHINGTON, April 29.-CitiZen j. S.
Coxey, Commander-in-Chief of the Good
Roads Army of the Commonweal, stand
ingon his rickety wagon in the center otthe
Brightwood Driving Park, waving aioft
his Alpine hat to one of the most cosmo-
politan and extensive audiences ever
gathered in Washington, announced that
the greatest march of the nineteenth CEN
tury had been accomplished. Three hum
dred and fifty miserably dressed, woe
begone, grumbling, out-at-the-elbows
and run-down-at-the-hee specimens OF
humanity marched into the park. led by a
wheeling apology for band, pitched
tents and stretched themselves in the
sun. Thousands from the city turned
out to make holiday of it and inspect
the curious aggregation.
The thick clouds of dust oyerhung the
roads leading to Brightwood all day long
and were plowed with more travel than
customary. Two endless professions
swept along the roads all day with such a
variety of travellers as had never turned
out in Washington since war times.
Every horse and wheel vehicle in the
city had apparently been pressed into
service, while the little trolly railroad
line which was built for the benefit OF the
suburban residents was rldicuIously IN
adequate TO the demand upon 1t. Lining
the entrance to the park enterprising col
ored citizens had established their booths
for traffic in gingerbread, and sweet
ened water was passed current under the
guiSe of lemonade. The semblance of a
circus layout was further enforced by the
thimble riggers and shell men stalking
about the outskirts OF the crowd.
But when the people poured into the
park incloSure the suggestion of circus
day was full blown. In the center of the
halt-mile race track tapped the canvas
inclosure which lencircIed the quarters
OF the CommOnweal Army. Half dozen
Weather-beaten army tents stood there,
and several canVaS-covered commisSary
wagons were also there. The entire wag-
ons were covered with back painted
daubs OF legends; queer mixture of
good roads and finance prevailed. The
great Percheron horses we're tethered
about the wagons. Near by were fastened
two large American flags, and emblem
atical banners were freely displayed.
But the most queer sight was the men
who had marched. They were the most
unique and ineXplicable aggregation ever
brought together. Some OF them were at
work at the tents and wagons, others were
curIed upon the damp ground munching
great chunks OF bread, and many were
stretched sleeping Ia the sun. with their
heads pillowed on rolled up coats. In
the most pretentious tent, which bore the
sign Headquarters painted across it,
were found the leaders OF the army, Cen
eral Coxey and Marshal Browne. The
Marshal busted himself changing his
buckskin suit for a more conventional
black cutaway, in preparation for the in
carnation services" which were about to
begin.
Clad in fashionable spring attire of
light dIab hue and as perfectly creased
trousers as could be seen on Fifth Avenue,
with cup of coffee in one hand and a
boiled egg III the other, from which he
alternately took reireshment and suste-
nance, sat General CoXey. The question
which has most agitated Washington OF
late was propounded him by the AS
sociated Press reporter.
what do you intend when the police
prevent you from holding your meeting
In the Capitol grounds ?" he was asked.
NO one will prevent u.s." he replied.
"Does not the Constitution guarantee the
right to peaceably assemble and petition
Congress?' asked he.
But there is police regulation passed
by Congress which forbids persons and
assemblies in the Capitol grounds, and
the police will stop your army if it at
tempts to trespass."
1.-The Constitution was written before
any police regulations" replied the Gen.
eral. "If they come in conflict with the
Constitution, they are void. We stand
squarely upon the Constitution: that is
our platform"
"How do you intend to enforce your
rights?"
''There is but one way; by an appeal to
the courts We will go before the highest
courts in the lard, if necessary. Mean
il takes all summer. If the courts refuse
our rights, there will be a revolution,
nor do 1 desire it, bet il will be irresist-
ible, and it viii be the greatest revolution
of history, If the American people are
only thoroughly aroused" ~
The conversation of Mr.. Coxey was
broken into by trumpet call which
summoned the choir OF the army. Fol-
lowing Carl Browne, the choir of dozen
privates in the army came out on the
platform wagon. Browne climbed into
the wagon, standing beside a stalwart
man holding aloft the banner with the
legend, 1.-THE kingdom of Heaven ION
EARTH is at hand.'' The choir sang in
various keys, a key to each individual.
parody on the revival hymn Hold the
Fort" Before the singing was ended
several hundred people gathered around
the wagon with upiifted faces. Across
the race track in front OF the improvised
platform, the grand stand seats were filled
with solid rows OF men and women as on
a race day. The track itself was full of
carriages, in some of which ladies and
gentlemen of the fashionable world
leaned back, shaded by parasols and
listening curiously. Senators Mander-
son and Fry, with their wives, were in
handsome carriages, Senator Coke and
Representative kilgore of Texas stood
near by, and the long gray beard of Sem
ator Dolph OF Oregon showed conSpicu-
ously. Representative Dolliyer was at
the head OF another group of Congress-
men. Mrs. Anna L. Diggs of Kansas,
the Populist speaker, stood with a baby
in her arms.
The speech of Carl Browne was q
strange mixture of theology and finance.
He acknowledged that he was a crank.
because it took a crank to move any,
thing, he said. The present condition of
the country was declared to be the fulfill
ment of the revelation of st. john The
horns of the beast were the seven con-
spiracies against the money of the peo-
pie: the ten horns were the ten lnouopo-
lies. foremost among them the sugar
trust. Grover Cleveland had called an
extra session of Congress, and by the aid
of s'that grey headed rat from Ohion
John Sherman, had been able to heal the
wounds of the seventh head by repeating
the silver-purehasing bill.
Browns speech was listened to with
impatience, because the people wanted TO
hear Coxey.
When finally the General scrambled
upon the wagon and was introduced, he
waved his hat to each quarter OF the COM
pass. He launched forth into his deserip-