The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1894-10-06
THE FIRST GUN FIRED.

The Congressional Campaign Opened
at Odessa by Hon. Alexander
Graves and Hon. John
c. Tarsney.
Odessa went democratic, last Monday.
The fellows who talked repu~blicanism or
populism were few and far between.
Odessa had been named as the "Fort
3umpter" Of the congressional campaign,
and the citizens there went to work to
the first volley sound to the most
remote points in the fifth district, as well
as to have its reverberating echo invade
the sanctum Of the Kansas City Journal,
and whistle gently in old man Van Horns
In Washington.
As Van Horn saw the fires of Rodman's
stove, and was doubtless
affected the by brilliant blazes, he surely
must have heard the story of republican
misrule, Of populist ~fallacies, and of DEM
ocratic philosophy, as it was waited on
every breeze on last Monday.
A large crowd assembled at the opera
house, In the afternoon, to hear Hon.
Alexander Graves fire the first gun, and
to hear that champion of the rights of
man, Hon. John c. Tarsney, give an
account Of his Stewardship.
Hon. John 8. Grosshart was the chair
man of the meeting, and 1t was 2:10, PM,
when he sounded the gavel for order. He
introduced Lafayette's honored Alexander
Graves, who, for n hour and thirty
minutes, in q speech-a mastery piece Of
English and logic-held The audience in
the closest sympathy. He was received
with a generous applause, and here and
there, throughout his speech, the clapping
Of hands, the hurting OF hats and the
stamping of feet indicated that the truth
"lay hold upon the audience" and that it
appreciated the address.
Mr.. Graves began his address with an
historical analysis Of the thirty years of
republican legislation. He went from
that subject to the eighteen months of
democratic regime, which, he said, might
not be perfect, but was good, and needed
nc defense nor apology. He traced the
great panic Of '93 directly to old John
Sherman and the republican party. He
then dwelt at some length upon the duty
of democrats toward the nominees of the
party. Closing up this subject, he hit the
populists q few hard ticks, telling them
that they could do nothing but help the
republicans to get in Office. He discussed
the republican rule in Missouri, under
Governor Fletcher and his allies, and also
brought his remarks to bear directly upon
, the Ambrose county court. He then
turned his attention to matters congress
s%ional, and told some history about Van
Horn, who held the Office to which Gen.
eral Shields wa duly elected. In con-
clusion he dwelt at length upon Tarsney's
record, Of which he himself was proud,
and Of which nc democrat could be
ashamed. When Mr.. Graves took his
seat, he was loudly cheered. "His speech
will do much good" was the general SEN
timent Of all present.
Hon. John c. Tarsney was then intro
duced. This wa to be his first speech in
this campaign. He was to tell Of his
stewardship, and define the issues upon
which he was to ask the votes in Novem-
Der. Though just from Washington, the
congressman was in fine condition, and
old politicians, who have fought with
him on many . political battle-ground
pronounced his speech, last Monday, the
best he has ever made. MI. Tarsney
received his first nomination in the houst
In which he spoke, and his reference Il
that event was very timely. He spoke
of his career since that day, and at tn,
end Of nearly every sentence he wa
cheered loudly. He spoke Of his position
on all the questions that had arisen sine,
he was sent to congress, assuring hi
auditors that his highest ambition ha,
been to serve them honestly and well. H
J wanted the pension roll one Of honor, an,
SO he had worked; he wanted an homes
tariff law, and SO he had labored; b
wanted an Income tax, and to that end b
had saved the proposition in the com
mittee; he wanted the free and unlimite,
coinage Of silver, and thus he had spokeI
and worked. He denied that he ha
voted against the tariff bill as a whole
He voted against the senate amendment
, because he did not believe that it WI
time to surrender, and because he waute
to see the roll called in the senate and tn
traitors put on record. He said thu
4 under q peculiar ruling in the senat,
8 those parts OF the bill passed by bot
houses would become q law, and that Il
conferees had power only over the point
in which there were differences that upo
these points he did not feel that he shoul
d surrender until he had heard the roll ca
: In the senate He discussed the necessit
OF free raw materials, and said that I
was q free trader when he could get to
On finance he declared himself for Il
d free and unlimited coinage OF DO,
n metals; that he had voted under Il
d leadership Of honest Dick Bland, ar
,r would vote again for the double standal
unless the democrats of this district m
and revoked his instructions. He didr
It want q f~ifty-cent dollar, nor did he wa
q two-dollar dollar. He was not partic
larly infatuated with the tarifi bill, b
d none but democrats had a right to sbu
I. it. He didn't like It because the tar
Of was too high; republicans didn't like
because they claimed hat 1t was toe 10,
While 1t was not all he wanted, 1t W
infinitely better than that which
displaced.
When Mr.. Tarsney finished his speec
bedlam reigned. Democrats, republica
n and populists congratulated him.
IT At night, Hon. J. L. Order spoke.
was not our pleasure to hear him, but ,
learn that he made an excellent speech.
a Every Thursday evening between {
IA hours Of III and twelve q free lunch W
Ia be served at Fagan's saloon, on Ma