Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-10-04

ssnapor-rhe Speakers and What They
Said.
The Republicans opened their local
campaign with big ratification meeting
at Fourth and King streets Saturday
night. 1t was a pretty good sort of a
meeting, but was marked by spirit of
freshness on the part OF auditors and
speakers alike. The latter, in particular,
felt that they had new issue, and
worked 1t for all 1t was worth. II was
the calamity racket" and they fairly
gloated as they painted the map Of
these glorious United States of America
as bowling wilderness of despair, with
want and desolation stalking their rat.
thing bones over the entire length and
breadth thereof.
ooLoRED BROTHER IN THE BACKGROUND
There were some interesting features
about the meeting. In the first place it
was conspicuous for the absence of the
colored voters. Generally, at Republi-
can meetings, the negroes are largely in
evidence, and it is plainly seen how OBJ.
noxious their close contact is to their
white brethren. The latter are also
constantly nervous lest the presence of
these colored voters on public occasions
may prove so disgusting as TO cost them
the loss of white votes, and they en-
deavor to keep them away--in the dark,
as it were-as much as possible. The
incident of Saturday night proves that
the absence of the negroes was the re-
suit OF concerted arrangement They
were no doubt especially requested
perhaps paid-to stay away. What
else could have prevented them from
assembling in force and usurping the
best positions for the purpose of doing
honor to their idol, their political Moses,
Senator Anthony HigginsP
MR.. BIRD HAD THE CROWD.
Mr.. Higgins was present and so was
MI. Bird. With the management of the
affair Senator Higgins was the central
figure, but with the audience the Honor
able Levi @. had the call. They could
scarcely restrain their impotence to
hear him long enough to allow Higgins,
the first speaker, TO get through, and
when the Senator had finished they
called vigorously for Bird. When
Colonel Nields spoke it was the same.
They continued their calls even after
young Mr.. Browne had been announced
as the third speaker, and thereby some
what disconnected that florid and fam.
boyant orator. They yelled again when
Mr.. Spruance was presented. And after
awhile their idol was given chance,
and he disappointed them by making
about the poorest speech, probably, he
ever made in his life. II was an effort
that did not sound at all like Levi G.
Bird. Perhaps the poverty of his effort
may be explained by his disgust at
being called upon to speak from the
same platform with Senator Anthony
Higgins. That Damon and Pythias
friendship does not prevail between Mr.
Bird and Mr.. Higgins is patent to every
body that knows anything about Repub-
lican politics in Delaware.
ENTER THE CLOWN.
The clown of the occasion was Mr..
Washington Hastings. He had his little
speech carefully written on small sheets
OF PAPER. IL should not be presumed
by this that somebody else wrote the
speech for him, for not another soul in
Delaware would or could have written
such screed. 1t was both personal
and absurd, and was entirely devoted to
an attempt to be funny at the expense
of the Democratic candidate for Con.
gress. He volunteered to prove that
Mr.. Bancroft became a Democrat by
reason OF being poet, and his arpu-
ment was that Mr.. Bancroft, in 1874.
wrote an original poem for celebra.
ton at Mt. Cuba in honor of Bayard
Taylor, which poem was subsequently,
highly praised by Hon. Thomas +,
Bayard. The praise of Mr.. Bayard. he
commended, made Mr.. Bancroft a Demo.
GRAFT AS usual when delivering speeches
from manuscript, Mr.. Hastings got his
tolios mixed, and had to make ridicu-
lous effort to find the right place. This
awkward break, together with the anus.
ing facial distortions and grotesque ges.
lures with which the little man strove to
give emphasis to his effort, greatly
amused the people, and they laughed
uproariously. IL made no difference
whether they could hear him or not.
All who could see him enjoyed the
circus.
THE YOUNG ORATORS
The smaller fry orators were given a
fair show. Mr.. Hugh G. Browne spread
himself on his favorite theme of apro-
eck-shun," ana Mr.. Philip Ouigjey
Dhurchman told fairy story OF a
Democrat who, with tears in his ewes,
lold Joshua Marvil that he would vote
Tor him. Harry Whiteman spoke with
really silvery eloquence, and fairly
crowded young Mr.. Browne in his
lhosen field Of commencement day
,ratory.
General Wilson closed the speaking
: N his usual bombastic style. 1t is testi.
noDy to the wisdom of the managers
hat he was last upon the list instead OF
irst.
ADDIcKs WAS NOT THERE.
And yet, the foremost Republican in
Me State of Delaware, the man who
controls the Republican legislative
nominees and will be Deiaware's next
United States Senator in the event of a
Republican victory, was not present at
his meeting. AS with the negroes, the
Republican managers evidently desire to
Ieep Mr.. Addicks as far as possible from
he public gaze until the campaign is
ver. But he is largely in evidence, all
he same.
NOW 1T PASSED OFF.