Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-11-06

OF she Popullst Party IS TOlled
by John J. Bell
Fridays Nights Debate Seals the
Fate Of NJ. Llndsuer's Protege.
Able Addresses BY Gov.
Thornton and Hon.
II. b. Ferguson

Morril's hall was crowded on last
Friday evening with spectators enger TO
hear She debate between Hon. John
j.. Bell, the populist candidate for the
Legislature from Grant County, and Hon.
II. B. Ferguson Of Albuquerque; or.
engagements having been previously
made for q joint debate between these
swo gentlemen upon the political issues
OF the day.
Governor Thornton arrived in Silver
City a few minutes before the hour ap-
pointed for the debate, and by the
courtesy Of the speakers tho Governor
was requested to address the people.
The Governor spoke for 90 hour and
held the audience in rabt attention
while he expounded the trnd democratic
principles, giving the history Of both the
republican and democratic parties in the
past, and showing what the present adj
mIuistration has done in the way Of re-
forms aud the fulHllment Of It's promises,
showing that more has been done by the
present administration in less than two
years than was ever doDe before in the
same length Of time; and the impossi-
bility OF entirely eradicating diseases Of
long standing, e~ngendered by thirty
years Of republican rule, in less than two
years; showing the causes Of the recent
financial panic, and the steady increase
10 trade and revival Of business in the
east due to democratic reforms. The
Governor also devoted a considerable
portion OF his time to demonstrating our
claims to statehood, the Importance Of
electing a democratic delegate to con-
gress 10 the coming election, and the
inevitable benefits which must accrue to
the Territory and to the people when
statehood is attained. The argument
made by the Governor for statehood is
certainly one Of the ablest we have ever
heard.
Mr.. Ferguson followed the Governor
in the opening of the joint debate in a
speech of an hour, in which he briefly
reviewed the history OF the two old par
ties and then came down to the pops.
taking up seriatim the planks OF the
populist platform and demonstrating
clearly the fallacies Of the new party,
showing that its principles are utterly
repuguant 10 republican government, and
II enforced must inevitably lead TO mon
archy or destruction OF republican gov
eminent and anarchy. Mr.. Ferguson
gave some plausible roasons why a re-
publican should become a popplist, but
did not leave the democratic pophlists
even a straw to catch at. The republic
can party had always stood for a strongly
centralized government and the populist
proposed to remove all restraints and
limitations upon it and make the general
government Omnipotent. The present
evils had grown up under republican
rule and the republican populist bad
some little justification for abandoning
his party and becoming an extremist;
but the democrat had absolutely no
justification and no reason for becoming
a populist. Mr., Ferguson showed
clearly the repugnance between the sill
YER plank in the popullst platform and
the financial policy OF the populist par
ty; showing clearly that the populist
party ID not only opposed to silver, but
opposed TO gold and in favor Of paper
money. When Mr.. FERGUSON came to
review the conduct OF the populist sena-
tors and representatives in congress Nj.
Bell became restless and began TO twist
upon his chair like a school boy. The
appropriations and expenditures proyid-
ed for by the various bills introduced by
the ~populists amounted 10 nearly thirty
six billions Of dollars, enough TO wreck
all the governments OF the earth; and
all this money to be put forth IN treasu-
ry notes-not a dollar In silver. We
have not the space to give even a synop.
sis OF Mr.. Fergusson's speech, but we
believe that It was considered by all
who heard it to be al able and mastery
presentation Of his side Of the question.
Mr.. Bell replied TO Mr.. Ferguson 10 a
speech Of about au hour, which was we'll
received and applauded by the audience.
Being our home man the audience
naturally sympathized with Mr.. Bell.
Mr.. Bell is known throughout the Terri
tory as M able advocate, possessing the
true arts Of the orator, but on this oc-
casion Mr.. Bell did not sustain his re-
cord. He seemed to be mad aud unable
10 present hts u 10 his usual, clear
and mastery way. Verify, @whom the
Code would destroy, they first make
mad" The weakest portion Of Mr., Bells
speech was bis attempt to justify the
financial policy Of the populist party.
Surely the populists have a more meri-
%torioua cause than We can judge from
Mr.. Bells speech. II was a speech ap-
pealing to the passions and Dfejudices OF
his hearers and not to their intelligence.
Mr.. Bell admitted that the populists
never could WIN, but that they were a
band OF patriots combined together to
make the old parties quit their stealing.
o. Lordl
Few people have an idea Of the
amount OF mail matter going over
mail route No. 67.I88. between hera