Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-11-02
DEMOCRATIC MEETING.

The Opera House was again crowded
last night by an intelligent audience to
hear the closing campaign speeches OF
Messrs. John NJ. johnson and S. u.
Brent, and the enthusiasm mani
tested was indicative of the fact that 10.
terest hereabouts in the success of the
democratic ticket next Tuesday lad in
no wise tagged.
Mr.. Lewis c. Barley, chairman OF
the city committee, called the meeting
to order and after few preliminary re-
marks, delivered in logical and hap
py manner, read letter from eX-State
Senator R. Walton Moore, acknowledge
ing the receipt of an invitation to speak
and regretting his inability to do SO in
consequence of previous engagements.
The chairman then presented John NJ.
Johnson, esq.,, who spoke for over an
hour. Mr.. Johnson said he was going
to discuss measures snl not men, and
when he advocated the policy of the
democratic party he said he advocated
the election of the democratic candi-
date. 1t made no difference if the can:
didate was the bitterest enemy he had
be would support him, but happily, in
the present case, the democratic candi.
date for Congress was his personal
friend. The speaker compared the ad-
ministrations OF Cleveland and Harri-
son and said that while the latter had
been prohigate the former had been
economical. Under the Cleveland ad.
ministration Secretary Whitney hsd
taken rotten navy and transformed il
into splendid feet. MIR. Johnson pa d
his respects to the Tom Reed House OF
Representatives, and denounced the
John Sherman silver bill as measul
to prolong the rule of the republican
party-both of which had been curse
to the country. The pension laws were
discussed and while the speaker favor
ed pensioning all worthy ex-Union SOL
diers, he showed how the democratic
party had saved to the country eight
million dollars per annum by cutting
off fraudulent pensions which had been
granted under the Raum reign. Mr..
johnson then compared the Mckinley
and Wilson tariff bills and showed the
ruinous policy of the former and the
justice of the latter. Mr.. Johnson's ex-
position of the currency question was
logical and convincing. He said the
most prosperous period of the country's
history was from 1916 to 1860, uoder a
democratic tariff. His address was lis
tened to attentively throughout and
was frequently applauded.
S. G. Brent, esq.,, at the close OF MIR.
Johnsons speech, was introduced by
Chairman Barley, and for short time
enthused his audience with a forcible
and common sense speech. The speak
er handled his subjects with familiarity
and convincing arguments which
brought forth much applause. He gave
rapid summary of the ill-effectS CT
epnblican legislation and compared it
wi b the honest rule inaugurated since
the democratic party has been entrust-
ed with the affairs of the government.
He urged every democrat to stand by
his party and not to be influenced by
the absurd statements and promises
made by populists and republicans
during the canvass in this district.
He said he was there to urge that there
be nc factions in the democratic party
in this city-all were democrats and
should so stand. Mr.. McCaull, he said,
had stated on the previous night, that
railroads had been built by republicans
and put in the hands of receivers I'M
der democratic rule. This was not
true, for the railroads in this section
had all been put in receivers hands
under republican rule, but politics had
nothing to do with railroads. In speak
ing of Mr.. Meredith Mr.. Brent said Mr..
NJ. might have disappointed some per-
sons, but no one could have worked
harder for his constituents, and that
could be attested by Messrs. +. A. Reed
and Park Agnew, who on the previous
night had given encouragement to his
opponent by their presence with linn
on the stage. During his speech MIR.
Brent read an extract from a speech
made by Senator Mills in which he
showed how poorly under the McKin-
ley bill the protected American laborer
was paid.
The meeting was decided success
and the-speeches Were enjoyed by all,
being devoid of the buffoonry and il
logical assertions which characterized
the meeting of the previous night in
the same hall Several prominent cili-
zens occupied seats on the stage, among
them Mayor Strauss, who was well
coined with much applause.