Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-11-05
THE DYING KNELL
OF me PopuIlst Party is ToIled
BY John }. Boil.
Fridays Nights Debate Seals the
Fate Of Mr.. Liadauer's Protege.
Able Addresses By Gov.
Thornton and Hon.
n. d. Ferguson

"
Morrili's hall WA crowded on last
Friday evening with spectators eager to
hear the debate between Hon. John
J. Bell, the populiet candidate FOR the
legislature from Grant County, and Hon.
II. b. FERGUSON Of Albuquerque; ar
engagements having been previously
made for a joint debate between these
two gentlemen upon the political issues
Of the day.
Governor Thornton arrived in Silver
City q few minutes before the hour APP
pointed for the debate, and by the
courtesy Of the speakers the Governor
was requested 70 address the people.
The Governor spoke for an hour and
held the audience in rapt attention
while he expounded the true democratic
principles, giving the history Of both the
republican and democratic parties in the
past, and showing what the present ad
ministration has done 10 the way OF re-
forms and the suldllment Of it's promises,
showing that more has been done by the
present administration In less than two
years than was ever done before In the
same length Of time; and the lmpossi-
bility OF entirely eradicating diseases OF
long standing, engendered by thirty
years Of republican rule, in less than two
years; showing the causes Of the recent
financial panic, and the steady increase
In trade and revival OF business in the
east due to democratic reforms. The
Governor also devoted a considerable
portion Of his time 10 demonstrating our
claims to statehood, the importance Of
e~lecting q democratic delegate to con
gress in 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 ia
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 tie principles are utterly
-Tepngmntt0repuo!iem government, and
II enforced must inevitably lead to mon
archy OF destruction Of republican gov
eminent and anarchy. Mr.. Ferguson
gave some plausible reasons why a re-
publican should become a populist, but
did not leave the democratic populists
even a straw TO catch at. The republic
can party had always stood for a strongly
centralized government and the populist
proposed to remove oil restraints and
limitations upon it and make the general
government omnipotent. The present
evils had grown up under republican
rule and the republican populist had
some little justification for abandoning
his party and becoming al extremist
but the democrat had absolutely nc
justification and no reason for becoming
a populist. Mr.. Ferguson showed
clearly the repugnance between the sill
yer plank in the popullst platform anC
the financial policy Of the populist par
ty; showing clearly that tho populis0
party IS not only opposed to silver, bu.
opposed to gold and in favor Of papeI
money. When Mr.. Ferguson came Il
review the conduct Of the populist sena
tors and representatives in congress Mr.
Bell became restless and began 10 twis
upon his chair like n school boy. The
appropriations and expenditures provid
cd for by the various bills introduced by
the populists amounted to nearly thirty
six billions OF dollars, enough TO wrecl
all the governments Of the earth; anC
all this money 10 be put forth IN treasu
" nOtes-not a dollar Ia silver. w
have not the space to give wen a synop
sis OF Mr.. Fergusson's speech, but We
believe that Il was considered by al
who heard It TO be an able and mastery
presentation OF his side Of the question
Mr.. Bell replied to Mr.. Ferguson in
speech OF about an hour, which was vel
received and applnuded by tho audience
Being our home man the audienc
naturally sympathized with Mr.. Bel
Mr.. Bell is known throughout the TER.
tory as an able advocate, possessing th
true arts Of the orator, but on this OK
casion Mr.. Boil did not sustain his II
cord. He seemed 10 be mad aud unabl
10 present his cause in his usual, olea
and mastery way. Verify, "whom th
Gods would destroy, they first max
mad" The weakest portion Of Nj. Bell
speech was bis attempt to justify tn
financial policy Of the populist part,
Surely The populists have a more mer
torious cause than We can judge froI
Mr.. Bells speech. II was a speech o.
poaliug 20 the passions and preiudices
hb hearers and not to their Intelligo nc
Mr.. Bell admitted that the popUlisl
never could win, but that they were
band Of patriots combined together b
make the old parties quit their stealing
o. Lordi
VINO can DO better acquainte,
with tae needs Of a country thar
tbo man who has helped build i