The Portland daily press., 1894-10-10

o5ate with speakers, many of them of
natlonal reputation. The active Repuh-
llcan canvass, made possible by con-
flouted money, got out oil their voters.
Inc slack Democratic CANVASS, owing 10
lack OF funds to get speakers and other
wise stir up the rank and file, resulted i'll
not getting out half the Democratic
voters. Argus.
This is truly "a melancholy situation
The Democrats, the Argus has told us
frequently, are the hope of the country
and their control of the government is
necessary for salvation, and yet it is here
confessed by our esteemed contemporary,
that these good and patriotic people can
not be got to the polls without the barrel
is rolled out and it's head knocked in.
Even the fervid appeals of our contenl-
porary are powerless to get them out.
Chicago has been treated to mild
sensation the past week in the appear
ance in public of the venerable ex-Sena-
tor Trumbuli, not exactly in the role of
a Populist perhaps, but under circum-
stances that will lead the Populists to
claim him as one of their sympathizers.
Mr.. Trumbull belongs to past genera
ton. He was Illinois's great Senator
during the Rebellion and the reconstruct
ton period, and was unquestionably one
OF the ablest men of that time. Along
with Senators Fessenden, Henderson,
Grimes and Ross he voted against the
conviction of Andrew johnson. He was
one of the foremost constitutional law
yers of the Senate, and was chairman of
the Judiciary committee. Of late years
Mr.. Trumbull has been Democrat, and
and some years ago was the Demo-
cratic candidate for governor of
Illinois though since leaving the
Republican party he has spent most
of his time in retirement.
The meeting at which he delivered the
address that is attracting much..atten-
ton in the West. was Populist meeting
arranged by the leaders of that party,
and. intended to further the Populist
cause. Mr.. Trum BULBS speech was not
exactly political, he did not discuss the
attitude OF either party toward the ques-
tion of the day. His address was rather
a discussion of social questions, but it's
tone was very distinctly Populistic.
Capitalists were denounced for taking
more than their fair share of the product
of labor, and the laws of the country
were criticized as favoring and encourage
ing the accumulation of vast wealth in
the hands of the few. Mr. Trumbull took
the ground squarely that no man had apv
natural right to dispose of his property
at death, and he advocated law that
would confiscate to public uses the bal
lance OF great estates after liberal sum
had been set aside for the direct heirs.
He declared that no man should be
allowed to bequeath to any heir more
than $1,000 COO. The accumulation of
great estates he believed to be menace
TO the liberties of the people, and he
urged the workinglnen to use the ballot
TO enact law that would prevent it. He
praised Gov. Altgeld of Illinois as the
best friend OF the workingman in the
West. In many respects Mr. Trum BULBS,
address was more radical in it's sugges-
ton than any that has emanated from
the widest of the Populist leaders.
There is no question that his speech has
greatly stimulated the Popuis.tic ele-
ment in and about Chicago. They feel
that they have attached to their cause
a man who has undeniably been great
statesman and constitutional lawyer and
that views and opinions coming from
him will command attention and respect.