The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1894-08-10
DEMOCRATIC MASS MEETING
AT MISSISSIPPI CITY LAST
SATURDAY.

The public speaking which was ar
ranged some time since by the ITar-
rison county Democrats for last Sat
urday, was a complete success. and re-
minded one Of anti-bcllum days when
the giants Of the time met in forensic
combat. 1t was largely attended,
both by the Coast people and dis
tinguishcd Democrats from abroad.
The meeting was called to order in a
neat and well-timed speech by Mr..
Ed. Bloomfield, chairman OF the Dem
ocratic Executive Committee of the
Sixth Congressional District, and
Hon. w II. Mabin elected chairman.
Gen. viii r. Martin was first intro
duced ina graceful speech by the pre-
siding officer. The General first gave
a bret sketch of his lifc-work as a
soldier and citizen and statesman; dis
cusscd the financial situation, empha-
sizing the fact that he stood with
President Cleveland on the Demo
cratic platform; that the position of
the President is the only logical de-
ductlon from the platform. He said
that the position of Col Thos, Il.
Stockdale on this question was the
position Of Il POpulitc-indecd lie
heard his speech at Ellisville and that
he served as Il first rate foferunner for
Frank Burkitt, who was to speak
there a few days later. lie also
handled in a very able manner the
tariff question, the repeal Of tax on
State banks, the income tax, &c. In
the concluding portion Of his speech
Gen, Martin arraigncd Col. Stockdale
as being untrue to the Democratic
party, having Joined the Republicans
in 1915, charged him with writing the
Hull letters and afterwards the letter
to Henry G. Griffin in reference to the
return of the Hull letters and the
Natchcz post0fllce, in which occurs
the now celebrated query us there
anything open to you in the line of
promotion; when will you be in New
Orleans% He charged him, further,
with treating all government patron
aye as his personal perquiSites to be
distributed where they would do the
most good" All in all it was the
most bitter arraignmcnt ever listened
to.
Col, T. II. Stockdac was then intro
duccd and in opening his remarks said
That he came here to discuss the ma
ti0nal issues and not to indulge in
personalities. The national issues re-
Qulrcd some explanation, and lie would
proceed to say something on that sub
jcct. He said that he had never at
tackled the administration except on
its financial policy. He then went on
in the discussion of the financial
question, dealing largely in figures
entirely too big for the average man
to take in readily. lie had a good
deal to say in the usual line of clap
trap about the gold standard, setting
forth the resultant evils that would
follow the use of gold alone. Nobody
advocates that in this country, as we
understand it. He undertook a gen
cral refutatiOn Of all the charges of
Gen. Martin, but from the uttcranceS
OF thccrowd lie failed to impress them
with his side of the situation He
denied, especially, having joined the
Republican party, and in very en-
phatic mot elcgant) language. While
he was doing so, Gen. Martin stepped
to the front and asked if he was pres
cnt at the Convention in Brookhaven
referred to. He replied that he was.
When Gen. Martin came to reply he
read some Of the certificates with
which Col. Stockdale had provided
himself, given by citizens of Lincoln
county stating that Col. Stockdale
had NOT joined the Republican party,
and that He WAS NOT AT TIE Con-
vENTIoN referred to at all. Col. Stock
dale had just stated that he was there.
Gen. Martin wanted to know what
such evidence was worth, when he
had proven, by Col. Stockdale him
self, that part at least Of it was I'M
true. Col. Stockdale went on to say
that he had always stood by the party
and dealt in the current arguments of
the day for an hour altogether.
Next came Major Geo. M. Govan.
who, also, very properly gave a resume
OF his public life. He said he was an
advocate of the principles of Cleve-
land, and thought public Office was Il
public trust He said, for the bene-
lit of any third-partyman, or luke
warm Democrat, that there had been
not an hour when the government has
not been practically in the hands of
the Republican party The Demo-
cratic party was not to be blamed for
the legislation dating from the past.
lie was in favor of an income tax,
which would make wealth Il source of
revenue. The bulk of the wealth of
the country was concentrated in
p, 600 persons, mainly untaxcd. The
sums from this source should be de-
voted TO the army and navy. lie op.
posed any attempt to tax State banks,
as an interference with States rights.
lie favored free coinage of both gold
and gilVpr nm an npt101ifv n,,l ,,,, a.