The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-18
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
FULLY ExEMPLIFIED AT THE PROG
REss CLUB YESTERDAY.
Lively Tilt over the Rights OF the
People-HanginG Said to be Good
Enough for German and Brice.

Thomas T.. Sullivan, ex-Mayor of Indian
apolis. spoke to the Progress Club yester-
day afternoon upon the obligations or
Good Citizenship" Mr.. Sullivan's remarks
were well received: but after their con-
clusion several members of the club took
occasion to reply to them. Beside the re-
plies a number of questions were fired at
the guest of the club, and Mr. Sullivan
was forced to take his seat in order to put
a stop to the questioning which promised
to continue indefinitely. Mr.. Sullivan held
that the Constitution and the Declaration
of Independence are noble documents, but
any sad condition of the people which may
exist, is due to the faults of the people
and not TO the principles of the Constitution
or declaration. He said the people do not
take enough interest in the welfare of
the country. He said at the last election
one million voters remained from the polls
and pouted. Mr.. Sullivan deplored the con-
dition of the wealth Of the country, which
is in the hands of the few. 1t might be
more equally distributed, he thought, If the
people had been more awake to lheir inter-
ests, and had taken more care in Ihe selec-
ton of the men who make the laws. Mr..
Sullivan stated that, notwithstanding the
seeming discomfort which many think ex-
lists, the Nation will live and the Union will
stand
The members of the club then began to
speak. Many of them took exceptions to
statements made by Mr.. Sullivan. Z. Is.
Cummings said the people had no oppor-
tunity, and consequently there are no OBJ
legations upon them. The laws, he said.
are controlled by a few and the poor man is
not given a fair show. Charles X. Mat
thews stated that there is too much politics
in the land and voters blindly follow par
ties, forgetting their own interests. He
said: "A man should follow principles and
not parties and it would be better for this
country II there We're no parties
That's right. That's right shouted
William Dreythaler.
Philip Rappaport said the Declaration of
Independence was out of date and the
Constitution did not represent the interests
Of the people. The declaration. he styled
a collection of glittering generalities. Other
speakers thought the people were down.
trodden ard oppressed Others thought the
laws are faulty and spoke of the con-
stitution of England being superior to that
of the United States.
respond He said he realized for the first
time. what beautiful thing free speech is.
ification of liberty and free speech. He
began to reply to the different expressions
OF the members by saying they alone were
OF blame, for all power was vested in them.
What about German and Brice," asked
Mr.. Sullivan did not reply at once, but
went on to say, that when bad men were
discovered in the law-making bodies, it
was the duty of the people to turn them
out. Rev. Mr.. Sommers not satisfied
and he arose and asked:
:. What are the people to do, when men
like German and Brice participate in :
n-million-dollar sugar deal?"
Mr. Sullivan moved uneasily the
rostrum, but Mr.. Dreythaler helped him
out by the use of an expression, which met
the approval of the club:
Hang em, hang en-" he shouted.
Mr.. Sullivan was asked many other ques-
tionS and he tried to answer all of them
The members of the club were delighted
with his address and thanked him again
and again for speaking to them. Mr.. Sui
livan replied, with a little bit of sarcasm
In his voice, that if they had enjoyed his
arguments, it had indeed been an enjoya-
BILE afternoon.