The Caucasian., 1895-08-08
ABIG RALLY
IN CHATHAM,
The People Come Together for In.
terchange Of Opinion and to
Listen to Discussion.

| -0~"~~~~ ~SA AAA
terchange Of Opinion and to
Listen to Discussion.
SOME FORCEFUL SPEECHES
BY Messrs. Guthrie. Stroud, Massey and
wilson--A Lively Discussion in whieh
the Women Floor the Men.--A Blaze Of
Cordial Feeling aud Good Fellowship.
A large part OF Chatham county
was ablaze with enthusiasm on August
lst in the matter of good fellowship
and public reform. The people assem-
bled at RialtO to an estimated num-
Der Of fifteen hundred and passed a
perfect day with pleasure and profit.
1t 10 become custom at such gath
erings to have number of speeches
on the questions uppermost i'm the
minds Of the people, and these
speeches are listened to with atten-
tiOn. The ladies attend the assem-
blages, in numbers equal to men, and
both young and old evince the most
lively interest in the discussions. A
result is that the women of the country
are far beyond those of the towns in
general knowledge Of what affects
their country and their homes for
either good or bad.
Congressman StrOwd was master of
ceremonies at RialtO with ex-State
Senator Atwater, as assistant. He was
there early. and his honest face and
bright, though kindly eye proclaimed
cordial good feeling which was
warmly reciprOcated by the many peo-
la init n t,..v hnr .rvlA
the people whose handgrasp one loves
to feel-whOse faces beam a welcome
and hospitality which are only
bounded by their resources; whose
"come, go home with me-" knows no
cOnventiOnality and springs from
hearts Overfiowing with the milk of
human kindness. They are the peo-
| pie who produce the necessities of life
and the wealth of the nation; who
make government possible, and to
| whom appeals are made for protec-
| tiOn when the peace and liberty Of the
commonwealth are endangered.
At eleven O'Clock Congressman
StrOwd stepped upon the stand which
had been erected under an outrageous
| old Hickory and the vast assemblage
| concentrated there at once. He an
nounced that Senator Butler who had
been expected had been prevented
from coming, but that the silver
tongued peoples tribune-Maj. W..
A. Guthrie was present and would
speak.
Mai. Guthrie's address held that au-
dience still for nearly two hours. AS
is always the case with him, he pre-
sented facts and argument, happily
pointed with fOrceful and frequently
amusing illustration. He reviewed
the history of governmental manipula-
tiOn of money, and showed how, by
successive steps, from time to time
the provisions and requirements of
the constitution had been abandoned,
until now the whole monetary system
was in the hands of clique of men
some of whom were foreign Jews
who were using the credit of the gov
ernment to Oppress the people just
like paWnbrOker uses valuable ar
ticle on which he advances a small
amount of money and charges heavy
interest and a larger sum of money be-
fore the owner can redeem it. 1t was
a great speech-One which would have
dissipated the fog from around any
man who happened to be confused on
this question.
At the close of his address, Maj
Guthrie called up Congressman StroWd
and he was warmly greeted. He made
a fOrcible, common sense talk. He
presented some strong illustrations OF
how nations had been enslaved anG
destroyed by the very systems which
had been fOisted upon this country
solely in the interest of gold lenders
and pleaded with the people to de.
mand and secure change OF system
before they should be likewise crushed
out. Then he announced that it was
time to change the programme fol
awhile, and invited the assemblage tC
walk over to some long tables and be-
gin an argument with the mothers
wives, daughters and sweethearts OF
the men of Chatham on culinary
achievements and gastrOnOmic effects
He declared the women could offe1
, some practical illustrations to sustain
their side that would down any theory
ever Matched out by man. And they
: did. There's no use in trying to de-
scribe how victorious they were. They
could have come off with flying cOlor
on the first round, but they generOusl.
let the discussion go on for some time
2 and even after they had won the!
smilingly invited the argufiers t.
tackle the subject again and try lit
tie more of their practical illustra
3 tions. But the argufiers had enough
Z in more senses than one. They wer'
! plumb full of one of the finest dinner
I ever served and admiration and en-
E thusiasm for those who served it.
After this a call from the stan'
gathered the people there again. MI
Strowd presented Rev. p. H. Massaey
who is one of the most eloquent speak
ers to be found anywhere. Interest il
e what he said was intensified as he pro
+ ceeded. He told the audience that tn
q people were the educators of Congress
- men; that Congressman politician
. was afraid to teach the people; b
s would not dare inaugurate new move
e ment for fear that it might not pleas
= some of his constituents whose vote
l. he wanted; that therefore the peopl
i were the educators and that Congress
g men were just what the people mad
them. If they elected bad Congress
G men, they could expect nothing bu
- bad regulation of government. He r.
g ferred.t the loss of interest in tt
= alliance and asserted that the bigge'
l. mistake the farmers ever made was
g allow that organization to lose men
) ber. 1t was needed now as much as
rs ever was, for it was the greatest edt
70 Gator that they had ever had.
:. Railroad Commissioner, S. OthO Wi
- son, was called for and he respondt
l. in short, pithy speech in which
pointed out the modus operandi of tt
:, goldbug policy in squeezing pric
s, down till they controlled all the pr
duce, and then selling the produce
high prices. He also made some refe
ences to the work of the railroad col
~ mission.
IN Mr.. Sid. Herndon caught the popul
" " fancy of the crowd by singing fro
iu the stand some old plantation melodi
- with guitar accompaniment.
% The committee on arrangement
ne NTH Mr. T RAILING ~ socretarv rs