Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1896-11-12
Here Is Hot Shot.
GOVERNOR ALTGELD ISSUES AN
ADDRESS TO DEMOCRATS.
It Is a Very Warm One He Does Not
Mince Words in the Least-Con-
graduates His Supporters
for the Fight They
Made.


for the Fight They
Made.
CHICAGO, November 4.-Governor
Altgeld gave the following statement
to the press this afternoon:
"To the Democrats of Illinois: AL
though defeated, 1 desire to thank
you for the loyal support you have
given me and l congratulate you on
the herolc fight You have just made.
Consider that only six months ago
our great party lay PROSTATE; it had
been betrayed into the hands of stock
jobbers and monopolists by President
Cleveland, it had been robbed OF
everything Democratic except a name,
it stood for no great principle and ite
flesh was being torn by political birds
of prey, it was loaded with political
dead heads, men who never did any
thing for the party except to ride it,
and IL was infested with political ver-
min of both the smooth and rough
and dusty variety.
"Yet under the sore conditions the
cord with which the Liliputians had
tied it, it rose with new energy, 1t cut
loose from the domination of trusts
and syndicates, 1t repudiated the mar
who betrayed it, threw off the lead oi
dead-heads, it drove out the politica
vermin and with new inspiration il
again proclaimed Democratic princi-
Piles and espoused the cause of toiline
humanity. Although it was obliged
to reform its lines while under the
fire of the enemy, it has made the
most heroic political fight ever seer
in this country.
"It was confronted by all the Doodle
that could be scraped together on two
continents, it was confronted by al
the banks, all the trusts, all the syn
dicates, all the corporations, all the
great papers; it was confronted by
everything that money could buy
that Doodle could debauch, or thai
fear of starvation could coerce. 1t wal
confronted by the disgust which the
majority of the American people fell
toward the national administration
for which they held us responsible
1t was confronted with the unfoundes
| charge of being partly responsible fol
| the hard times. 1t was confronted
| by a combination of forces such al
had never been united before an(
will probably never be united again
and worse still, the time was too shor
to educate the public. While defeat
| ed, our party is more vigorous and IL
better condition generally than it ha
been tor third of a century.
| "I specially call your attention t.
the utter insignificance, as shown b.
the returns of those men who, afte
having helped to ruin our party, wer'
either driven out or left it in this cam
paign. Two years ago these mel
were with us and always insisted ol
occupying front seats and wanted t,
lead; then we were not confronted
with any powerful opponent and vi
lost the State by upwards of 10000
majority. This year these men op
posed us and we had to meet all tn
forces l have named; we had N
sinews of war, we had all the powe
Of corrupt wealth against us; we ha'
to reform under the fire of the en-
emy and the time was too short &
make a proper campaign, yet W
have reduced the adverse majority O
two years ago by about one-third
These men are at least where the,
belong.
"While defeated, we have dug tn
grave of the British gold standard
One more campaign of education wi
forever bury the palsied form of tina
curse which has blighted prosperit,
and the happiness of mankind.
"My fellow Democrats, ON accoun
CT my healthI welcome the retiremen
which is now assured me, and whic
have long wished for, but let m
say in parting that if you cherish Re
publican institutions then your coun
|, try will need your services"
i Mr.. Altgeld assumes from the re
turns at hand that Mckinley is elect
ed and continues thus: 'sTwo year
ago several States were carried b
the same forces that have triumphe
this year, and in every one there fol
lowed a saturnalia of corruption an
rottenness. Now, these condition
are to be spread over the whol
country, and it will involve upon tn
. Democratic party to ultimately sto
them. The shadow of the men an
the influences that will control th
coming administration is already o
the land.
"Republicans tell us that the newl
elected President is weak; that he a
: lowed the manufacturers to frame h
tariff bill, and that as Governor I
Ohio he was very weak. We may al
sumo that the coming administratio
will be controlled by the men VIII
have been 30 prominent in securir
this election. Look at some Of the
Mr.. Hanna, Mr.. Carnegie, Mr.. d.
Ipew, Mr.. Pullman, Mr.. Huntington
Mr.. Payne, Mr.. Thurston, OF Pacif
railroad fame, and number of othel
/ of the same character. Many
, them have long been regarded rs Co
! ruptionists, a. men who helped
: spread a moral leprosy over th
! country, and who use government
! q convenience to make money I,
. corporations.
"There viii come bond issues m
all manner of government jobs, an
although We have no enemy on eth,
side of MS, an effort win be made
give this country q standing arm
because plutocracy demands this. A
effort win be made to advance Il
! doctrine that self government do
|, not go hand in hand with feder
supremacy, but that the Presidel
shall have the same power to use Il
army that the Czar of Russia has
use his army, and efforts win be ma,
to perpetuate government by injun
tiou and destroy trial bv i1rv. h