Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-07
THOMAS. E. WATSON.
HIS FIRST SPEECH SINCE HIS
NOMINATION..
CAUSE or POLITICAL UPHEAYAL
"Protest Against Grovcr-CIeveiand-
Ism, which Is Twin-Brother to
John-Shermanism - The money
oue.tion-sewnII Must Come Down.

ATLANTA, GA, August S.-lhoHdS
e. Watson made tonight his first speech
since he was nominated for Vice-Presi-
dent by tho PopuIIsts at ST. Louis. He
had an audience OF 600 people at the
Moody tabernacle here. The meeting was
for the purpose Of ratifying the nominal
ton OF Bryan and Watson. The au-
dience was made up Of members OF all
partIes. but they were mostly Third
partyites. The night was warm, and the
old farmers drew off their coats.
Congressman Howard, of Alabama;
b. NJ. Blackburn, and Judge j. *.
Hines preceded Watson. The audience
wanted Watson, and insisted upon the
others cutting their speeches short.
Mr.. Watson began by asking that there
be- no display Of partisanship during
the proceedings. There has never been
known since 1880 such an upheaval as
this. he said. 1t sweeps from ocean TO
ocean. and from lakes to gulf. What
caused st? Some say 1t is a demand for
the free coinage of silver. That is partly
true; but there are other things. This
country IS in revolt against Grover Cleye-
landism, which Is the twin brother OF
John Shermanism. Those OF the South
who have so long been trained to one
opInion, have broken their party ties.
They are now thinking for themselves.
their heads having ceased to be mere hat
pegs.
GOVERNMENT INDICTED.
"Our concern for free silver is not our
only grievance. We indict the Govern
ment Of the United States because it has
dealt badly with the people. (Applause).
This government has been administered
in the interests Of the rich, against the
interests Of the poor; OF the dollar against
the man. Powers that have belonged
to the sovereign have been given TO
privileged class. The national banks have
been given the power to expand and con-
tract the currency. We do not fight the
national banker as an individual, but the
system. We demand that the govern
ment shall take back the power to make
money, and exercise it for the benefit OF
the people. We complain that the gov
eminent does not tax the bondholder,
and the railroad kings as IL taxes the poor
man This great government lays its
heavy hand Of tribute on the man least
able to bear 1t, and spares the one best
able TO contribute"
Mr.. Watson argued that as business
and population increase the volume OF
money should increase, but this has not
been the case, and II money grows
scarcer It grows dearer and labor and
the products of labor cheaper. A the
price Of the products Of labor fall, the
price Of the labor which does the produc-
ing must inevitably fall
CONTROL OF RAILROADS
Of
railroads very briefly, but said that the
people Of Georgia had an example before
their eyes OF a great railway system
openly defying the Constitution OF the
State, and trampling II under foot.
1--WE will have to do whaA Germany,
Italy Austria, and India had 10 do to
protect themselves from these giant cor
porations"
The Populists, he said made their APP
peal to the enlightened conscience Of the
people. He demanded a fair ballot and
an honest count-majority rule. He asked
If there was anything communistic in
asking that ballot-box stufiing be stopped.
At this stage Mr.. Watson had his coat
sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and was
speaking with great earnestness, and
arousing deep enthusiasm. The audience
was very demonstrative, and interrupted
him with cheers every few sentences.
PERSONAL HISTORY.
For some time he dwelt on his own
personal political history, explaining why
he left the Democratic party and Joined
the Populists. He declared that it was
for the purpose of building up new
party to which both the western Republi-
cans and southern Democrats could go.
He knew that neither party would 90
to the other as conditions stood. There
had to be a halfway ground. OF the
Democratic platform and ticket, Mr..
Watson said:
"They have taken our doctrines. but
do not like our doctors. They want 10
run our trains, but insist on putting the
engineer off. Their idea Of fusion is the
kind of fusion that there was when the
earthquake swallowed the city"
THE ADMINISTRATION.
Reviewing Mr.. Cleveland's Administra-
ton. Mr. Watson said that the fingers Of a
member Of the Cabinet, at Mr.. Have
MEYERS dictation, wrote the demand OF
the sugar trust for protection.
He criticised the administration for the
bond issues, and for opposing silver legis-
lation.
In concluding, Mr.. Watson stated that
the Populists of the South and West
would cast their every vote for Mr.
Bryan, and would demand that Mr.
Sewal should come down.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Watson's
speech there was long demonstration
When it was quieted, Seaborn Wright, OF
Rome, was presented. and he made q
speech for the purpose Of capturing the
nomination tomorrow for Governor. He
Is regarded tonight as the sure nominee
tomorrow on a Prohibition platform.