The record-union., 1896-10-18
JOHNSON At LOCKEFORD.
RouSing Meeting in Northern San
Joaquin.
The Present Congressman Talks Good
Republican Principles and Ex.
plains His Position.

Stockton Independent, October 11th.)
Congressman Grove L. Johnson was
accorded royal reception by the peo-
PIE Of the northern end of the county
at Lockeford last night when the peo-
pie of that city, Lodi and Clements
turned out to do him honor The For
esters' Band was taken from Stockton
and a band concert was the feature Of
the early evening. There We're bonfres
bombs, the firing of anvils and plenty
of the concomitants Of a good political
meeting and the crowd was out in
force.
Dr. NJ r. Barbour called the meet
ing to order and J. HI. Pope, e. r.
Wakefield, W. e. Whipple, f. M. Brown
and d. Hart were named as Vice-Presi-
dents. Music was furnished by
| glee club from Stockton, consist
| ing of Freeman Black, Guy Livings-
tone, John Wilkes and William f.
Spring. Some Of the San Joaquin Coun-
| ty candidates were present and circu-
| lated about through the crowd max
| ing friends for themselves and for the
ticket on which they are running.
There was plenty Of music, both instru-
mental and vocal, and the crowd gave
ample evidence of its enthusiasm, both
before and during the remarks of the
present Congressman. The Chairman in
introducing the speaker, spoke briefly
of the work of the Congressman in his
first session at Washington and declared
that no other man had ever gone TO
Washington from California and been
heard on the floor of Congress during
his first session. He said that Mr.. John
son had proven himself the friend of
the Second District and had been untir
ing in his efforts in it's behalf.
Mr.. Johnson plunged at once into the
discussion of the political questions, in
sentences so terse and clear, and in
language so eloquent that he held his
audience from the opening to his
thrilling and grand closing. He took
by way of figure the business Of
great joint stock company, of which
the people were the stockholders and
the law makers. He summed up the
result Of the labors of the Democratic
board for the past four years and COM
pared them with the work of previous
Republican boards He showed how
the Democratic tariff legislation had
not only failed to provide a revenue
for the carrying on of the Government,
but had plunged the country into debt
to the extent of over $500, 600 900. On
the other hand he showed how, under
Republican Board of Directors, the
country had prospered, the running ex-
penses been met, and millions of the
public debt wiped out of existence He
showed up the fallacy of Democratic
promises for the last forty years, and
that there was no more to be hoped
| from the promises Of the present cam
| paign.
| While acknowledging himself friend
Of silver, Mr. Johnson doubted very
| much the ability of this Government
| to sustain its free coinage in the alb
sence Of international agreement, and
| especially did he consider it dangerous
| to attempt it in connection with free
trade. He attributed the depression
| in business and the financial troubles
wholly to the Democratic tariff. With
| high tariff would come renewed bust
ness confidence, and the money ques-
ton would regulate itself. His remarks
were frequently interrupted by hearty
applause. Referring to his own work
in Congress, he said that his record
vas before the people and he was not
l
high Democratic authority showing
that he had worked earnestly and
faithfully for the mineral land bill,
and had only been defeated through
Democratic hostility. AS to his ac-
ton on the funding bill, about which
the Democrats have tried to make so
much capital, he referred his hearers
to his published letter on the subject,
l lrr-l,; bod W.T. 1o1,r os,- \
is In the hands Of every voter He
would simply say that the Government
held a second mortgage on a piece of
/ property which would not sell for
enough to pay the first. There were
three courses open to the Government;
TO cancel the debt, pay off the first
mortgage and run the road itself, or to
fund the debt on terms equitable to
10th parties, so that the Government
would ultimately get all of its money
with interest. He preferred the latter
course, and he was willing to stand
by his record.
| Returning to the comparison between
the two parties, the Congressman re-
ferred to the campaign of 1856, when
the Republican party stood for free
speech, free soil, free press and free
|
when it stood for the naturalization of
liberty and the destruction of slavery.
Ard then the campaign of 1864, when
| the Republican party stood for the
preservation of the Union, the mainten-
ance of the country and the supremacy
of the Constitution and the laws.
| To-day we are confronted for the
first time in the history of this nation
/ with a party that dareS TO avo1v itcaJf
in favor of allowing free trade to run
hand in hand with free anarchy" said
the speaker; that assaults the Con-
stitution and endeavors to destroy the
| freedom which should be given to every
| man to earn his living in the land and
| to accumulate his fortune If he can do
so honestly For the first time in the
United States we find a party seeking
| votes upon principle which, il carried
to it's logical conclusion, will result In
destroying law. order and property.
Il believe that protection is the main
issue Protection should commence at
Castle Garden We should cast off the
gang plank at Castle Garden and
thereby protect the laborers of the
United States as we have for SO many
years protected the product Of their la
bor and to that end every man should
support the Republican party.
las for the Democratic party it Is the
same old party that 1t was in 1892
when it's leaders said they would have
free trade and good times. They gave
us nearly free trade, and that nearly
ruined the country and the good times
are still far away. To-day they have
another cry simply to get votes, and