The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-07

his attitude had been one of eager e&-
pectation. He had come expecting to
face a crowd of gold-bugs, and had
prepared himself for the occasion. He
was anxious for the fray. He would
pause in the midst of a sentence and
listen to what some one in the
audience was saying, and If any remark
was addressed to him, his answer came
quick as a fash. Once when he was
complaining of Democratic mal-admin-
istration, Il Populist standing near
asked:
why didn't you follow us out? ~
where have you got to that / should
have followed you?" cried Tillman. so
promptly and vigorously that the man
lodged involuntarily.
This gave the speaker a cue, and his
rebuke to men who have left the Dem
ocratic party was both eloquent and
truthful. 1t was blunt and vet kindly.
You could have had everything YOU
wanted except the sub-treasury and
government ownership of railroads, .
he said, land these are not Demo-
cratic" He then went on to show how
the snb-treasury plan is simply the ma
honal bank scheme applied to farm
products, land two wrongs don't make
right" he declared. His exposition of
the railway ownership scheme was
felicitous. Before you can own the
railroads" he said, you've got to
make them quit owning you. They've
got YOU nearly swallowed now, and
they'll have to unswalloW YOU before
you can swallow them.''
Then, more seriously, he went on to
show that government ownership of
railroads meant not only a vast in
crease in the army of superservicea-
bic Federal officials, but an iSrease
of the public debt to the extent Of at
least $6,0o0,000, 900. Concluding this
branch of his subject, he urged the
Populists OF Georgia to return to the
Democratic party and join hands with
those in that party who are true to
Democratic principles; and he warned
them againts the men who are lead
ing them away from the party in the
hope Of getting some small office out
of them
This portion of his speech was earn
est, vigorous and mastery, and the
Populist who had called it forth had
nothing more to say. But it was plain
to see that what Tillman needed, in
order to display the full power of his
remarkable gifts, was contradiction,
opposition, the antagonism that finds
vent in questions inviting repartee, or
leading to suggestions. An old gen
tleman, sitting just below Tillman,
asked:
"Why not legislate value into wheat
as well as into siIyer?"
lie received his answer before he
could sit down again.
Because it was legislation out of
silver Because silver has been law
full money ever since the days of Abra-
ham, Isaac and Jacob!"
Once, when some one made a remark
or asked a question. the crowd grew
impatient, and hooted him down. But
Tillman wouldn't have it so.
Let ME aIone!" he cried to the an-
dience. Il can take care of myself.
That's what I'm here for"
When the audience quoted down he
paused and waited for the man to re-
new his inquiry or remark. But the
inquirer remained silent.
Again when two or three persons
walked out, Tillman said he would
detain the audience no longer, as he
saw they were getting tired. But the
cries of mo, no! Go on!" were so
unanimous and vehement that he went
on with his speech.
Now, I have no more interest in Till
man. except in SO far as he is Demo-
| erat. than / have in the man in the
/ moon. We need just such a man at
/ this moment in the State of Georgia