The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-06-24
TWENTY FIFTH YEAR. NO. 266.

He made short free silver speech. Dur
ing his remarks Governor Altgeld step
ped upon the platform and for several
minutes there was most enthusiastic
uproar. When Scott finished Governor
Altgeld was called for. He stepped for
ward and said:
Four years ago our people met under
brighter skies. We swept the country
by such a majority that fidelity to
Democratic principles would have assur-
ed supremacy for another quarter Of a
century.
But before the inaugural festivities
had ceased at Washington the head Of
the new administration sought strange
gods and espoused alien principles.
The interests of money were placed
above those of humanity. Organized
greed was fed with golden spoons while
the cry of the husbandman was unheed-
ed and the sweat of the toiler brought
him no bread.
Since then defeat has followed dishon-
or, until we have lost even what we for
merly had. All might have been well If
the administration had respected re-
publican institutions and not used its
great powers to increase the burdens of
ours for the benefit of the foreign and
eastern shylocks. But the spirit Of De-
mocracy is immortal. Today the Demo-
cratic hosts are again mastering on the
plain.
The question of a protective tariff
has long been an issue in this country.
For the first time we took an unequivo-
cal position on it four years ago, and
we won. The tariff has been revised and
the probabilities are that neither polit-
ical party will make any radical change
in it. 1t is no longer worth while to dis
cuss theories of a tariff. 1t protects
the proprietor, but not the laborer, for
while it checks the importation of goods
1t cannot prevent the importation of
cheap labor from all over the earth.
Between 1873 and 1880 this country
and all of the nations of Europe, by law
destroyed one-half of the redemption
money of the world, and reduced by fully
one-half the annual addition to the stock
of money of the world. Silver, when
used at all, was put on the basis of
paper money. The effect of this was to
double the work which gold had to do,
and by doubling it's Importance its pur-
chasing power was doubled; it made 200
cent dollars. AS the debts, interest,
taxes and other fixed charges were not
reduced. it took nearly everything
which the farmer and the producing
classes generally could scratch together
to meet the fixed charges. This de-
stroyed the trade Of the merchants and
soon forced the factories to be shut
down. The conditions are getting worse
day by day and there can be no great
prosperity in Europe or this country
until the wrong that produced this dis
tress is righted. AS it was done by the
arbitrary act of government, so it must
be undone by the act of government
AS the Democratic party represents
the great toiling and producing masses,
it must take the lead in undoing this
wrong. 1t will be a fierce struggle, for
those INSCRIPTIONS men who by cor
ruption and trickery fastened this sys-
tenn on the world will resort-nay. are
already resorting-to the most desperate
means to hold their advantage. The
Democratic party must speak with no
uncertain sound on this question.
Last week there was held in ST. Louis
convention which will be known in
history as Mark Hanna's trust" as
railroad attorneys, corporation agents,
lobbyists, and those men who have made
millions out of the government and who
are looking for another harvest with
government aid, were not only in con-
troll, but filled every place from chair
man to page. 1t was the most braZen
effort on the part of organized greed
that was ever witnessed in this country.
If the Democratic party will be true to
it's mission, 1t will not weaken itself with
promises or destroy it's strength by
adopting neutral course, then that
ticket placed in nomination at st. Louis
will be dead before the frosts of Novem-
Der come. If the Democratic party will
declare for an American policy; if it will
boldly declare that we must be true to
ourselves and look after American inter-
ests first, we will sweep the country.
Some of my friends have been kind
enough to urge my denomination, but
1 am not in condition to stand for re-
election. My health has been badly
broken. / am not unmindful of the
honor the Democratic party conferred
l.
1 can to serve my country, but I must
ask that some of the noble and patriotic
men in the party be placed at the head,
and that I be permitted to retire.
At frequent intervals during his
speech the governor was interrupted by
furious demonstrations of approval He
spoke with great earnestness, and the
5000 people listened with the closest at
tention.
After the cyclone of applause had
ceased, Congressman Champ Clark of
Missouri, who came here with a delega-
ton in behalf of r. P. BANDS presiden-
tial candidacy, was called. He paid a
high tribute to Governor Altgeld, and
said that if the Democrats would dis
play as much enthusiasm next fall as
the representative Democrats displayed
here today the Republicans would be
buried out of sight.
He referred to the nomination of Nc
Kinley at ST. Louis. At the mention of
McKinley's name there were Kisses
heard from all parts of the house.
In conclusion he made a few compli-
mentary remarks to "Silver Dick
Bland of Missouri w. ]. Bryan of Ne
braska and 10 Blackburn of Kentucky
When Congressman Clark had fin
ished there We're loud cries for A. S.
Trude of Chicago. After the crowd had
howled for Trude for nearly ten minutes
during which the hall was in a furore
A