The herald., 1896-06-21
LAST OE FLOUR BARREL orr
TIONS.
Why the Distinguished Orators Dire
the Line at Mounting Barrel.

the Line at Mounting a Barrel.
Colonel James NJ. Fitzgerald. know
throughout New Jersey as the RI.
Man of Deep Gut" because of the bri
liant plumage of his caputI dashed INF
New York from Camden yesterday {
make quick tour of observation of III
political situation and to gets points I'D
a speech which he will begin deliverinI
on behalf Of the democratic party q
soon as the presidential nominations arI
made.
Il shall appear only on the stage an
on open-air platforms" said Colon<
Fitzgerald to a Mail and Express reporl
cr. THE day of the flour barrel as
rostrum is, with me, a thing of TIL
past"
This ambiguous remark was based OI
an experience of Colonel Fitzgerald
several years ago. when he was stunTl
ing Philadelphia in the interest of thI
greenback-labor party. His eloquencI
and vigor attracted large audiences an{
,'is bold uttorances in favor of libertl
Of speech gained for him the anxious al
tention Of the authorities. He had beef
engaged to speak at an aSsemblage q
workingmen i'll the southern part of thI
Quaker City. and when the night camI
for him to appear the police took possea
sion of the hall and refused to permi|
him TO make an address for fear
might be as inflammatory as his head.
Colonel Fitzgerald, who was the1
known as the RED Citizen" was filled
with wrath.
".This." said he. sis usurpation d
ifrhf I tr,n fo urvtI
NIT. / decline to recognize such al
edict. If we cannot meet in the hall WI
can meet in the public thoroughfare, Il
the open air. in the bright sunlight. Ge|
me a barrel"
A neigbboring grocery store was Wis
tied by an a6mrer and flour barre
procured and taken several blocks from
the hall. Colonel Fitzgerald mounted th|
improylsed rostrum in dignified anger
lie began his speech and in few min
utes his hearers were worked up to
high pitch of enthusiasm. His voic|
was strong. his gestures forceful and hi
Smiles apt. 1T is mockery," lie said
with great vehemencc, "a mockery o
right and justice to deny an Americal
citizen the right to express his opiniol
to his fellow men. In this great cit,
where liberty was proclaimed through
ont the land is the individual to hav
! no liberty? Are we to be muzzled lik
rabid dogs? Has the time come whel
the servants of the people are the mas
ters of the people? / answer you no.:
Thousand times no.
"These anxious minions Of the law
who have forbidden peaceful ASSEM-
blnge of freemen, defy! Let them dar
to interferc with us. l care not Whetll
er it be one or twenty or a hundred.
| throw down the gauntlet and saw
would grind them under my heel, eve
rs l grind this paper forbidding ou
meeting" ST
With these words Colonel Fitzgeral
crushed the police notification in hi
hand, cast it under his feet and stampc
on it. This action caused the head q
the flour barrel to give way and TIL
speaker disappeared with great sudder
ness. AT the same moment n platoon q
| police came around the corner on do
| trot. The crowd scattered, and, as Fit
gerald could not be seen, the police, al
| ter few moments, retired. Not one q
them suspected the barrel.
At the expiration of ten minutes th
colonel put out his head.
| Where are the base minions?" Il
asked of an auditor who had ventured
return.
Gone" was the reply.
"Then l will emerge" said Colon
| Fitzgerald, and he climbed out. lookin
like IL miller who had been making flor
for week. 1t was 5his incident thi
| caused the "Ited Man of Deep CUT I
form the resolution which he expresse
| yesterday.-New York Mail and e,
| press.