The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-25
MgLDRIM, DuNckN,M'D0NoUGH


Continued From Eighth Page.
- oractment of laws in so far as may be
in their power.
Maj Neldrim urged his hearers to work
.-i+b minds and hearts imbued with the
denomination to achieve the highest re-
suits that their aim should be the proper
administration of the city's government,
+be good of the community, and the en-
1iahtenment and education of its people,
r9thar than the mere struggle for paltry
1o,,niciDal offices. He referred to the crea-
zion of offices in the city government by
7egisla tive acts and condemned in no
measured terms the way in which those
Cf8ces were filled. He said that it was
1,noU-n TO all that the offices had been
created. and then filled by men with no
experience, and with but slight ability,
and no qualities to recommend them
for the places except partisan services
rendered in elections.
The large crowd gathered before him,
Mai Meldrim said, stood for the main-
tenance of law, the preservation of order
md desire to see right prevail. The
movement of the Liberal Club and the SEN
ttment which the gathering represented
stood for religious tolerance, for educa-
tion from the primary school to the UNI
versity. broad and liberal, and rendered
as a great privilege both to the whites
and blacks Protestants and Roman Cath.
nicS he also dQNOCdlGu Tie HGT 6Qu-
cation of women, for the mothers, he sald
shane by their teachings the lines of the
sons and mould them according to their
own abilities and education into the right
kind of men.
Maj Meldrim said he desired to be I'M
derstood on this point. 81 desire a fair,
and moreover, a secret ballot" Every
man. he said, whether the employer of
another man, a firm, a corporation or a
municipality, should be accorded the right
to cast his vote as he sees fit without
the haunting fear that his position hangs
on the nature of his ballot.
He asked if any one believed that all
this movement looking toward additional
paving, and other work for the city for
mulated just on the eve of Oct. Z, was
ever agitated but for the purpose of buy
ing poor mans vote by the promise of
the paltry returns for a days work on the
public improvements. The great success
and development of nation, Maj. Mel
drim said, comes from the efforts of tha
hand that wields the hammer, that drives
the engine, that uses the laborer'S tools,
and once let it be thrust forward to re-
celve the bride that is offered for its vote,
and the potent influences that mould a
nations greatness are sadly perverted,
and descend to a plane of degradation,
when they should soar aloft as
an evidence of the civilization and en-
IBuLtulu6Hl llG NJlhlllS mai CdAA NddoE.
The practice of buying, a working mans
vote by a miserable job and then, after
the election, throwing him over to starve
or steal he characterized as infamous.
Maj. Meldrim said he did not wish to be
misunderstood regarding his ideas of relig
ion This" he said, us a country rec
ognzing no form of religious belief more
than another and that is the idea upon
which a republic should be conducted"
No Catholic blood coursed in his veins
he said, and the stand he maintained
against those attacking the Roman Cath
olics would be as strongly maintained
We're it any other denomination against
whom the fight is being made. This
great question should rest, not in politics,
but on the peoples charity and their own
conception of right"
Maj. Meldrim paid a glowing tribute to
Count Pulaski and Sergt Jasper. Those
brave men, he said who spilled their
hearts blood on Savannah's sands, were
Catholics but he hazarded the opinion
that now, with all their great courage and
patriotism, were they seeking a municipal
Office under the present administration,
they could not on account of their relig
ion, get positions as street cleaners.
Maj Medrim said his side must not be
defeated that, if it were, the cause of
right and of the just and proper admins
tration Of the city government would re-
ceive a set back that would be effectual
in rendering the present faction in power
the ruling one for years. With the pray
ers of good women and the hopes of
churchmen, the help of all good men,
and the aid of the press that should not
be lacking, he said, defeat win not be in
fiicted upon the Liberal Club. He assured
his hearers that if elected, he would do
his duty as he understood it.
The speech was cheered again and again.
and at the conclusion many crowded upon
the steps from which Maj. Meldrim spoke
TO congratulate him on his nomination.