The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-10-09


 may have been a boy orator, and meant no harm. and wanted only fame but the dome is gone!
 l prefer not to enter Into the dis cussion of the national issue that con- cerns us exclusive of all others in this campaign, because l have already done so in speech and papers that have ap- peared in the state and because l hope to do so more fully with you and your respective constituents at your home, if l can.
 State Wrongs.
 Let us turn our thoughts now for while to the quiet contemplation of our state affairs. It is unfortunate that the exclusive attention of our people cannot be given in any political cam paign to our own domestic matters If it could be so arranged, as l have often urged before, the benefit derived would if it could be counted in dollars, eX- ceed hundred times the cost of it. When president or senator or mem- bers of congress are to be elected state issues drag. But we must not neglect them, even in as exciting a campaign as this is. Constant agitation of wrong always results in a remedy. These state issues are of vital import ance, and, as Senator Cleveland would say, the democrats happen to be- on the right side of every one of them.
 Worse Than Sixteen to One. 2 Under our present vicious system of representation, a citizen of Groton, for instance counts more in making of laws and the election of officers than twenty men in either Hartford or New Haven. Sixteen to one" is bad enough, but this> for unfairness puts that to shame. These honored men, around me, have grown venerable fight ing against this gross injustice and yet we suffer.
 Connecticut is, I think, to-day the only state in the union where candi- date, who gets the most votes, may not get the office; or, to put it another way, where a candidate who gets the least votes may get the office. This seems paradoxical, but it is not, it is only republican
 It was the same awhile ago in New Hampshire and Rhode Island, but I believe they have now reformed in both of these state, and yet the republicans of Connecticut still cling to this dishon- est advantage.
 Going to InocuIate Republicans.
 The public attention was so much aroused on this question, four years ago, that the legislature was com pelled to pass a preliminary vote for a constitutional convention. But their action, fear, was intended only to mislead us, for at the next session they refused to follow up the good work they begun I should be glad to join with others, atan opportune time, when there was not an election pending, to present to the people our claims in fla vor of plurality rule in this state, as 1t prevails in all others. If any of us should go into the camp of the repub- licans in an emergency, to say for a season or even over night, we ought to try to inoculate them with sufficient democracy to make them, with the 30,0o0 majority they are likely to have on their national ticket, do the square thing about popular elections in our little state.
 Against Buying Votes.
 One word upon another state topic There was never better time than now to reform our elections. The re- publicans will have all the votes they want and to spare in Connecticut, and that, too, without pay, and as neither the democrats nor the Is to 1-ocrats can hope to win, there will be no temp tation for either, and so both can be honest. A happy change so begun will, I hope, be honestly adhered to by all parties hereafter.
 The improper use of money in our elections is scandal that cannot be denied and that ought to be stopped, for it is the poisoning of the mountain | streams of our government, from which, wherever we are, we all have | to drink.
 Tn leaving state matters, let us re- | vert to national politics for moment again.
 | Warns the Other Faction. | have spoken of the vigorous way 1 in which I think we should carry on l the campaign, and I should like to say now how I think party matters should be settled when the battle is fought and the victory is won on our side If | it is won on the other, I shall be will ing to receive all that I propose to | give. I have no quarrel with the rank and file Of the party faction opposing us. Some of the best friends and SUD- | porters I have ever had are among l them, and in time they will come to know that you and I are now for and not against their best interests. If their side wins they will have more trouble than I could wish them, and if our side wins they will remember how you and I fought for the prosperity they will enjoy. It is only of some of 1 the leaders that I care to speak, and especially of those in whom I have an interest, or who show that they have an inordinate interest in me I should | like to have the two members of that staff of mine, now of ancient history for whom I have, as they know, per- sonal affection, who have left us for free silver, when defeat comes upon them, permitted to take back their side arms and feathers and turn the heads of their steeds our way and their tails l the other way.
 Respects to Troup.
 And I should also like to see when that event happens, the state central 1 committeeman and tourist of the 16 to l 1-ocrats, relieved of the responsibility 1 he is suffering as the Pooh Bah of his 1 faction, and he be allowed to go back | Iii of bo