The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-01-01
It was Called to Denounce the
Cleveland Message, but End.
ed in the Most Violent
Belligerency.
SPEAKERS INTERRUPTED.
DR.. Lyman Abbott, Eenry George,
Ernest Crosby and Others Could
Hardly be Heard.
n. Y. Herald, Dec. "a.

was called "peace meeting but a
more bellicose one could DOT have been
gotten up by Peter Maber. "Bob" Fitz-
simmons or Senators Chandler and
Lodge. There was no bloodsbed, and
it was a wonder. for the fighting men
were in toe majority. Right at the
beginning bald headed man stood up
in the audience and struggled with the
police, aud the latter refraiued from
using their clubs.
This meeting. aud it was big one.
the great hall being crowded to the
doors, was the most remarkable one
ever held iu this place. 1t was re-
markable 10 this, that the noisy and
persistent interrupters Of the .speazers
we're not dubbed as they would have
been in the days of Alexander Will
liams. It was strange to see the police
men actually arguing with excited men
instead of breaking their heads. Not
a single free citizen vas thrown out,
although there we're numerous sugges-
tions to that effect in the course of the
evening.
THERE WAS PLENTY OF MUSIC.
The hall was packed almost as soon
as the doors were opened. There was
no brass band. nothing to amuse the
expectaut audience, and the numerous
police thought they we're going to have
a quiet time, because there was not a
murmur 10 the audience until the
speechmaking began. But there was
noise enough after that, and it was
made BY both so-called peacemakers
aud updoubted warriors
Edwin Lawson Purdy called the
meeting to order, or, as the sequel
proved, to disorder. He began by
casting slur upon President Cleve-
land and ct ooce his voice was drowned
By hisses. Then be broke of and said
that the meeting was for the expression
Of the opinions of those ''grown old
in common sense" He introduced a
permanent chairman, Ernest Howard
Crosby. ''ao American Judge at
Cairo"
This meeting," said Mr.. Crosby,
..hss been called for the purpose Of
arresting that epidemic of frothing ard
hysteria. which seems to have captured
manv of our fellow citizens, that was
brought about by message of the
President 10 Congress calling for the
upholdiog of the Monroe doctrine,
even at the price Of war"
Rounds Of applause caused the
speaker to pause and the warriors were
beginning 20 assert themselves. In the
middle Of the hall vas big man with
az immense shock of red hair, Who
began to sing. For he's jolly good
fellow" when a policeman shook dis
hand at hin.
s'Wha: is that doctrine ?" continued
Mr.. Crosby. There is something like
it ip Europe. It is this The Powers
of Europe do DOT allow anybody to
steal except themselves" The audi
euce laughed. Il 6nd that it msaas
precisely the same thing bere-tbat we
do nos allow anybody to steal except
ourselves
GREETED BY Kisses.
From the greater part of tie hall
came a storm Of hisses.
"Ah Cteveland's the stuff :" shout
ed the red headed man.
eyes. the stuff prophet, answered
one of The peaceful, aod there was a
laugh.
.'Did the Monroe doctrine" went 90
Mr.. Crosby. 'prevent US stealing
the great State CT Texas? Did the
Monroe doctrine prevent Us stealing
New Mexico ~
yes" ..No. :" Eyes % ''Now
vas shouted from all points in the hall.
"We bought isr' cried mau with a
bigger voice than any other The red
headed maa vas swayiug his head Wig
orous!y. aad lis jaws we're moving. but
he could not be heard 10 the storm.
''Dia il prevent us stealing from the
Indians said Mr.. Crosby, when be
got chance. but be had to stop. for
there were hisses and confusion. Am
7 telling the truth or not 2"
eyes" ''No,' .:Yes!" "No ~
"Three cheers fer Cleveland y
"For he's a j oily good fellow be-
gan the red headed Que, when police
man sqaelched him.
A bald beaded man whose face Is
we'll known 10 the republican club of
tbv Few Twentieth stood up and said ne
wanted &c ask question. A policeman
went ever to hin. The bald headed
map persisted, and the peaceful ones
shouted to put him out Three police
man grabbed the republican Cleveland
tie, but they could not move him The