The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-10-18
ALTGELD IN COOPER UNION
GREETED THERE BY A CROWD OF
TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE.
Telegram From Bryan.-The Governor
Explains His Position in the
Railroad Strike.

Railroad Strike.
New York, Oct. 17.-John p. Altgeld
Governor of Illinois, spoke in Cooper
Union tonight.
L. is seldom that such crowd turns
out 10 hear man as the one which
collected in and around New York's
historic hall tonight.
At least ten Thousand people listened
to the speeches from trucks and stands
erected ON the outside.
Within, the hall was decorated with
American flags, with the picture oil
Bryan and Alfgeld above the platform
Small American flags had been distri-
buted among the audience, and when
Mr.. Altgeld made his appearance, the
vast audience arose as one man, waved
the flags and eheered for several
minutes.
Henry George preceded Mr.. Altgeld
to the platform, and he, too, received
a tremendous ovation.
The meeting was held under the aus
pices of the German-American Demo-
cratic Association, and it's president,
VIM. f. Grail, called the meeting to
order in German and introduced as
chairman of the meeting, Frank c..
Schraub, the candidate for lieut.
Governor.
Mr.. Schraub made a brief speech
and then introduced as the first speak
er Frederick III. Ernst, who addressed
the meeting in German.
while Mr.. Ernst was speaking, Mrs.
Mary Il. Lease made her appearance.
She was recognized by the audience
and literally applauded.
Chairman Schraub produced the fol-
lowing telegram from VIM J. Bryan,
which was read and applauded:
Big Rapids, Mich, Oct. Ito Jos.
Herrings, New York: Please deliver
the following message: A cordial
greeting to the German-Americans
Free coinage at 16 to /, without wait
ing for any other nation, will furnish
a sounder currency than is possible
unSler a gold standard, and win, in
THE language of Bismarck, exert a
most salutary influence in restoring
bi-metallism throughout the world.
(Signed.) w. J. BRYAN
Congressman Sulzer made a brief
speech which was followed by Govern
or Altgeld, who was received with a
storm Of cheers, and cry of 'We love
You for the enemies you have made"
The greater part of Gov. Altgeld's S
speech, which was a very long one,
wias devoted to Justification of his
aIatitude during the Chicago railroad
srrilSe two years ago. He quoted the
telegrapbie correspondence he had
with various sheriffs, railroad officials,
and the Federal authorities at the
time, and asked his audience to Judge
whether he had not under the circum-
stances done his duty as Governor.
He denounced the gold standard, Fed
eral interference and government by
injunction, under which, he said, the
constitution and the laws can be
trampfel1 upon and every principle of
free government brushed away with
a mere wave of the hand. In opening
Governor Altgeld said:
II have come to bring to the patriotic
people of New York and of the East
the greeting Of the great Mississippi
valley; of that hardy yeomanry of the
Central and Western States that has
always rallied to the support of the
American flag in times Of danger and
tutions in times of peace. Those great
toiling and producing masses who
make our civilization possible feel
that their destiny is linked with that
of the sons OF liberty who inhabit the
East. We are unwilling to believe out
in the West that patriotism has died
east of the Alleghanies and that mann
mon is the only God at whose shrine
Eastern people bow. We are unwilling
to believe that the few men in your
large cities who use government as a
to make fortunes; who use
our Republic as a mere foraging ground
to amass wealth; who cringe to Euro
pean aristocracy and who wave the
American flag with one hand, while
robbing the public with the other,
represent the sentiment of that sec
ton of the country that was the cradle
Of American liberty. We do not be-
lieve that because you have in your
midst men who value the privilege of
taking breakfast with the Prince of
Wales, more than they do the blessings
of free government; that because you
have in your midst men who are ready
to undermine and to overthrow Repub-
lican institutions in our land in order
to gain a temporary personal advantage
for themselves, that therefore the fires
of liberty, which, for more than a CEN
fury, burned upon your hill-tops and
illumined the world are extinct We
believe that the hearts of a majority
of your people are loyal to the insti-
tutions OF the fathers, and that they