The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-09-23
Watson and Guthrie Fill Their
Last Appointment.
GREAT DAY AT WlLkESBORO
The Candidates Met by Horse
Back Procession.
ATHousAND PEOPLE HEAR THEM
The News of the Agreement of the
Silver Forces of North Carolina
to Unite Greeted With

Sn0GTSs
Willlesboro, N. c., Sept. 22.-(Spe-
.cian-"one of the grandest days in the
history of Wilkes"
This was the comment of DR.. Tyre
York at the close of the Watson-Guth-
RE debate at Wilkesboro to-day. 1t
was indeed a great occasion, and but for
the rain which came down in torrents
from sunrise until 10 o'clock Wilkes
boro would barely have held the peo-
Dle, The rain poured down upon the
mountains, but the people poured into
town until at least one thousand were
standing on the court house square
when the speaking began. 1t was the
most enthusiastic crowd of silver men
that / have seen gathered in the State.
There were Democrats, Republicans
and Populists, but they were unit
for Bryan and silver. One of the feat
ures of the procession that had been
planned TO meet the silver champions,
Watson and Guthrie, was regiment
of fifty young ladies rohed IN silver
costume and mounted on decorated
mountain horses.
The rain prevented this part of the
and their costuInes-queenly repre-
sentatives of that purity, beauty and
virtue that greed can never conquer
nor gold pollute. They lent the charms
of their youth and beauty to the occa-
sion. when the sun had driven the
clouds away they were beautified maids
of the mountains, whose very presence
has always and will always inspire
les af val
ism in war or in peace.
The mountain boys were here also. A
great cayalcade of them. As the tiny
handkerchiefs of the young ladies way
ed their endorsement of the utterances
of the speakers the boys sent volumes
of applause sounding down the corri-
dors Of the hills. 1T was great bryan
and silver love feast. Both speakers
were at their very best. They caught in
snira tjon from the enthusiastic crowd
that filed them to oyerhowing with the
Importance of the weighty issues OF
the campaign. 1t was to be the last of
their Joint discussions, for the present
at least. They threy minor matters
and petty differences to the winds and
as each speaker warmed up to the great
question upon which the campaign is
being fought their voices rose in waves
of eloquence and logic and power and
set the hills of Wilkes afiame with
Bryan, silver and reform.
Mr.. Watson was the first speaker. He
was introduced by DR. Tyre York and
in one of his Characteristic speeches.
When Mr.. Watson arose the crowd
went wild. 1t was a reminder OF
BRYAN demonstration. "Hurrah for
Bryan, Cy. Watson and Tyre York"
shouted some one. Another yelled,
ssHurrah for Bryan, Guthrie and Dick
Hacket." "Hurrah for Bryan, Cy. Wat
son. Bill Guthrie, Tyre York and the
whole free silver shooting match"
shouted another; and then loud voice
shouted, Three cheers for Cy. Wat
son. They were given with a vim
and Mr.. Watson began. ~
He has made some great speeches
during the campaign but few if any
one of them has equalled his speech
at Wilkesboro to-day. He set the
crowd afame when he said, after refer
ring to the fight that Western and
Southern Democrats had made for sill
yer since 1876, they had at least cap
tured the organization of the party,
1 cut loose from the Eastern plutocrat
power and had once more placed the
grand old party of Jefferson and Jack
son back upon that substantial foun-
dation of equal rights to all and special
privileges to none. He scored the mon
ey-changers that, as the immortal
Vance declared, were polluting the
temple of the peoples liberties. The
trusts, the Hannaites and Mckinley
combinations, he scored them all un-
mercifully. He pictured the devasta-
ton that had been wrought IN the
homes of the land as the result of the
conspiracy that had saddled upon the
country the narrow, contracted single
gold standard.
His powerful voice could be heard
for blocks as he dealt blow after blow
to the mongrels of wealth who were
now engaged in an effort to coerce and
buy up the freeman of America that
they might have yet four years more
of greed and avarice. Mr.. Watson
spoke for nearly an hour and a half
and when he closed the vast crowd
cheered him to the echo.
Major Guthrie arose, and he too re-
ceiyed great ovation from his friends.
He diyed right into the silver question
and within ten minutes had the crowd
puncturing almost every sentence with
rounds of applause. He discussed the
question with great force, with terse
logic and with earnestness and elo-
ouence. He declared that about all thai,
was good in the Republican party and
all that could hold a patriot to
its standard had been buried with its
great leaders of the past He declared
that this great party of Lincoln and
Grant and Blaine and Garfield had
been completely Mark Hannaized un-
fil men like Teller and Towne and Du-