Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-09-18
RED HOT.
The Opening Of the Republican
Campaign in Alma.
A CROWDED HOUSE.


assembled in the opera house Tuesday
evening, to listen to the opening address
of the Republican Campaign, which
was delivered by Hon. j. w. Hill,
Speaker of the house of Representatives,
of Ohio. The meeting was opened with
a song by the Mckinley and Hobart
Glee Club, which received a loud and
long applause. President Ely of the
club then introduced the speaker of the
evening.
Mr.. Hills speech was brim full of
enthusiasm, wit and eloquence. His
arguments were carefully weighed and
especially well put, carrying conviction
with them at every turn.
In opening the speaker cited the great
number of presidents which Ohio has
produced, of the success which has
crowned the head of every candidate
from the grand old presidential state.
During the past four years, prosperity
has been entombed, Grape has been upon
the doors of our factories, our banks,
our place of business and many of us
have had nothing but Grape i'll our
pocket books. And l come here tonight
us the advance agent of Gabriel to
sound the trumpet of prosperity and
plenty to the struggling masses of the
American people.
Put aside partisanship, if your citizen
ship does not arise above partisanship,
you are not worthy the name of an
American Citizen. The issues of the
day are not trifing" Mr.. Hill then
most numerically scored the Chicago
platform as un-Democratic, unpatriotic
and opposed to the constitution of the
United State.
"Old oracles have been supplanted by
young oratory." In scholarly manner,
the speaker next showed, how the ser
pent of the state rights was stamped
under the iron heel Of freedom in 1861,
but how 1t is again trying to ascert
itself and overthrow federal authority
us it democracy pure and simple" he
asked "that is trying to overthrow our
supreme court? one of the great founda-
ton stones upon which our nation rests. "
Mr.. Hill then took up the currency
question, showing how in the very face
Of history they were striving to fiaunt
the l6 to l banners. He cited the fact
that, while prices in Mexico and other
silver producing nations have gone up,
wages have steady declined. Among
many interesting statistics quoted, we
clip the following in reply to the argu-
ment that we have not enough money
in this land:
"China has per capita S3.44, Japan
81 90, Mexico with its free silver system
and it's eleven mints has 300, and gold
standard United States has $26,02 or si2
times as much money per capita a:
Mexico" land still they continue to cry
we want more money. >" He quoted from
the speeches of Senators Jones anC
Stewart in 1878, where each unequivo
cally declared for gold, and accounted
lor their utterance by the fact that a
| that time silver was bringing a higl
price in the markets of the world, while
today it is very cheap.
His reply to the cry against Wal
street was that, wall street is the people
of this nation, and in shooting an arrow
against it, we are discharging boomer
ang, which will return to strike III
| down"
| Harrison's last message TO congress
was brought in to show the unparalleled
prosperity of the country under the Nc
Kinley bill, while a short clipping o
| Cleveland's special message sufficed t.
show the damaging effect of free trade
In closing the gentleman said, "w'
have been enjoying an enforced periot
of philosophical and meditative rehec
ton. But we hope, nay, we know, tina
with the Republican victory in Novem
ber will come a season of prosperit
unparalleled in our history as nation.
The speaker was frequently interrupte,
during the evening, with loud storms O
applause, and as President Ely at tn
close proposed three cheers for McKinle
and Hobart and the state ticket, tn
walls of the house fairly rung.
| 1t was a Good One.