River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-07-09
GOLD ADVOCATES.
Hold a Big Mass Meeting Preparatory to
he Inn


the Convention.
Chicago. July ga public meeting Of the
friends of the "sound-money" cause was
held Saturday evening in the Auditorium
Ia theater connected with the hotel of
that name and capable of seating 6000 or
100 spectators. There was not vacant
seat to be had when the serious business
of the evening began-the hour between
seven and eight having been filled up by
select pieces OF music given by the band Of
the First regiment. on the platform were
seated Senator Gray. of Delaware; John r.
Fellows. of New York: Franklin McVeagh,
of Chicago. many other prominent sup
7ortcrs of the sound-money cause and
large number OF ladies.
Roswell +. Flower, of New York. in call
ing the meeting TO order announced with
emphasis that the question to be discussed.
the democratic side OF the currency Ques-
tion. was one which threatened TO imperil
the life OF the democratic party. He paid
especial attention to the interest of the
farmer In sound finance and declared that
the raisers of cotton, wheat and corn had
been misled on the currency question and
were imperiling the life OF the democratic
party and the welfare of every man In the
land who owns dollar. statement which
the audience indorsed and approved by APP
plause. Gov. Flower. who spoke earnestly
and affectedly. concluded his short address
by introducing Franklin McVeagh as the
chairman Of the meeting.
NneFe the nrSt speaker nau ATTACKED
only the argument of the free silVeriteS,
Mr.. McNeagh attacked their arguments
and their methods. He laid aside his man
uscript for moment to add emphasis by
gesture to his vigorous denial that a ma
Jority OF the democrats of the United
States would of their own choice offer a
sixteen to one platform TO the people of
the United States. He denied that the
convention represented the people. because
If Illinois had not aligned itself with free
ff4a~ tar4Fxs
of delegates for sixteen to one. and then
he trumpeted this defiance to the demo-
cratic powers that be in the state: "llli-
nois in this convention is sinking ano
saturated with fraud"
The bitterness in the speakers tones and
the sting of his words electrified the audi
ence, which broke out I'm enthusiastic and
prolonged cheers. As the applause began
TO die away the speaker continued:
THE movement in Illinois has risen on
the disfranchisement of honest money
democrats" Another burst of cheers in
terrupted the speaker. who gathered voice
to shout with all his strength, And ILL.,
nois marched at the command of Altgeld."
After Mr.. MacVeagh had finished. in re-
Spouse TO loud calls. William +. Russell
came forward. His speech was a powerful
argument. dealing more with facts than
with sentiment. and he begged the silver
men to stop and consider well before taking
the step they contemplated. The country.
he believed, stood on the threshold OF sec
tiOnal and geographical division. with its
attendant miseries. May God save US
from crossing that threshold" said Mr..
Russell, and with the applause that fol-
lowed were mingled several fervent an4ens.
When he came to the sentence: we must
not turn our backs upon an administration
which with courage and fidelity has up
held the nations credit men and women
stood on their chairs and yelled their APP
prevail of the words.
Gov. Russell's remarks particularly
brought out in strong relief the difficulty
which is beginning TO loom up before the
silver managers-what TO do with the tariff
Nearly all the boiting republican Delegates
at st. Louis declared that their states were
solid for free silver aud protection. Gov
Russell seized upon this point and asserted
that IL republican protection was right in
principle, then silver legislation was equal
Is so. but If protection was wrong In prtn-
cipal. unjust ana oppressive in practice. as
the democratic party had ever declared
and still declared, then silver legislation
was equally so and ought to receive equally
emphatic condemnation. This point was OBJ
viously directed against the arguments ad-
vanced In favor OF the selection of Senator
Teller the free-silveT standard bearer,
he being also an earnest advocate of pro-
lection, ana as such its force was appre-
ciated. The effect will undoubtedly be 20
augment the perplexities which the man
ayers are finding in dealing with the tariff
plank of the platform.
Senator Gray. of Delaware. followed Mr..
Russell. He read partly from manuscript
a strong, forceful arraignment of the fr-
silver fallacy, pointing out that IT'S evils
would rebound at once upon the tOller and
the wage-earner.
when a man works week or a month
he is a creditor In the amount of his wages"
said the senator. land when you pay him
in a currency which is deprecated you
cheat him"
enunciation of principle. The speaker
dwelt more upon the results following on
the free coinage of silver than upon har-
irony, and pointed out that the new pol
icy meant the ruin of the democratic party.
After Senator Gray came John r. Fell
lows, of New York, the most eloquent of
the brilliant coterie which made the oc-
casion momentous. The speaker was
one inspired after ne had been talking ten
minutes, and he made one of the greatest
efforts of his life His appeal to demo
Gratis not to cast off the good offices of the
east was piteous In its intensity and
warmth.
The voice of Col Fellows shook as. in
ma king a personal appeal to the delegates
from the SOUTH he told how he served four
years in the confederate army for his prin-
ciples and lived through the bitter period of
reconstruction afterward; how he was cast
by fate into the marts of trade In New
York and there found brothers greet
that to-day and tomorrow were open for
all In burning words he spoke of what
New York had done for the south. and
there was not a whisper in the vast audi
ence as he told of the relief sent to Chicago
by New York after the great fire.
Course New York." said the speaker,
willy it, traduce IL. condemn it. But I'm
the hour of calamity you will turn sorrow
fully from the false friends who have led
you to ruin to that New YORK which now
you CONTEMPORARY defy"
The silence became intense as the speak
er paused a moment and then continued:
do not reject us; do not cast us of. We
have been brothers for years IL will
wrench our heart strings if the tie is sew
cred. Do not turn US out of your coUr-
cils-it is not democracy; il will not be rec
ognized as democracy. Although you may
steal our banner. so help me God. you can
not steal our principles"
At this declaration a wild shout burst
from every part Of the house. the audience
arose and cheered wildly. waving flags ana
handkerchiefs. For almost a minute the
uproar continued. while Col Fellows stood
with outstretched hand. and when quiet
was restored finished his address in
magnificent burst of oratory which again
set the people frantic.
TLREE INES OCT