Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-10-29
A POLITICAL FIGHT REVIEWED
History OF the Strife Between
Delaware Republicans.
STATEMENT BY HUGH c. BROWNE
Made 1t at the Auditorium
Thursday Evening.
Campaign Issues Discussed by william O.
spruance ana ex-senator Anthony hig-
giDs-The Young Mems Republican Club
and other Organizations Present.

auuichsltbs was prbstnteu ny toldte
Chairman Hugh G. Browne at meet
ing in tbs Auditorium Thursday night.
Speeches were made by William o.
higgins, The meeting was late in be-
ginning and prior to O'Clock the audi
ence was rather small. Later the
Young Mems Republican Club arrived,
bearing it's lusty slogan, and followed
by German club. The First Regi-
ment Band played.
Over the platform was placard con-
tanning an eagle, the emblem of the
Regular Republican party and the
words, 'Stamp your ballot in the
square with the eagle for Mckinley and
Hobart, Higgins and Houston and the
whule Republican ticket"
State Chairman Browne presided.
Others on the platform were W. G. II.
Colquhoun, secretary of the State com
mittee, Robert q. Houston, the Regular
Republican candidate for Congressman.
and William G. Spruance. Cheers
were given for Mr. Browne and Mr..
Houston.
In his opening speech, Mr.. Browne
stated the position Of the Regular Re-
publican party. While he was speak
ing the Twelfth ward Republican Club
and "a oolored Republican club arrived
and added to the crowd. About that
time ex-senator Anthony Higgins APP
peared upon the stage and was enthusi-
astically cbeered.
MR.. sPHuANCE ON THE ISSUES.
Mr.. Spruance in the course of his
speech saiu that Mr.. Bryan was the
only one who knew all about what is
the matter with the country. There
are some things we do. know, aud we
know that one trouble is lack of con-
tidence. la was not going to speak
about The tariff which question he con-
sidered settled, but If Mr.. Mckinley
was elected and "a Republican house we
| should have new tariff. The present
tariff did not bring sufficient revenue.
But the tariff is to be revised SO as to
| give enough revenue. There is, how
ever, mors important question, that
OF money. People have not until
recently thought much on the matter Of
a ntabls currency. They have had it
but have not thought about it, As
the Populists had done the talking
about free silver not much attention
was paid to it, until it was brought up
at the Chicago convention. 1t is re-
markable the unanimity among the
men known as the leaders of both
parties and among the press on this
| question.
In discussing the coinags question
Mr.. Spruance made clear the dis
tinction between money of the country
now and under free silver. Back of sill
yer and paper now stands the wealth
and credit of the United States; take
that away and the money will fall to
its intrinsic value. The proposition is
that they shall coin eyerybody's silver
on the account of the owner of the
silver. The government will simply
coin the silver. Prices would depreciate
under free silver. lie declared that
silver had no more to do with the price
of wheat than the ground hog had to
do with the weather. Wheat had gone
up and he was glad Of 1t as he still had
some to sell and silver had gone down,
but he had no sill yer to sell.
Mr.. Spruance considered the actions
of the Chicago convention. That move
ment he held, to DO union OF all the
forces Of discomfort in tho country
The forces which started at Chicago
have died away aud we know that the
votes of this people shall be over
whelmingly for Mckinley. He advised
Democrats to vote for him. He declared
that the three votes of Delaware were
more important than three like votes in
New England; it is desired to break
the solid South We want Maryland,
Kentucky and Virginia. Let it be
known that sound money is NOT
sectional but national.
EX-SENATOR HIGGINS ADDRESS.
When ex-senator Higgins was pre-.
] | Tod ha 80 Ia.
cheers and applause which lasted tive
most enthusiastic ovations given any
speaker in the auditorium this cam.
paign. Mr.. Higgins said he was there
AZ private citizen to speak few
moments on the momeutous issues OF
the day. 1t was an epoch making
campaign. There were two nationa
Democratic parties, but only one Re,
publican party. (Applause.
I'VE no longer stand face to face
with our ancient enemy" said Mr..
Higgins. I'm its place stands the
Populist party masquerading in Demo
cratic clothes, a most remarkable per.
Torrance and achievement. - Mr..
Higgins held that the Democratic
party brought this upon itself by
aiding the Populists in behalf of Gen.
Weaver in 1892. The PopuIist party il
: something that has not been known ID
Delaware, 1t is of Southern origin
Mr.. Higgins, in discussing the
Chicago plank on Federal interference,
: commended the action of President
Cleveland in sending troops to Chicago
I at the time of the strike to uphold thu
! law. He referred to Tillman and A It.
i geld as two of the most reckless ant
I dangerous men who have come forward
in the United States. After touching
upon parts of the Chicago platform thu
. speaker emphasized the need of con
t tidence in business. He declared tina
. in tho East you can count on tn,
8 fingers Of one hand the leading Demo
' Gratis who are unfolding Bryan and on,
1 or the other of his running mates.
8 I'VE have never had any money dis
cussion in Delaware, no said. "Evei
the greenback discussion was not
question here. At convention il
. Macon, Ga, Thomas +. Bayard tool
= : such strong ground against greenback
! that the question was settled for Della
: ware. +"
Il am willing to confess, " said Mr.
Higgins, THAT | am bimetallist
| am not monometallist, But if WI
ara to have but one, l am for gold. ,
a He could not see how Bryan and other
n Of his cult could call themselves bimet
q alists. The world is not anxious 70
the free coinage Of silver the same u
gold, but it wants the use of til