The San Francisco call., 1896-09-23
He Wanted to Know What Con-
gressman Mcguire Had Done
for the State.
RISK OF JAPANESE INVASION.
Mr.. oBrien Suggests a Danger to
American Workingmen and
DweIIS on Protection.


in the Auditorium, but not one of them
was larger or more intelligent or enthusi-
astic than the audience which Assem- bed
last night. 1t was one of the largest be-
cause many hundreds of late corners were
unable to gain an entrance. 1t was also
one of the most intelligent audiences that
ever assembled at any political meeting in
this State, and the spontaneous and long
continued outbursts of cheering showed
that no audience could have been more
enthusiastic.
The fair sex lent its presence in goodly
numbers in the galleries and applauded as
literally as did the men.
The meeting was opened by Chairman
Charles M. Shortridge, who made a brief
speech, in the course of which he said that
he had made pledge here not long ago
which he desired to repeat, and that was
that he pledged the people of this State
that if San Francisco, his adopted City,
did not give its vote for Mckinley he
would undertake, by way of penalty,
although not a swimmer or an athlete, to
swim from the foot of Market street to
Goat Island on the 4th of Novem ber. But
he believed that 1t would be much harder
for the Democratic party to swim out of
the sea of despondency into which it will
have Deen plunged.
Chairman Shortridge then introduced
Thomas B. OBrien, nominee for Congress
from the Fourth District. Mr.. O'Brien
made brief but logical and convincing
argument on the necessity for protecting
American industries. He taxed his oppo-
nert with having done nothing for his
district in the past four years, and pointed
out the fact that Sacramento and San
Jose were enjoying their new postofices,
while San Francisco had nothing but the
site full of Democratic auger-holes. His
opponent had been an advocrate of free
trade, which had opened up British mills
and factories and closed American hives
of industry.
Mr. O'Brien followed by complimenting
Irish-Amerlcan citizens on their loyalty
to the land of their adoption. With re-
gard to the Democratic flourish of trum-
pets on the railroad funding bill, he said
that the Republicans of California had
proclaimed themselves in their last State
platform in favor of compelling the rail-
road corporations to pay their debts TO the
Government in the same manner as every
man who owes 1t a dollar.
Mr.. O'Brien was frequently interrupted
with rounds of applause, and left an ex-
cellent impression on his hearers.
Miss Ella Ellis, one of the sweetest sing
ers at Republican meetings during this
campaign, entertained the audience with
topical songs.
Colonel Kowalsky began as follows:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen and
Fellow citizens: The momentous question is
Do you want the mines of the world opened
for the millionaires of the world? or, Do you
want the factories of America opened for the
millions of laboring men of America?
Do you want tree trade, free silver, dishonor
and unhappiness? or, Do you want protection
honest money, prosperity and happiness?
Answer with your votes in Novem ber and
tell with no uncertain voice the loyal people
in every other part of America that California
is in line for the Nation having done her dntv
in sustaining the banner of protection, giving
reverence to the memory OF the late beloved
James u. Blaine and likewise honoring the
living apostle of this great principle the Hon
William Mckinley of Ohio.
After charging that the Democracy was
failure on financial matters the speaker
said:
As loud as any other man in the Democratic
party at that time to insure prosperitv
through the medium of free trade was the
voice OF William j. Bryan, the Democratic.
Populstic Watson-Sewau candidate for the
Presidency. -Four years ago he promised with
all the earnestness of his nature and all the
eloquence of his speech to give to the great
more wages Tor their daily labor and a general
glow of prosperity 10 the entire country if the
Democratlc party were permitted to carry out
the doctrines OF free trade; and If the ultra
Democratic members of the Democratic Con-
gress that passed the Gorman-Wilson bill had
been in full sway and could have Controlled to
the full limit of their wishes in place of hard
times from which we are now suffering we
would be in state verging on ruin to-day.
o.
Gratis who live in country where protection
is absolutely necessary, and whose coustitu-
ents insisted that the products raised and
the articles manufactured by them must be
protected, together with the Republicans who
were members of the House of Representa-
t1Yes, as well as of the Senate stoou nv and
forced at least some concession in the Interest
OF American products and American labor
Imagine, II you can, how much more ter
rlDle the whole situation would have been if
they had exercised to the very limit in ali of
Its Intentions. the doctrine of free trade Let
mt SLOW you "a, picture: Come with me to Bir-
mlngham, Manchester and the other great
manufacturing cities of England. Eight Wears
ago-yes, even four years ago. their factories
were closed their capital was UNEMPLOYED and
their work1ngmen al home.
Come back to this our own dear country at
the same period of time: Go down through
the valleys OF Penns lvania, along the Hud-
son, in New York, and through the spindle
factories in New England. See the smoke
from those chfmneys and the lights of the mr.
naces, making night seem almost like day
aud the hum of the spindle and the sound of
the anvil can be heard to ring INCREASINGLY
from early morn until late at night Every
one OF our people employed at good wages
the product of their labor being consn4ed
here at home, sold at price that makes II
possible for the manufacturer To earn a 1,rost
and to give to his workingmen a like proft
TO the producer OF the raw material a fair
proht; the consumer able to pay a reasonahIa
price, because that which ne does-the occn
patton in which he is engaged-is eoualiv In
a Graave ann ne Is aple to give part OF the
man who produced the raw material IN the
man VINO invested his capital, to each and
every one OF his fellow-citizens who like him
self, are toilers, and make up part of the
great commonwealth. There was singular and
peculiar reciprocity OF prosperity between
them. SeH
What is the difference to-day2 The warning
that went forth from the throats of the nai-i
otlc Republicans who sought TO stem and stav
this awful condition was unheeded IT was
thought there must be some tru tn in The snian
did promises made by the Democra tic party
promises which fairly illuminated the skios
with their brilliancy. The great American
people-those who voted with the Demooreffc
party, and the workingmen particularly-said
II was impossible for party made up of great
men, for party made up of men of edueation
and OF brains to be so abs solutely mistaken &c
they have proved themselves. They could not
believe that the Democratic party was telling
and promising that OF which no part could be
carried out; and when they were told that
they woulo be the sufferers that the working
classes OF the country would suffer- that this
thing was directed at them, that the rich had
nothing to loses that it was the poor man who