The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-06

New York. July 5.-Ex- Governor
John P Altgeld of Illinois addressed
about 1000 people in tie Academy of
Music. Brooklyn, today. The meeting
was under the auspices of the Demo-
cratic League of Kings county. Henry
George presided and introduced Mr..
Altgeld, who was greeted with hearty
applause.
Mr.. Altgeld, in the course of his
speech, said:
"A whole generation has paid at the
war debt ana has reduced il by one
half, Yet such has been the govern
mental policy that today ii viii require
twice as much of our products to pay
the remainder as would have been
created. Being a producing and debtor
nation, il was a crime 10 legislate eX-
clusively in favor OF the creditor
classes of Europe and thus destroy the
purchasing power of our people.
There must ultima ely come a sys-
TEN of finance or exchange that will
have a philosophic basis and will not
restrict human efforts. But until this
does come we demand the restoration
of the bimetallic system as " formerly
existed in our country because it was
the best thus far given the world.
We were promised prosperity. II
has not come. and il requires no
prophet to see that under existing con-
ditiOns no permanent prosperity can
come. \ squirt of activity under Nc
Kinley conditions means the more GER
tain death of free Institutions. II
means Shat the poison of corruption
shall go on until every organ of the
body is destroyed.
The universal corruption that is to-
day destroying our country comes from
rhe concentration of capital, and the
alarming aspect is that it is Dracsiced
by men who talk patriotism and who
stand high in the estimation of the
public. Il is idle to talk about purify
ing the government so long as men of
influence and position offer vast sums
TO corrupt it. Cut off the hand that
offers a bride and you will end cor
ruption.
For so years our party has been a
Neutral party: the manipulators who
wished TO use it as a convenience did
not want it to stand for anything
There were interests that seemed to
control both parties. This, was the
easiest way of controlling national leg
islation. Had there been a positive
and aggressive minority party
standing for principle, the cry of dis /
tress would not be heard in this land
today. Had there been such party, I
the Standard Oil trust never could have /
nominated the same man three times in 1
for the presidency. Trading [
politicians made this possible. Conn I
promisers, traders and neutral men
never correct abuses, never found or (
save free institutions. and never fight |
for human rights. Only men of con-
victions and courage can save this |
land
IN every state the people are /
aroused. They see their condition grow (
ing worse. they see the hope of their /
children disappearing: they see pow
arty hanging over the future; they see
the black flag of hunger floating over
some of the richest Sections of Gods
earth. and they are crying for justice
My friends. that cry viii free the
American people. Even if we should be
borne down again and again, the voice
IF humanity viii arise from the dust
md drive the money changers out CT
he temple and the traitors out of the
and. The Benedict Arnold of 1880
sleeps on English soil Let the Bens-
lict Arnolds Of this age make their
graves beside him