The herald., 1897-12-28
Gov. AltgeId Talks to the
Silver Republicans
CURRENCY QUESTION REVIEW
BIHETALLISM THE ISSUE OF THE
NEXT CAMPAIGN
The Struggle With Organized Capital.
Bryan the Chosen Leader-Les-
sons Of Last Years Defeat

Yesterday noon a large number Of Los
Angeles silver men were present at the
Silver Republican club, the occasion
being an informal luncheon rendered to
Ex-Governor John p. Altgeld of Illinois,
who is spending few days in Los An
|geles. The occasion was in every sense
an impromptu affair, the club not know
ing until nearly noon time that the ex-
governor would be present, he having
expected to leave for San Diego on the
morning. train.
Mr.. Altgeld Is man SO much spoken
of, so prominent in this country's his
tory and SO greatly abused that 1t is a
matter of regret that his physical con-
dition is such that it prevents arrange
ments being made for a public talk from
him while here. Governor Altgeld Is a
man who, in the face Of the newspaper
notoriety he has received, impresses one
greatly; q plain, unassuming man, Of
a quick, active temperament, gentle
man in every bearing, a polished speaker
and while talking carries his words to
his hearers in such manner that con-
vinces his listeners of his thorough sin
cerlty, his heartfelt interest in the inter-
est of the masses.
Nearly fifty gentlemen sat down to
lunch. the tables being spread in the
large parlors Of the club, the doorways
and entrance to the building being
crowded with those unable to take part
In the repast. The lunch was such as is
always served at the club rooms. and
after the plates were emptied President
Nathan Cole, jr., introduced Governor
Altgeld, saying: IF were an orator
would enjoy nothing so much as to in
troduce to you our distinguished Wis
itor as he should be introduced, a man
whom I greatly admire, man you
know so greatly abused, a man who is
one of the most fearless of men and the
man who made the best governor the
state of Illinois ever had"
Governor Altgeld spoke as follows:
Gentlemen: I came to this beautiful
city of yours, and this delightful climate
of yours, in search of rest-absolute rest.
When they invited me to this lunch
they said 1t was purely an informal af-
fair, that was to meet lot of good fell
lows, and that was all there was Of 1t.
hcutS HOW tAdt udNC CHJOyCQ oil CACcl-
lent repast, and have met some elegant
gentlemen, the program seems to be
changed.
am especially interested in this club
Of yours. 1t differs in some respects
from the average political organization.
OF course we have political clubs all
over the country, and in all parties, but
they are usually made up of men who
are either working for something or
expecting something to drop their way.
But assume that the great majority Of
men who left an older party and struck
out for new organization along lines
that represented their conscientious be-
liefs did so without the expectation of
private reward. Indeed. they knew
they were resigning any reasonable ex
pectation Of gain when they took such a
step. Had they been merely looking for
Office or seeking to stand in with the win
ming side, they would have stayed with
the old party. Depend upon it, the vol
unteers who follow cause with such
the front In the great struggle upon
which this country is now entering. Gap
plause.)
In the past thirty years consider that
we have had no political parties in a
true sense in this country. We have all
been busy with our money making, and
one thing and another. and there has
been a wild chase for the offices. Party
platforms have been formulated which
were capable OF one construction or an
other, but as a matter Of fact the policies
OF both the old parties have been die
tated by the moneyed influences of the
east The great aggregation of wealth
for mischievous and selfish purposes has
reached out and controlled both parties
The need of the country has been a mi
nority party. 1t matters not whether
that party pushes on to success or not
If it only succeeds in putting the majority
party on It's good behavior-if it promul-
gates ideas and doctrines that are cor
rect, and forces other parties to adopt
them-if it furnishes men to light the
fires on the hilltops and signal an ad-
vance-then it accomplishes a great
work.
In the struggle that lies before us the
money question will cut an important
figure, but it will not be the only ques-
ton by any means. All over the coun-
try there is tendency to Europeanize
American labor. We are called upon to
decide whether wealth shall go on con-
centrating in the hands of the few, and
those few reaching out in turn to con-
troll the government, or whether Ameri-
can manhood shall assert itself, and re-
publican ideas triumph. We must de-
eide whether the toiler In this land shall
be able to lead an honorable and self
respecting existence, raise family and
educate his children to become useful
citizens, or whether he must sink to the
condition of labor in European countries.
After all, 1t is upon this great mass of
sturdy toilers that the nation must rely
for Its preservation. AS some philoso-
pher has said, the swallow tailed and big
shirt bosomed contingent never founded
an empire or laid the superstructure Of a
state. (Applnuse.)
You know, when our first great strug-
gle for national existence was inaugu-
rated the "eminently respectable"
classes-the bankers and big merchants
and capitalists-were very much against
O. revolution. They did not want their
trade ruined. And we have 1t on the
best Of authority-a member Of this
same highly respectable" class, who
happened to be present on the court
house grounds when the Declaration Of
Independence was first read in 1776. and
who wrote out an account Of the event,
that the crowd there assembled was
made up ofathc most common people.