The herald., 1897-11-26
OLD GLORY
Cast to the Breeze at Silver
Headquarters
SILVER REPUBLICAN RALLY
DIVERSITY IN SENTIMENT BUT
UNITY UNDER THE FLAG
Jud Rush, Ex-Governor Sheldon and
Judge Murphy Addresses Large
Gathering at the Club House

Gathering at the Club House
The Silver Republicans turned out ir
force yesterday to celebrate Thanksgiv.
ing by holding flag-raising exercises a;
the headquarters of the Silver Repub
lican club on Main street.
The flagpolc had been presented to the
club by William Runnels, who ordered
1t shipped from Washington, and wher
at 10:30 the strains of 1.-THE Star Span
gled Banner" came floating through the
open windows the folds Of Old Glory
loated out to the breeze, surmounting
the white streamer Of the Silver Repub-
licans. A roar went up from the crowd
that thronged the club windows and
verandah. the garden ard out in the
streets, and ere the sound of the cheers
had died away N. Cole, jr., president of
the club, came forward, and after al
luding to the significance Of the cere-
mony just performed. presented Judge
Murphy to say few words on behalf of
the club.
That gentleman said it was not neces-
sary to say much about the flag. 1t had
been trailed in the dust but once or
twice and today any one standing be-
meath it's folds can almost say, as does
the English nation, that the sun never
sets upon it. Judge Murphy went on to
eulogize those who had acquired possess
sions for the nation by the
Louisiana treaty and by tho
treaty with Mexico. and main
tained that never a foot of the ground
acquired should ever be surrendered. On
the other hand he desired to see the flag
wave over the paradise of the Pacific.
II do not want to bind the club by my
words" said the speaker. land don't
want to say much about the flag. Last
year we heard great deal about 1t and
got hypocritical dose. Four generals
went around as sself-constituted and spe-
cial guardians of 1t, and any old soldier
who thought differently from them was
reviled. Some who were then followers
OF Alger are today as CALLED jades winc-
ing under his actions.
This club is formed Of Republicans
who remain where the old party re-
mained for many years. think that III
some respects the adoption of the word
Silver" was a mistake. We are truly
the representative Republican party and
left those who seeded from Republican
principles and went over to Hanna. After
all the pledges they had made they in
July changed as II, Janus like. they had
two faces. We believe the principles Of
this club toibe. like yon flag. immortal
One defeat will not decide the fate Of
humanity and next year in the state and
in 1900 in the nation. will be renewed the
fight exactly the same as last year..
Then. too. think that the club ought
to broaden its scope and Join with all
good men and women in obtaining good
city and county government. We are
Independent Of all parties. Neither the
city hall nor the court house are filled by
our members. and so we can fearlessly
criticise."
The speaker went on to illustrate the
necessity for new city charter different
to that presented year ago; that better
men be returned to the legislature and
every measure taken to improve the
status Of the city, the county and the
state and to this the 5000 odd members of
the club ought to work. In concluding
he said:
II do not appropriate the flag like AL
ger and Mckinley, and do not believe
any man greater than the people and the
fag-symbolism Of free speech and po-
litical action. We are liberal in our
IDEAS and the members of the club do not
frown on me because I am with Nc
Kinley's administration in the matter of
Hawaii. although I don't believe the
administration is actuated by q high
patriotism"
Judge Murphy concluded his address
with graceful compliment to President
Cole for his unselflsh efforts and to the
club which he denominated as the brains
of the Republican party.
President Cole next presented Jud
Rush, ESQ.,, to those present as one who
would say few words for the Populist
party.
1T is generally supposed that on this
Thanksgiving day everyone should be
thankful" began Mr.. Rush. my own
opinion Is that we have much to be
thankful for on any day. AS 1 saw
that flag raised and waving in the breeze
remembered what we had gathered
for; realized that 1t was being raised
by SOLO men who had turned their backs
on the previous affiliations that had been
dear to them in order to battle for truth
and Justice. Then was thankful. I
thought of the time when that flag was
born, when the country was in its in
fancy: of the men and women who
turned their backs on the homes Of their
infancy to promulgate freedom and ben
eft humanity. I thought indeed there
is need of thankfulness when men are
actuated by the came ideas and have
the same ideals.
Il have heard Of some men who take
the flag into their back yard, build
chicken coop around it, and dance in
rejoicing that they only love it. But
they are comparatively go few that they
are scarcely worth noticing. The peo-
pies struggles for 1t represent the great
est civilization in the history of human
progress, because wherever 1t floats lib
erty and freedom are watchwords, ana
everyone who loves these is entitled to
stand under its folds. But any man who
thinks we get an inspiration from the
governments of the old world, and that
the United States is not ut to dictate it's
own policy, has no right to the protection
Of that flag or to stand beneath its folds.
"In thus speaking I don't suppose
anyone but myself. The Pop
ulists believe that everyone differs in
some particulars from everyone else.