The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-26

appeared under II, cheers went up from
the 400 or 5000 threats that belonged to
those gathered around. Thousands of tin,
brass and zinc stars of all sizes glistened
IN the light Of the torches, and under the
electric lights oyerhanging the crowd.
Fellow Citizens" Maj. Meldrim said, as
he advanced 10 the rail, ION the battle eve
OF victory (eheers). the thousands of citi-
zens, white and eoIored, who are devoted to
the interests, the upbuilding and the well
fare Of Savannah are gathered, engaged in
the highest duty of citizenship. The is
sues Of the campaign are now well-defined,
the lines of battle are drawn, and to-mor-
row, just as in last October, the star Of
the Liberal Club will shine victorious.
(Cheers).
Il have used in this campaign no words
OF abuse, and none will fall from my lips
tonight. We are engaged in this struggle
not so much against the present admin
lstration as against the power behind the
throne, power stronger than the throne
itself. The Liberal Club IS composed Of
men who have the welfare Of the city at
heart, united in an effort the object Of
which is first to preserve law and order,
and second to deal justly with all men,
Whatever r9ay be their nationality, their
creed or their color. Iue Liberal Club
stands for education, for the building up
of the schools of the city, so that the chill
dren Of the humblest parents whether
white or back, shall have the benefit at
least Of an English education. The Liberal
Cub stands for progress-not the progress
which creates offices to fill them and
TO reward men for partisan services, and
pay them out Of the public treasury but
the progress which means the uplifting
and upbuilding of Savannah.
II thank you for this splendid demon
/ stration tonight. l invoke upon our cause
the support OF every good man in the city.
l ask the prayers of every good woman,
invoke the pulpit and the press in striV-
ing to put the affairs of our city into the
control Of those who have most at stake,
and who love the old home best / ask.
at the conclusion of this campaign, that
you bear yourselves as you have always
done, as becomes worthy upright citizens,
in whose hands the destiny of Savannah
is safe Without bitterness or abuse /
ask the blessing of God on our cause and
| bid you Godspeed in your work.
Cheers came from all sides at the cpnclu-
sion Of Maj. Meldrm's address, and Mr..
Walter G. Charlton was also warmly
greeted as he arose to respond. Mr..
Charlton said he was proud to greet the
unpurchasable manhood of Savannah.
"As I look on this immense throng," he
said, land recognize in the uplifted faces
the familiar features of those VINO have
made Savannah the synonym of all that
feel that the destiny of the city is to De
rendered back into the hands of those who
are inclined to maintain its power, its
prosperity and its ancient honor. Wheth-
er rich or poor, business man or artisan,
Jew or Gentle, Catholic or Protestant,
white or black, all are here tonight with
one end. with one hope, that when the
count shall end tomorrow a Savannahian
shall be lifted to the highest office in Sa-
vannah's gift
Mr.. Charlton said that to every suggcs-
ton of misconduct or incompetency on the
part of city officials, there had been only
one answer that the present admnisha-
ton had saved money to the city. This,
ne said is not true. More money has been
spent in the several departments than by
the preceding administration, and stil
there is nothing to show for it, Out of the
1000 put down for opening streets, Mr..
Charlton said S3l go of it represented
work planned, begun or completed under
! the AIcDonough administration. This he
said was meant TO catch the south side
| voter. but the southside voter is an early
bird, and rises soon and stays up late.
| This is the first time in the history of
| the city he said that the report of the
mayor has been made political docu-
ment, an appeal for votes instead Of a
| business report. The chairman of finance,
| he said grew hot because the morning
| of women and rabbits feet to applaud
| this partisan political document.
Let your battle cry be Savannah" he
! said in conclusion, land when the shade
1 Of night are failing, your star shall be vic
torious, and Savannah shall be redeemed. F"
| The occasion reminded Mr.. p. J. U'Con-
nor of the story of the mountaineer senti-
| mel, who when put on guard on the beach
! at the sea coast, and the tide began 10
| rise around him, cried out to the guard
I that there had been a h of a freshet
/ in this here creek. He had never seen
! such a freshet, he said, as appeared be-
/ fore him last night
"The present mayor in making a bid
/ for reelection, said, if reelected, he
wished 1t distinctly understood that he
would not be a partisan executive, and
! that everyone would be treated with inn
/ partial and courteous consideration. The
| only conclusion from this is that they
! have not been so treated by him hereto
| fore"
Mr.. O'Connor insisted that the many
| reforms promised had never been given.
! The issue of commissions, he said, did
not come up in the last city election. The
! people expected the mayor and board of
! aldermen to rule over their affairs for
| the next two years Instead of doing that,
| he said, they had secured the passage of
| commission laws for the purpose of per-
] peludllnS III power lieiI polltitdi H6AcH-
men, The effort had been made in the
! last legislature to abolish the commits
! sions, but It was blocked in the Senate.
God will convert the Senate" he said.
! 1T will he done through the people of
! Savannah; the voice of the people is
sometimes called the voice of Cod
Mr., OConnor called attention to the
/ fact that the heads of the city depart
ments were active partisan politicians,
! and had prostituted the city exchange to
1 political purposes.
Thank Cod" he said, that the Morn
! ing News yesterday had the courage to eX-
nose the dirty work going on in the ex-
| change l feel confident that the people
| will condemn that work tomorrow. Mel
drim Will put the rascals out and turn the
hose on the city exchange and clean it
! out
"The other side have expressed their
| tender affections for the colored people, in
spite of the fact that one of them told the
| colored people that when they wanted
! them they could buy them. And yet TN
wager Dolph Harry and Ferris are on
| their knees tonight pleading with this
same co,ored brother, in spite of the fact
| that they have not kept their promises to
! them. and MIR. Joseph Hull, one Of their
| candidates said he did not want any votes