The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-05-13
THE ALTGELD SPEECH,
BRIEF REVIEW OF ITS CHIEF
POINTS.
Jefferson and Cleveland tho Founder
and the Destroyer of Dcmocracy-'rhc
Latter Held Up to the Scorn OF All
Mankind Republican, Press Is Rabid

Governor Altgeld again struck the
popular chord in his jefferson day adj
dress at Chicago. Mr.. Altgeld took
for his subject. Jefferson and Cleve-
land, the Founder and the Destroyer OF
Democracy Mr.. Altgeld gave strong
word picture Of the life and work OF
Thomas jefferson. Then he turned the
subject to the arch betrayer Of tae
Democracy, Grover Cleveland. We all
know what Cleveland did to his party.
But few of us have heard the grand
old man of Illinois, tell the story. He
tells it in such wcll-connected, piano.
rama-like manner that the contrast is
at once instructive.
He begins with Cleveland's first job
in Buffalo law Office. Then he shows
how the then young man grossly be-
trays his benefactor, that he might
reap certain reward.
Next he tells about Cleveland, the
lawyer, accepting the nomination for
sheritf-something that no reputable
lawyer ever does under any circum
stances. Cleveland sought it, how
ever, and happened to get elected.
About that time Cleveland became
mixed up with the corporations. They
made him mayor Of Buffalo. He did
their bidding and they made him gov
ernor.
About that time the people of the
country at large were becoming tired
of the Republican party.
A presidential campaign was near at
hand, and they wanted a change.
Here was a chance for the corrupt
influences that were behind Cleveland.
They set to work and secured his
nomination, even against the protests
OF the people of his own state-TROSE
WHO KNEW HIM BEST.
Cleveland had not been president
long before the people found out that
he was about the same kind as the
Republican brand
He did the bidding Of the Wall street
crowd, at once assuming a threaten
ing attitude toward bimetallism. which
under successive Republican admins
tratlons had become almost a thing OF
the past.
once more the people sighed for a
change. This time they got Ben Har-
rlson, who at once proceeded to carry
out Clevelands Wall street policy, with
an intolerable tariff tax into the bar
gain.
Then the voice Of the people in the
west was heard, and new party was
born.
The nnblushing effrontery with
which the money power secured Cleve-
lands third nomination at Chicago is
strongly Worded by Mr.. Altgeld.
The people were now suffering from
the taxation of the Mckinley bill and
Cleveland was chosen for four years
more.
Then began reign of corruption
at Washington, almost unparalleled in
the history of nations.
The country was quickly plunged in
to debt of nearly 100000 900 to pro-
vide interest coupons for the money
power that had secured Cleveland's
nomination.
The people were ground into sub
mission by panic that had its in
ception in Wall street.
Then came the next political revolu-
ton and the expulsion Of Cleveland
from the Democratic party at Chi
cago in 1896.
The Republican press all over the
country has turned its guns on Mr..
Altgeld's speech. They could tolerate
to a degree the great speeches he had
heretofore delivered, but when it came
to his charge that Cleveland, when
contrasted with Jefferson, is an in
Terror kind Of Democrat, the journal
| lstlc rabies broke out
The masses love John P. Altgeld for
the record he has made, but above all
we love him for the enemies he has
made. Altgeld's speech is full of mean
ing at this time. The woods have late
1y been full of would-be Grover C]eye-
lands, and they have been ATTEMPTING
to impress themselves upon Democrats.
The speech has caused them to scatter.
Let them flock by themselves, EDITOR
National Democrat.
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