Little Falls herald., 1898-03-11
tion with Mission and Market streets

ton with Mission and hlarket streets
illumined the block in front of
Metropolitan Temple. The elaboi
ately decorated platform was filled
with prominent citizens. The hail
had been crowded to its capacity
soon after the opening Of it's doors
The San Francisco Chronicle also
devoted considerable space to tie
meeting, saying in part 'Silver
men sat for two hours in Metropol-
itan hall last night listening to the
eloquence Of ex-C Congressman Charles
A. Towne, the noted Minnesota
worker for bimetallism. He reused
enthusiasm to a fiery pitch during
lis speech by a reference to the; grief
of the nation over the loss OF the
men OF the Maine, and, during the
course of a rather lengthy argu-
mentative discourse, reviewed the
history of the free silver agitation
and adjured his hearers to labor for
it's success in 1900. = The hall
was filed to the doors and many
stood: few leaving until the last
word was spoken. The stage was
decorated handsomely with flowers
and flags, the legend "Silver" in
letters of that metals hue being over
the center. A number of prominent
sllverites occupied the stage with the
members OF the flambeaux corps of
the Democratic Central club. =
Every mention OF William J. Bryan's
name was cheered, and sometimes
Towne was interrupted FOR a minute
or more by applause at praise OF the
late presidential candidate. He told
OF his own detection from the repub-
lican party, caused by his belief in
the rights Of silver, and said that he
was in the fight to stay. He ex-
pected to see in two years a mighty
host in the shadow of the capitol in
Washington, with no golden banners
unfurled, but under a silvery sky,
witnessing the Inauguration of the
greatest democrat since Lincoln.
The sentiment, Manhood is more
than money, and persons more than
property was received with en-
thusiasm. we are vassals of a for
eign government said the orator,
and must endure our slavery as long
as we consent This nation al
lowed the frightful atrocities of Tur-
key in Armenia for fear that Turkish
bonds might depreciate. We now
stand in the presence OF one OF the
most momentous questions that has
ever arisen. Far be it from me to
disturb the peace of this day,
but the awful sacrifice chat the har-
Dor OF Havana saw has appealed to
the humanity OF all people. This
holocaust could have been prevented
by the United States. The inaction
of two years ago was responsible for
it. When Cuba first pleaded for the
right to fight on even terms with her
oppressor, this land Of the free re-
fused it. Belligerency given then
might have stopped the war now
going OLA saturnalia of terrible
cruelty on the part of. Spain and of
suffering by the afflicted isle. The
reason for the United States not
granting Cuba's prayer was the
same as for it's despicable permission
of Armenian massacres, the interests
of bondholders. Continuing on the
subject of Cuba and this country's
present complications with Spain,
Towne raised his audience to
frenzy by saying: There is one
thing worse than war, and that is
dishonorable peace For some mo.
ments his voice was drowned in the
cries of Yes, yesr and the clapping
of hands,
The bill appropriating $780, 100000