The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-10-13

on Saturday evening to hear Hon. A.
G. Rankin on the political issues. Not
only was the body of the house filled
throughout the evening but there were
men standing in the rear from first to
last. 1t nearly doubled the audience
drawn by Senator Pettigrew the night
before and while at first it appeared
somewhat cold and critical after the
speaker WARMED up he caught the
sympathy Of his hearers and from a
third OF the address to the end there
was constantly rising flood Of enthu-
siasm. hearty laughter and loud cheers.
Though Mr.. Rankin spoke for two
hours and a half the audience kept
growing and at the end the enthusiasm
was buoyant. There were a large
number Of Populists in the house and
several of them went forward after the
meeting and declared their change of
belief. The whole meeting in size, en-
thusiasm and effectiveness was in ths
most marked contrast to the Pettigrew
frost of the night before.
Mr.. Rankin is most giften speaker.
dramatic, with a pleasing voice and
free gesture. Astounding in anecdote and
group his points into striking argu-
ment.
He started by saying that the Repub-
licans always have great advantage
over their opponents. They can cam
paign after campaign keep talking the
same arguments, for history and ex-
perience always justifies their promises,
while the Pops have to get up q new
speech each two years to take the place
Of the stories which each two years ex-
plodes. In 1892 they talked free trade
that. Two years ago they talked free
silver. but that won't 60 this year In
1898 they are trying to get votes for
abusing the conduct of the war. The
speaker declared that should the cleo
ton 90 again the Republicans 1t would
be paraded for two years as a rebuke
to the administration which had won
tho most brilliant series OF victories
and raised the name and fame OF the
country higher than any since the civil
war.
Mr.. Rankin referred to the sneers
which Senator Pettigrew had directed
against him, the senator's statement
that he was no iron moulder but only
professional temperance lecturer and
stated that he could not see anything
criminal in that. II don't think lit
tie total abstinence would hurt the dis
tinguished senator either" This sally
caught the house and was greeted with
loud applause and laughter, as was the
declaration that "a seat in the United
States senate Is not an infallible proof
that it's occupant is man OF integrity
and veracity. AS Abe Lincoln would
say. there's some mighty small nubbins
In the senate"
Mr.. Rankin also drew out loud APP
plause by his declaration that while
the demagogues were trying to make
people believe that the Republican par
~ was the party OF the rich It was the
proud boast of the Republicans that
their great statesmen have come from
the humble walks Of life.
We are CONFRONTED with three parties
banded together. an old man and two
boys, and II is high compliment to
the Republicans that three parties have
TO fuse to beat 1t.
The speaker took a whirl at the free
silver Republicans. He read from the
introduction TO their platform which
declares that they believe lin the prin-
cipels Of free government as enunciated
by Washington. Jefferson. Lincoln.
Grant and Bryan" Washington"
said Mr.. Rankin was the first great
protectionist in this country. Jefferson
closed the minis TO silver. Lincoln re-
stored the protective tariff. Grant was
a gold bug. And Bryan is the leading
free trader In the country and believes
in sixteen to one. Now what do the
free silver Republicans believe in?
daughter and applause)
Not one of the three fusion parties in
this state has q word to say about the
tariff. And yet the greatest measure
passed during the Republican admin
istration had been the Dingley tariff
bill, the restoration OF protection. The
president had called special session to
pass what our .onponents used 20 call