The age-herald., 1898-02-08
TONNES ELOQUENCE FLOWED FOR SILVER Amid Cheers and EtampinS of Feet at
 Seals Hall. MklNLEY AND LYMAN GAGE Came Within Range Of the Silver Repub-
 liCan'S Biting Sarcasm. BRYAN STILL THE PEOPLES LEADER MT. and Mrs. Towne and Miss Towne Left for New Orleans. From Whence They Will
 Proceed to California
 and Oregon.

Charles A. Towne, former representative from the Seventh Minnesota district, and chairman of the executive committee of the silver republican party, spoke last night at Seals hall in the interest of bi- metallism. MT. Towne Is most interest," ing speaker and coated his logic with wit and humor He argued the question from all standpoints and handled his subject with the ease of one who Is confident that he is on the right side.
 The hall was crowded to the doors, many being unable to secure seats. A number of prominent democrats occupied seats on the rostrum behind the speaker. Several times MT, Towne expressed an inclination to close. but on each occasion he was greeted with cries of Ego on.'
 He tore the mask from the face of Ly- man J. Gage and revealed the secretary of the treasury in all his hideous deformity. He showed the inconsistencies in the ca reer of President Mckinley and punched holes in Senator Wolcotts report on the bimetallic commission junket He spoke in most complimentary tones of Bryan. and said that the campaign of 1896 would never be ended until it was ended right. He was republican. now a silver repub- lican, a political party born to die. "It should die,' he said, "when its purpose was accomplished"
 Mr. Towne was introduced by John c. Pugh, who eulogized him as one whose name was enshrined in the hearts and minds of the American people. He called him the espouser and champion of the rights of the American people.
 Greeted With Applause
 The speaker of the evening was greeted with great applause. In opening he ex- pressed his pleasure at being able to ad- dress a Birmingham audience He came direct from Washington, where he had been in conference with the silver leaders in reference to making some speeches throughout the country and especially in | Oregon, where the first gun of the cam- paign of 1900 was to be fired in June. q have always had," he said, "the great est respect for partisan. I, myself. was one. But now I realize the difference be- tween a party man and national one. The thoughtless and blind devotion to the republican party was the cause of the re- suit of the election in 1896. wanted to re- main in congress, but I could not pay the price, Although they offered to let me write my own platform in my district Tn Minnesota, nevertheless I would have been honor bound to support the measures or the gold brokers and bondholders of the country I say that any man who ties himself irrevocably to any party is not worthy of the name of "citizen." (Ap- plause)
 He was there, he said, to speak as a one time republican, now member or the silver republican party, an organization born to die The silver republican party is a gigantic club to knock the brains out of the democratic party if 1t didn't do It's dutv and to knock the brains out of the populist party If 1t didn't do its duty.
 The Campaign of 1896 Still On
 The campaign of 1896, said MT. Towne, u,s the longest known in history; 1t is nm now. It may end in 1900; if not, per hans in 1904. or 1908. There has been no let up in enthusiasm; no let up in discus sion. An army of 6,5O2 900 men marched up to the ballot box and were defeated. They aacled themselves in the robes of victory and went marching on.
 A leader hitherto almost unknown mounted his war horse and flashed his keen blade wherever the battle was thick est
 After defeat he reorganized his army and was everywhere greeted as a victor. Ger rife applause).
 Bryan, he said, Is still In the saddle His ranks are constantly being increased. My correspondence is extensive and far reaching" said he. "Never in a single in stance have I heard of a man who voted | for Bryan who has changed his views However, many gold standard men have | written me that they will vote for him