The San Francisco call., 1899-09-06

| J the first meeting OF the New England Bmetal-
L lie League and the public will learn with
something OF surprise that the chief of the New Eng
land bimetallists are Atgeld OF Illinois, Tilman of
South Carolina Lentz OF Ohio and Judge Tarvin 81
Kentucky. Those at any rate were the only
speakers during the proceedings OF the first day and
il would appear therefore, that the BmeaIlic League
regards them as good enough New Englanders to
speak in its name and welcome visitors to the con-
ference.
Another curious feature OF the occasion is that the
first meeting was held on Sunday, day that New
England decorum sets apart for churchgoing and
meditation upon treasures laid up in heaven A po-
litical assembly on that day may be held in New
England but hardly by natives who have due re-
gard for tradition and the respect OF their neghbors
Finally to complete the surprises OF this extraordln
ary league the convention gathered not in hall
where it could discuss grave questions with dignity
and seriousness but in certain resort called Cres-
cent Park where we duly informed, the voices
OF the orators frequently lost in the barlng OF
brass bands and the noise OF money making at
fractions"
Despite the surprising nature of these features OF
the conference it may be they but natural and
perhaps inevitable attendants upon such gathering
in that part OF the country clamor for free silver
could be hardly better located than in park where
idle revelers go on Sunday to spend the weeks
ings on merry -go-rounds, Punch and judy shows
and dime museums 1t is at such place free silver
agitators are most likely to get a hearing. AS the
people viii not attend silver conferences, the confer
ences must go the people and as the congregations
in the churches would sanction such oratory the
speakers are in manner forced to seek the picnic
sorts where it may be readily supposed they find
many persons eager for cheap money and plenty OF it.
The discourses OF the day were about lurid
old-fashioned he-fre sermons and no doubt consti-
tuted attractions in harmony with the two-headed
cali the bearded lady the African gyascutas and other
freaks and sensations of the picnic. Mr. Tarvin Of
Kentucky made his debut as New Englander by
declaring the demonetzaton OF silver Concentrates
wealth, makes tramps and criminals OF men and sui
cides and prostitutes OF women" Tillman, who rep
resents the South Carolina section OF New England
in the Senate assured his hearers he would his
pitchor before the convention closes and it with
effect. Mr.. Lentz OF Ohio was even more thrilling
and told the crowds: Owe look to New England
with amazement when we see the cringing servility
OF its to that plutocratic olgarchy which is
rnore arbitrary and more inconsistent than any
arch in Europe
The speech OF the occasion that of Altgeld It
showed traces of genuine New England spirit in
asmuch as it was confined almost wholly to discus
sion of New England conditions and paid but little
attention 10 the affairs OF the rest OF the country
ANY one who reads it will perceive that had Atgeld
been resident OF Boston itself instead OF dweller
ir such remote suburb as Chicago he would have
been d Puritan He declared that with free silver
every mill in New England would be running day
and night there would be abundant markets for all
produce, and wage -earners would have money to
spend as well as money TO save.
Altogether it ? glorious picnic occasion. and
the first day OF the first meeting Of the New England
Bmetahc League at Sunday picnic park in the
neghborhood Of Providence will be long remem-
bered By all who present and aternated between
the speeches and the merry rounds.