The Portland daily press., 1899-09-04
80 Silver Orators at Crescent Park
Report.
Gong. Lentz Attacks
Administration.
Altgeld Speaks of Evils Of Gold
Standard.

Providence, X. l., September a.-Tho
first of the series OF meetings arranged by
the New England Bl-metaliic league in
the interest Of bi-metalilsm was held at
Crescent park this afternoon.
Ihe platform, situated In the open
field, under a hot sun, was decorated with
the national colors. together with those
of Great Britain. Ireland, France and
Cuba. The members Of the league, with
the speakers who had come from Provi-
denae by steamer, were escorted to the
place Of meeting by band followed by
about 1000 persons, many being women
and children who had come to the park
for their usual Sunday holiday. Those
who occupied the platform In addition to
the announced speakers were Senator
Benjamin r. Tillman of South Carolina,
General A. ]. Warner of Marietta, Ohio;
Truel Norris Of Portsmouth, N. H., w.
ii. h. Bohannon of Hartford. Conn.,,
Col. III. o. Kent of Lancaster, N. H.,
Alexander Trou of New Haven, Conn, 4.
W. Mshoney of Rutland, VT, ana many
other memters tf state and local proml.
nence. Mayor Green of woonsocket, pre-
sldent Of the New England Bi-metallic
league opened the session with few in.
troductory remarks. He then introduced
rs presiding officer, Col. A. c. Drink
water of Braintree, Mass, who made
short address.
Col. Drinkwater introduced as the first
speaker, Hon. Homer s. Cummings Of
Stamford, Conn, who outlined tine princi-
Piles of Democracy. of bi-metallism and
OF the league which had nrrapged the
series Of meetings.
He was followed by Judge James p
Taryin of Kentucky.
Congressman John j. Lentz of Colum.
bus, Ohio. was the next speaker. His
sarcastic reference to President McKin-
ley, his arrsignment of the Philippine
war and his eulogy of Agulnaldo as one
of the greatest men of ths century, were
applauded without stint
Congressm an Lentz of Ohio spoke In
part as followss "From Ohio we look TO
New England with amazsment when we
see the bringing servility of Its masses
to that plucratio oligarchy, which is
AAOkS An0 AOA0 AAcOAetstrAt
than any monarchy Ia Europe.
"You will pardon me for telling you
that the thinking people in the Buckeye
state are more than surprised when they
find that in this OLD New England coun-
try. which for two oentur les arrogated to
Itself the claim of being the educational
centre and the intellectual hub of Ameri-
ca, there are today so many blind and
servile followers of an administration
which cannot quots single thought, not
a single sentence, either from Washing
ton, Jefferson, jackson or Lincoln, in
support of its policy Of imperialism and
militarism, In support Of its British
financial policy, its British colonial poll
oy and Its attempted British alliance.
"In Ohio we have never accepted th
doctrine, neither in the church nor in
politics, of total depravity. We still have
faith and hope. We still believe that
Truth is mighty and viii prevail
1--WE believe that the. Independence and
courageous m anhood of New England
under such organizations as the New
England Bi-metailic league will revive
and perpetuate the right and duty to
think, as well as the right of free speech.
We hope and believe that our combined
influence with some Of that choice and
courageous manhood In the Republican
party of New England, in their efficient
work against Imperialism will ere long
bring to public attention the fact that
the same men who are in favor of imper-
ialism and miiitarlsm are in substance
the very same men who were also identi-
fled with and In league with the pluto
cratic influences that have made this
republic trust ridden republic, so weak
and PROSTATE that neither the President
OF the United States nor the Attorney
General. nor the Republican ma jority of
the American Congress could dare say a
word at the extra session of Congress in
1897, in favor Of the Democratic amend
| ment to the Dingley bill to make null
and void the tariff provisions in behalf
Of any commodity the manu- facture or
production of VIII ich might come under
the control of trust"
There was prolonged cheering when
Col. Drinkwater introduced ex Gov
John p. Altgeld of Illinois as the con :
cluding speaker. Owing to the fact that
his address in New York on Labor Day is
to be devoted to a detailed discussion of
the monetary question, he simply dealt
in generalities at the meeting today. Gov.
Altgeld talked for 90 minutes. or until
darkneEs compelled an Interruption. He
said in stance that for years the peo-
pie west the Alleshanies have looked