The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-01
THE LOCAL DEMOCRACY NOT EsPE-
CIALLY ENTHUSIASTIC.
h. r. ShiveIy's Remarks at Tomfipson
Hall Not Listened to by
@FuII House,

these were however. filled by the paraders
and others brought into the hall by curl
osity, so that when the meeting began the
auditorium was about three-fourths filled.
Spectacular features were very prominent
in the preIiminaries. A long line Of men
and GEOGRAPHICALLY the latter-each car
rying little flags, marched through the
aisles to the platform and then defiled
through the corridors, only 10 repeat the
performance. Finally the Boys Father
Matthew Brigade Band entered the hall,
filling the air with noise simultaneously
with the appearance of the band. a deaf
ening crash from the rear of the stage
caused all eyes and ears TO involuntarily
turn in that direction. The Liberty Drum
Corps. wearing the now familiar buff uni
forms and carrying knapsacks with TITS
painted on them, marched down TO the
front of the stage and played with full
power for several minutes. The drum corps
then slowly marched from the stage and
the audience looked for the business of the
evening 10 commence. Further entertain
ment had, however, been provided for
them in the shape of the Boys Brigade
Band.
The meeting was opened by County
Chairman Thomas l.. Sullivan, who an
nounced that Mr.. Andrew NJ. Sweeney
would not be able to preside as permanent
chairman, but that his place would be filled
by Sherman Steele.
Permanent Chairman Steele. who is said
TO have been a Republican up TO about
week ago. talked for five minutes, giving
his public testimony OF loyalty to the
Democratic cause" as he expressed 1t. and
then presented the speaker of the even
ing, Benjamin f. Shively, OF South Bend.
Mr.. Shively was greeted with an ovation
by the audience, most of whom had heard
of him as an orator of great power. He was
not in good form last night or else did
not think it was time for oratory. The
keynote speech" as Mr.. Shiveley's effort
was heralded for days before the meeting,
proved huge disappointment. 1t was, in
reality, a tedious, didactic. deadly dull dis
course OH constitutional government.
trusts and imperialism, with half
hearted Endorsement of Bryan and Steven
son, John w. Kern, Frank b. Burke and
the other candidates, who were not digni-
fled by having their names mentioned. Mr..
Shively said he would like to mention the
names of the rest of the Democratic cam
didates. but for lack OF time'--a remark
able statement from one who had already
consumed nearly two hours in talking.
TRUST QUESTION MADE PROMINENT.
Although the speaker insisted that i'm
perialism is the great, overshadowing issue
in this campaign, he devoted the early por-
ton of his address to a discussion of the
trust question, thus giving ii the position
of prominence and the place of honor. In
talking of trusts Mr.. Shively reiterated the
time-honored statement that such combi-
nations are the children of protective
tariff, and gave the no less hackneyed rem
edy of taking away the tariff from articles
manufactured by trusts.
On the question of Imperialism the speak
ers discussion grew so labored and dense
that more than half his audience gave up
the attempt to comprehend il as useless
and left the hall. A noticeable circum-
stance was that, simultaneous with the
leaving of most of the crowd. policemen
made their appearance at the numerous
exits, as IL to prevent the entire crowd
from forsaking the speaker. Mr.. Shively
dragged out the much-used and fiimSy@ ar
gument about the alleged treaty WITH the
Sultan of Suiu, and tried TO use ii as a
proof that the government is drifting to-
ward empire. but the people refused to get
interested in monarch far distant. The
only attempt at levity in the speech of
more than two hours in length was Mr..
Shively's reference to William the Sturdy,
from Nebraska, being pitted against Will
liam the Warbler. from Ohio" which was
greeted with almost hysterical laughter, so
much OF relief did it prove to be.
The speaker piled I'D incident after in
cident to demonstrate that the national
administration has entered into a secret
alliance with Great Britain. He said that
Joseph Chamberlains reference TO the
friendliness of the United States to Eng
land in one or his speeches near the outset
of the Boer war meant nothing more nor
less than a notification TO the powers of
Europe that they had better keep their
hands off the Transvaal, since the United
States was allied with Great Britain to de-
fend the latters interests there. He re-
counted the Macrum incident. and declared
that an English paper termed Secretary
Hays. action in replacing Macrum by his
own son as a gracious act" Mr.. Shively
also told of young Hay going TO Pretoria by
way of London, instead OF Paris and Ber-
lin, and asked what the people of this coun-
try would have thought during the civil
war had representative of some foreign
government sent to this country gone first
to Richmond and "hobnobbed'' with the
Confederates instead of proceeding at once
To Washington. The Hay-Pauncefote
treaty also came in for discussion. and
the speaker said that under its provisions
the United States is at liberty to build
the Isthmian canal. but il cannot fortify
the same without the consent of England
again proving a secret alliance" The
fact that the Illinois Republican State
convention Kissed a resolution of sympathy
for the Beers was also cited in support OF
the declaration that this government fav-
OrS treat BRITAIN mir. Snlvely said the
policy OF the United States until within re-
| cent years has been to sympathize witt
weak republics i'm all parts of the world
but now the faint of empire has spread sc
rapidly that we no longer care for govern,
ments except they be powerful and rich
| He said the administration has cast slul
| upon the American volunteer soldier and
| desires standing army composed o
| trained soldiers In this connection the
| speaker displayed the only real symptom
/ of el0quence In eulOgy of the volunteer
| soldier He chose 10 ignore the volunteer.
| IN the Philippine islands. All the horror:
/ OF a large standing army were painted IN
| declored that 10000 men-which is tn.
| number now fixed upon the size of tn,
standing army"-will shortly prove in
| sufficient.
| MR.. KERN DID NOT RESPOND.
| In closing Mr.. Shively handed on
chunks of sweetness to Bryan and Stew
enson. Burke and Kern. and without men
| tioning any names. 10 the rest of the candi
| dates also. When he had concluded tn
| audience made a rush for the exits almos
| as one person. and in less than five min
| utes the hall was cleared and lights out
| A few had the temerity TO call for a speed
| from Mr.. Kern. but that gentleman wa
| shrewd enough 10 refrain.
| The long list of vice presidents chosen 4
| assist in presiding over the great meet
| ing failed TO materialize 10 any consid
| era ble extent More than half the chair
on the stage were empty. There was ais
| a noticeable absence OF prominent Demo
| cratic leaders. The only occupants of tn
| those present were John W Kern an
! "Bilt' KfSseil. Considerable surprise wa