The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-10-30
MRS. COUGARS SPEECH.
Bryan Has the Confidence of the
People, While Confidence In
Mckinley Is Shaken.

No woman of more distinguished
presence ever appeared on the lectur,
pla form than Helen Cougar. Saturday
night She seemed at her best. Her
voice, GEAR resonant. could be heard
with the utmost ease in the furthest
corner of the building. Her face light
cd up wonderfully as she directed 0,oW
after blow at The Republican position.
Her gestures were simple, yet impress
slVe. she did not rave, yet spoke with
an earnestness and vigor that could not
Ut live In the memory of her auditors.
The profusion of white hair that
showered from under her bonnet CON
trasted strangely with the fresh un-
wiink.ed, almost ruddy countenance
tensath. She was tastefully dressed, in
BACK and never for an instance. dur
ing the long address, did she lose her
d gnity nor her self possession.
Mrs. Cougar sad in part
Good friends. you are very kind t,
give me this pleasant reception. |
nave always remembered my meetings
in Canton with remarkable pleasure.
This vast audience, however, is not so
much compliment to me as to your
own intelligence in recognizing the i'm
por;ance of the issues his year
Il believe we have never been con-
fronted with campaign of more serious
moment than this. Never in Americas s
history has there been time when
voters should be more conscientious and
serious in casting their ballot than th!s
year Mrs. Cougar invited questions
and corrections from tho audience: sn ,
wished every one to feel perfectly free
70 interrupt her. for" she sad, "we
are here tonight to reason together.
-Four years ago, we had candidate who
was a finest unknown. and was thrown
upon the country on an issue of which
the people knew nothing. 1t was Il
strange campaign. Both SIDES waited
weeks. before people began to realize
the immensely of the problem they were
called on to solve. The average voter
could not grasp the question of free
silver without careful study And
greater tribute was never paid the bal
.ot in America than the great vote cast
that year.
I'VE came within 450. 900 votes of elect
ing Bryan president. He was not defeat
ed-h!s election was only delayed four
years. (Applause.)
Now your r'own distinguished citizen
has served nearly four years
voice in the gallery interrupted, ask
ing, What Eas-he done?"
I'll tell YOU" said Mrs. Cougar, smil-
ing-"Ill tell you what he has done. if
you give me two or three hours" CAP
p!ause) II stand here tonight to say
th1t ~ William, or ipfa
wise, conservative president, if he has
observed the constitution-if he has
served the masses as well as the classes
then it is the duty of every voter here
to vote to hire him again. Providing
the platform of his ra:ty is such as
you would like to see enacted into laws.
On the other hand, if he has disgraced
the constitution, If he has acted against
the masses and Disseminated in favor
of the classes, If he has violated the
oath of the Office 10 which he was inau-
gurated nearly four years ago,
l SAY DEFEAT HIM,
and eject man who will be true to the
trust imposed in him. Therefore. |
wish every man could forget party to-
American citizen-could think of the
future, of posterity-and then could
vote for the good of all his country.
1--WE have candidate now who Is
known. think we are safe in claim
ing for him very remarkable foresight,
and splendid, frank nature. No one
can point TO a word he has uttered that
is unAmerican, un-Christian, or un-
gentlemanly. (Applause.) He has call
ed no one traitor, an anarchist, or a
Ear. His bitterest oponent has not
been able to make an objection to his
utterances. If you would ask me the
solution of William j. Bryan's growth
in popular favor, I would say, first,
he Is true gentleman; and second, his
whole life is framed after the Sermon
on the Mount. He Is a profound Chris
tian in his daily life. He has hurled 10
epithets-he has gone out and argued
great principles.
william j. Bryan, as president,
say, would manage himself and allow no
Mark Hanna to pull the string. (Ap-
plause.) He proved that when he de-
clared for a silver plank in the Kan
sas City platform. Ah--I hear some Re-
publican talking of Grover Cleveland,
throwing Clevelands sins at us. /
want to say to you Republican-and I'm
glad you are here-that's what we are
holding this meeting for-I want to say
to you, that Grover Cleveland was no
Democrat. (Applause.) You must not
hold the Democratic party responsible
for his crimes. The terrible panic Of
several years ago was caused by him.
He was the forerunner in the wilderness
of finance to prepare the way for Will
liam McKinley's gold-huglsm. IAN