Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-04
Maj. Mahon and Capt. Harper at
Republican Headquarters.
MEETINGSP0PULA ANDINSIRUCTIVE
Major Mahon's Address Mainly to
Young Men-Advised Them to
Think and lnvestigate-capt. Har-
per criticises Mr.. steck's Address.
From Wednesdays Daily.

Last evening, at the republican head
quarters in this city, a good meeting
was held, Maj. Samuel Mahon and
Capt. S. H. Harper being the speakers.
These meetings are popular, and are
a good means of putting the questions
before the people and keeping them
there. They also furnish an excellent
1 chance for voters to look at political
matters from several different points
OF view. Below are synopses of the
speeches made last evening.
Major Samuel Mahon.
Major Mahon spoke mainly to the
young men. He advised them to in
yestigate the conditions of the coun-
try during the past few years, compare
the last four years with those which
proceed; in short, to be guided by ex-
perience. He traced the republican
party from it's formation, in 1856, not
ing the stands taken upon certain is
sues during the different campaigns.
He compared republican principles
and the platforms expressing them, to
those of the democratic party, for the
same length Of time. He spoke of the
issue of 1850 as the freedom of the
territories of Kansas and Nebraska,
which were then asking for admission
Ito the Union. The army of the Unit
: ed States, which carried freedom to
the 5000 slaves in the south, was also
eulogized. Mr.. Mahon told of casting
his first vote for president in Mis-
sissippi and added that it was for
Abraham Lincoln.
I'm 1864" said Mr.. Mahon. "the
democratic platform denounced the
civil war, saying that it was failure,
in the face of the victories of Vicks-
burg and Gettysburg, when Sherman
was laundering at the gates of Atlanta
and Grant was driving the beaten
troops of Lee farther from Washington
and was crushing the rebellion in Vir-
ginia. Not only did they say this, but
they referred to the United States as a
ruined people, said Lincoln had vio-
lated the constitution in carrying on
the war, in furnishing money to pay
the soldiers, and in suspending the
habeas corpus act. In voting this fall,
| want you to recollect these facts.
sIn 1858, Grant was the republican
candidate. The democrats instituted a
fight on the financial system that had
brought the war to a successful close
Again the democratic platform said we
were conquered people, spoke of
militarism and unconstitutional acts
I'm 1872, they changed their policies
altogether. They, for the time, went
back on every section of every plat.
form they had ever before had, and
did their best to elect Greeley.
In 1892, they declared that we were
going to have monarchy. Why, that
cry may be traced back to the begin
ming of the country. From 1882 until
1890, there was no constitution. Its
place was taken by the articles of
confederation, which proved to be a
decided failure. A state of anarchy
was rife in the nation, there was no
cohesion between the different parts of
the country. 1t was plain to be seen
that stronger form of government
was needed. Then it was that men
like Washington, Hamilton and Madi.
son fought for the system of govern.
ment that would hold it together. They
we're abused, called king-makers, and
other terms We're applied to them in
dicative that they favored monar
chial form OF government in America
History shows that this same cry has
been raised campaign after campaign
and now they are pleased to raise the
same cry.
In 1896, the democratic party got a
: financial issue, but yet distinguished
democratic gentleman said in this city
but few days past, that free silver
was not the paramount issue during
1895, but that, covered up some place
was the question of the income tax
have read about $50 of the $50