Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1921-03-15

so long as this aecursed question Of
race is hanging over them
Bravo. Evelyn broke in. Why
that Is almost a speech in Itself !
think we can trust him Dorothy"
Yes, answered my wife. laughing
once more perhaps we can. on the
whole. But We had better have our
cleaning paraphernalia ready all the
same when he returns from this ceIe
brated debate" she ended a little
maliciously. as went OF TO answer
the polite invitation OF the Democratic
County Committee.
did not go into the town during
he period intervening, before the day
set Tor TIE meeting. but spent the time
at home in the first quiet enjoyment
Of my family had had since the can
paign began. and In formulating in my
own mind the few Alain. simple truths
j would say to the people when the
time came.
knew Bud Smith and the boys
about town hid ii in for meas We
used to say at school lin some way;
but could not divine just what form
their sport would take. Bud, himself,
had never quite forgiven me for his
fall that night 90 many years ago, and
some or the others had had little
sleeping feeling on the same subject,
that had been awakened into activity
again by the passions OF the cam
paign.
Considering the whole matter thor
oughly, would most willingly have
avoided the ordeal set for me. had |
not been fully convinced that, what
ever form the intended attack should
take, it would be much better for my
cause and for my own future standing
in the community, to face il sdmarely,
rather than give the slightest grounds
for my temporary enemies TO claim
that / had been afraid, and had run
away AS a matter OF fact, was
afraid; but / made mp my mind tI1atno
one else should know IL and that /
would do my utmost to have the affair
! turn out as little fidiculous as posi-
Bile.
The meeting was to be held al eight
o'clock in the evening, by torchlight,
| in a grove on the outskirts OF the
town, and at the appointed time
rode up TO the rendezvous There was
a rude platform for the speakers
erected in the riddle Of clear space.
and grouped about ii Was quite large
audience. nearly all Of whose faces
knew. Around the outskirts were a
few negroes, and scattered through
the crowd were some black faces
laid not recognize. As approached
1.-The platform where the other speak
ers were already assembled the
crowd opened 10 give me passage, and
observed a peculiar smile on most
Iof the faces. When had been polite
/ " received by Judge Fowler who
looked somewhat shamfaced-I look
ed over the crowd to see if I recog-
Inized any members of my own family
in it, but none appeared to be present.
| The Judge opened the proceedings
by stating the object Of the meeting.
and announced that the opening adj
! dress would be delivered by ''our dis
/ tinguished fellow-townsman and Dis
| frict Attorney, Mr. Mulhall'';; this
would be followed by a speech from
himself. and then these would be am
| swered by our well-known citizen,
Mr.. Francis Hamilton and as he
| made that announcement, saw a
broad grin go over the face OF the
audience, and then, IL time permit
ted, he himself and others would re-
ply.
1t would be both tedious and unin-
teresting to reproduce the addresses
here, though those OF Mr.. Nulhall
and Judge Fowler were very excel
| lent of their kind. both gentlemen be-
! ing fluent. ready and happy speakers
Their arguments, however, IL anyone
should have any curiosity or desire to
see them, will ali be found in a pub
lished speech delivered at Madison
Square Garden somewhat earlier in
the campaign by greater orator.
The proceedings of the meeting thus
| far had been in earnest; and learned
later that the entire meeting had oEi-
ginaily been intended 10 be large
| Democratic rally, at which dfstin-
guished statesmen and orator thei,
/ Governor Of another State was t.
have spoken; and it was only when II
was learned that the great orator
would find it was impossible to be
present, that the brilliant idea Of the
aopen debate. and OF calling me In as
button to afnuse Tie corwd. was com
ceived by some of the heelers. and
forced on the leaders, with the double
| intention Of amusing the crowd and
making me and my cause ridiculous.
When the thnnders Of applause thai
greeted the ending Of Judge Fowler's
sneeeh had subsidized. from various
places throughout the audience btis
sseenlsrlg 10 me 10 come almost alto
geffisr from the unknown biaclts
sprlnkled iii the crowd came cries u
aHamiitoY Hamilton. Hamilton
and gold, Hamilton. the black mans
Rs1rn Gil ~,