Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1887 — SOME REASONS WHY [ARTICLE]

SOME REASONS WHY

The Democratic Candidate for Governor of Massachusetts Should he Elected. An Eloquent Speech by Hon. C. C. Matson Advocating the Cause of Hon, H. B. Lovfbing. At the rec;nt great Democratic demonstration in Boston, the Hon. Oourtland C. Matson, of Indiana, who was enthusiastically received, spoke as follows: “A week ago today while I vas in Washington, a summons reached me from my friend, and for four years my colleague upon the committee in the House of Representatives, and for many years my comrade in arms —Henry B. Lovering (cheers) — to come over into Macedonia and help him. I could not hesitate.— I replied instantly tha| I would come. I wish I knew how to emplusize the pleasure I feel in responding to his wish, and to express my high appreciation of the honor done me [A voice; We respect you tor it. J I can best perform this pleasing task by briefly and rapidly pointing out why I believe this man ought to be selected by the people of this commonwealth to fill its next gubernatorial term. The first of all reasons is that he is a .UGmocr'-t (applause) and carries the standard of that glorious old party in this contest, and because now and for many years he has maintained and upheld Democratic principles. I will not offend your intelligence by intimating that the contest in this State this year is to have any determining effect upon the great Firesid ntial struggle of 1888. All good men believe that the intervening year, the coming sess ; on of Congress and the conventions held by the great parties will be fruitful of national issues upon whieh that great battle will be fought. Ido not hesitate to say that in all of our elections in the States Democracy is to some extent on trial, and that the question of our administration of national affairs goes to make, up local issu s. Do you remember in 1884 what direful predictions our Republican friends made? They said that if the Democratic party was to have power the business of the country would be disturbed, values would go down, the credit of the government would be wrecked, and utier demoralization of all our great industries was sure to follow. How have these predictions been fulfilled? None of the results promised hare taken place. In shame our Republican friends confess their mistake, and admit that the man that they were pleased in 1884 to describe as a mere sheriff has shown executive capacity, surpassed by none, and equalled by few of his great predecessors in office [Applause.] Labor is better rewarded and better employed. Values have been maintained.— The country has increased rapidly in wealth. No mills have stopped, no banks have failed and no savings banks have been placed in the hands of receivers. The whole people of the country for two years past have enjoyed a season of contentment and solid prosperity that has not been equalled in the past thirty years. [Appbuse.] And this, in spite of laws enacted by the Republicans when they had bad full control under w ich more than $100,000,000 were taken from the pockets of the people 'by unnecessary taxation. [Applause.] They said, in 1884, that the rights of the people would be imperilled, and that the southern confederacy would be again in the saddle, and that large claims growing out of the c’vil war would have to be paid. The fact is that all the rights guar-, ranteed by the constitution and laws have been sacredly preserved. A larger percentage of colored Democrats have been appointed than ever before among the colored Republicans. [Applause]. War

c aims hare been fewer in number and less in amount than in any period sinee the war. Instead of the southern brigadier being again in the saddle, the list of appointments will show that the ex-Union soldier has far?' better in the distribution of federal patronage than ever before. [Loud applause.] Aid that the long list has emblazoned on it such names as that of William S. Rosecrans, the accomolished soldier an<t genial gentleman now treasurer of the United States: John C. Black, coftvmissioner of pensions; the widow of that Irish soldier, Col. James A. Mulligan, and your own battlc-sca aed Leonidas, who held the fort at Allatoona, Gen. John M. Corse, postmaster of Boston. [Applause, laughter and some hisses. ] They toldjus in 1884 that the pensions of soldiers wo’d be cut off if the Democrats got control, and that ail kind 3 of embarrassments would be thrown in the way of claims before the departments. During the fiscal year 1884, ending 30th of Jun°, the ful 1 Republican year, there were issued 66,409 pension certificates. During the fiscal year of 1880, ending 30th of June, the first full Democratic year, there were issued 101,460 pension certificates. From Mar h 17,1885, the day when Gen. Black began his dutv, to October 10, 1887, 334,209 certificates were issued; of those, 124,129 were original certificates. For a like Republican period from March 17, 1882, to Octob r 10, 1884, 161,060 pensions were issued. This shows more than double the number in a like period, and still they say the Democrats were unfiiendly to the soldiers. The annual value of the pension in 1887 is SIBO 10, which is sl9 74 above the value in 1884. Since the present commissioner assumed office, leaves of absence have not boen granted for political purposes, |and no pension office clerks have gone off on stumping tours as recruiting sergeants for their party, which was the custom under the previous administration. This was notoriously the case in one campaign m the year 1884, when the average number of special examiners in the field was 346, and the averoge number of cases investigated per month 839. In the year ending June, 1886, the number in the field was 203, and the numberjof cases 2,586 monthly, or three times the number than in the former case, at an ave, age expense of one-third less per case. [Loud applause, j But this is only a part of the record. The Democrats have restored more than 50,000,000 acres of the unearned land grants to the public domain for the benefit of poor settlers. And there is the Democratic act forbidding the ownership of lands by aliens; a Democratic Congress instituted a searching inquiry into the management of the Pacific railways and passed an act authorizing the issue of small silver certificates. The use of c mulct labor was also forbidden upon all public works, and your candidate for the governorship, Henry B. Lovering, was mainly instrumental iu procuring hat act. The Democratic administration has been the friend of organized labor and has repealed the odious tenure of office act, broken up Indian rings, land rings and cattle rings. It has established business methods and strict economy in the place of jobbery and wasteful extravagance Hordes of lazy incompetent and useless officials hive been dispensed with, and the work of reform is not ye ended. It has d. -no more in two ■nd a half years to curb the rapacity of corporations than the R? publican party did in a quarter o- a century. The ordinary expenses of government have been reduced about $15,000,000.

The speaker then pronounce 1 a eulogy on his friend, Henry B. Lovering. He is a true man, with heart full of sympathy for those from whose ranks lie* has so suddenly sprung into political e;rd nence. i Applause. J He has been as indus rious in the discharge of his public duties as if he were pegging away at his bench. He has reported to the Mouse 157 bills. His record for faithful deVotion to duty lias never been 'surpassed. How can you honor Massachusetts better than by electing one who will represent her glory and pride in tae ruling chair of her state. [ Applause.] Is there a false pride that makes some shrink from the possibility of this shoemaker of Lynn fillH" highest office of the state V ibume the Lcet men

of the Commonwealth hare been shoemakers, and Massachusetts as ex-Go.vernor Robifison once said, has no ruling classes. It would supreme ingratitude in this people to allow Mr. Lovering to be defeated in tbi- supreme contest of his life. [Prolonged applause.] If y ou will elect him, the news will be received with glad acclaim in every Democratic home from the Wh te House to tne humblest log cabin on the Wester continert. [Loud applause.] By his election it will appear that the people have arisen once more in their might to pay tribute to honesty,to fidelity, to ability and to labor. [Applause.]