Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1894 — AN INSULT TO CLEVELAND. [ARTICLE]

AN INSULT TO CLEVELAND.

Disgraceful Work at a Republican Campaign Meeting. The President’s Portrait Trodden Under Foot, While the Republican Audience Cheers the Act. Democrats of Blackford County Roused to Indignation by the Shameful Occurrence—They Are Everywhere Putting Up the Portraits of the Nation’s President and Defying the Republicans to Tear Them Down. Hartford City, Oct. 2.—[Special.]— The Democrats of Blackford county are highly indignant over the shameful act of certain Republicans one night last week in showing the most malicious and insolent disrepect to the president of the United States. The act which has so aroused popular disapproval among Democrats and respectable Republicans ■hows that the same bitter spirit actuates the g. o. p. as inspired it in 1892 when young Allison was murdered at Plainfield, Hendricks county, because he had dared to act as captain of a Democratic marching club. A fat faced, curly-headed man, with a knowing look and a well developed opinion of his oratorical powers was in town Saturday. He was sent here by the Western Telephone Construction company of Chicago to look after an exchange which parties have endeavored to project. He learned that Captain W. R. Myers was to speak in this city that afternoon and had the word started that Mr. Stitch, for this was his name, "the McKinley of Chicago,” was here ready to answer Myers’ argument. Bills were circulated during the Myers meeting making this announcement and the feeble imitation of McKinley opened his mud batteries in the courtroom in tha evening. Before he commenced speaking an incident happened which disgusted the Democratic portion of the audience. Thomas Pieroe, the Randolph county product, who made his debut here in a political speech, remembered as being heavily laden with "rebel bullets” and other expressions in referring to the Democratic party, again displayed his ears. Cleveland’s portrait, which hung on the wall during Myers’ speech, had not been taken down, the committeeman forgetting it. Pierce espied it, and like an enraged bull taunted by a red flfig, he jerked the portrait down and flung it to the floor admidst the cheers of the Republicans present. The news of the dastardly act rapidly spread throughout Blackford county and quite naturally aroused the indignation of Democrats and the decent element of the Republican party. The Democrats at once began putting up pictures of President Cleveland everywhere and defying Republicans to tear them down. A very bitter feeling has been aroused by this incident and if the Republicans attempt to tear down any more Cleveland pictures the attempt will be stoutly resisted.