People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1896 — WILD WITH SILVER ENTHUSIASM! [ARTICLE]

WILD WITH SILVER ENTHUSIASM!

Three Monster Rallies Held in Jasper County This Week. Z r X • ■* Rensselaer Bryan Forces Organize an Impromptu Parade Tuesday Night with 300 Torch Bearers: THE REPUBLICANS PARALYZED Remington Followed Wednesday Night with the Most Stupendous Demonstration ever Seen in’ Jasper County. 1,000 Torches, Four Bands, Glee Glubs, Floats, Etc., Made Up a Grand Procession Over a Mile Long. . BURKHART AND SMITH TALK AT RENSSELAER. Silver’s Grand Triumph at Rensselaer Friday Night Eclipses any Previous Attempt by Political Enthusiasts. 1,700 Torch Bearers Shout for Bryan ancTFree Silver While 5,000 Cheering People Crowd the Line of March.

The silver forces of Jasper county have closed the campaign with magiitficent success, surprising themselves, astonishing the opposition, and glorifying the grand cause they represent. * * * This week has been one of wild enthusiasm in all parts of tne country. With many speakers in the field there has been no instance of the failure of any meeting and everywhere the the greatest enthusiasm was expressed. * * * The Bryan Silver Club of Rensselaer set the pace Tuesday, night by welcoming the eloquent Tilghman E. Ballard with a torch light procession, organized with out advertisement or preparation that set the hills and prairies ablaze with free silver fire. * * * Over 100 silver voters went to Remington Wednesday night with torches and Bryan shouts, and joined in the splendid demonstration at that place. Be it said to the credit of the town of Remington that no indignity was offered the silver marches and the utmost good feeling prevailed. Speeches were made at two halls besides a large overflow meeting in the street. * * * The success of the first attempt at a rally by the silver forces acted like magic on the people of the whole country. Farmers left their cornfields, business men their stores, professional men their offices, mechanics and laborers their work, to devote the week for' their loved cause. * * * The Bryan Silver Club has held nightly meetings all the week, every inch of space packed to its utmost. The meetings have been for business. They have contributed from their own means every cent that the campaign has cost them. Never has greater patriotism been displayed by a body of earnest men and they have been loyally aided by their wives and daughters.

The grand finale of the silver campaign in Jasper county occurred last nigtit (Friday) and Was successful beyond expeeMk tion, as it had not been contemplated before the Tuesday parede took place. * * * Any doubt that may have existed in the minds of the gold standard monopolists on political claims as to the existence of a silver party in Jasper county Was beautifully dispelled. It has finally dawned on the masses of the republican party, what their leaders have known for weeks, that the county was hopelessly lost to McKinley, * * * The whole north woods and al] the surrounding prairies sent in their patriotic hosts and the streets of Rensselaer resounded with their triumphant shouts for Bryan and free silver. The Bryan Free Silver Club had 1000 torches ready, which were quickly placed in the hands of voters, not boys, and 500 more were needed for those who wanted to march in the procession. Delegations aggregating 700 torch bearers from Remington, Wheatfield, DeMotte, Fair Oaks, and the several townships of the county were present. * * * The speeches by Hon. A. G. Burkhart and Hon. W. P. Smith were grand efforts and applauded continuously, the large crowd standing in the open air for two hours with rapt attention.