People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1896 — An Unjust Accusation. [ARTICLE]

An Unjust Accusation.

The following article in this week’s issue of the Rensselaer Republican, in view of all the occurrences in this campaign, is oertainly a most offensive misrepresentation of facts, unjust and insulting to those who supported Mr. Bryan and the silver cause, and are proud of the fact, even in defeat. It is an expression of venomous intolerance and malice unworthy the editor of a paper presumed to represent a great and dominant political party, and it is unpleasant to be called upon to correct the statements so grossly unfair to the men and women who have courageously defended their political convictions, even in the city of Rensselaer where it costs something to oppose the republican party and they resent this attack on their honor as a violation of first elements of decency. The following is the article referred to:

The conduct of the popocrate in Rensselaer last Saturday is such as they ought to be ashamed of as long as the day is remembered. Contra y to the practice of the Republicans, whose rule is and always has been, to treat the Democrats and others with courtesy when they have a political demonstration, the popocrats Saturday behaved with organized rudeness and discourtesy. Under the undoubted direction and encouragement of the party leaders, every popocrat, young* and old, men and women, who could be got to do so walked about the streets, putting their faces into those of Republicans and yelling “Hurrah for Brine” in the most offensive and disagreeable manner possible. And all these discourteous howlers and shouters were furnffehed, free, with big pasteboard placards, reading “Nit McKinley Nit” and these too were worn in as conspicuous and offensive a manner as possible. Yelliig and hooting Bryanites were especially offensive to ladies in the parade, taking special pains to blow their horns dnd yell for “Brine” in their faces. Had the condition of things beea reversed, had the Democrats been having a demonstration in which they were present in overwhelming numbers, and a few hundred Republicans put themselves to the pains to be as deliberately offensive to the Democrats as the Democrats did to the Republicans, the result would have been that the offensive Republicans would have been mobbed and driven out of town, and probably some of them badly hurt. But Republicans are different, thank heaven, and to thei r everlasting honor and credit be it said, they took all these offensive demonstrations of the popocrats last Saturday in the most good-natured and forbearing way. Of course many of those who engaged in this business were young and thoughtless and did not stop to think of the discourtesy they were committing. For them wo have no severe cendure. The leaders who encouraged it are the ones deserving the blame. And right here is onp of the many favorable contrasts between Republican and popocratic methods, Republican leaders restrain and rebuke their young and impulsive members, when excess of zeal moves them to do anything unfair or discourteous towards opponents, but' with popocratic leaders, the opposite is often the case, and the offensive conduct of their irresponsible element is encouraged.

It had not been our intention to mention any of the “discourtesies” shown our people by the champions of Mr. McKinley, for we knew that they were com mitted by an element of irresponsible hoodlums that did not represent the republican party of Rensselaer. That the large body of republicans are honorable, fair minded men is true and we would consider it an insult to our American citizenship for any one to make the representative leaders of that party responsible for the insults that have been heaped upon us, and upon our wiv.es and daughters. That these leaders, however, have neglected to “restrain and rebuke their young and impulsive members” is undeniable, and a reference to a few incidents seems necessary. When Mr. Burkhart spoke in the opera house a few weeks ago the meeeting was frequently

disturbed by McKinley shouts and horn blowing. At the first torchlight parade on Tuesday night a club was thrown through a banner carried by one of our ladies, upon which much time had been spent in its preparation, its offensivenoss consisting of the silver candidate’s picture. Small boys were sent into the club room to “sneak” torches, several being successful. Stones and clubs were thrown, breaking several torches, while the line was marching; corn and gravel were thrown into the faces of the marchers, ladies being especially made to suffer therefrom. As to shouts for McKinley, the air was full of them, and the Bryan people conceded them the right to vie with them in that line, and they did not consider it “discourteous” to have an opponent “Hurrah for McKinley” in their most “offensive and disagreeable manner possible.” After the parade Hon, T. E. Ballard spoke in opera house, and it is a matter known to all who attended, among whom were many republicans, that a number of young men and boys behaved with “organized rudeness” to annby those who wished to listen to the speaker. The street below resounded with horn blowing. and a continuous musicale of the same nature was held across the street in the open windows of the First Voters Club room. If any effort was made by the leading republicans to protect the meeting from disturbance it was conspicuously futile.

Being apprehensive, from the events of Tuesday night, that more “discourtesies” would be dished up to them, ou Friday night, the silver club sent a committee to the Mayor, to recite the “rudeness” of Tuesday night and ask for a measure of protection. The line was not yet formed however when a rock, the size of an egg, was thrown striking a gentleman from Barkley township in the face. A committee of “Reubens” was on the lookout for the gang of toughs who were responsible for these little “discourtesies” and found some of them preparing to stone the marchers and take banners away from those who carried them. A reputable republican caught one chap inciting boys to throw stones, and to his honor be it said he handled him in no gentle manner. Ladies were again insulted by the foulest words, their garments were violated, they were hit with clubs, etc., as on the previous occasion, and again torches were broken with clubs and stones. If shouting for McKinley, or yelling “Bryan Nit” was cause for offense, the Bryan people certainly suffered most uncomplainingly. Mr. Burkhart was obliged to speak from a wagon in the street because of the occupancy of the opera house by a theatrical company, and for some time it was thought he would be unable to make an address, because of the “organized rudeness” of the tin horn brigade congregated sufficiently near to drown the speaker’s voice. By the shiftihg of the crowd to the other side of the speaker’s wagon he was able to be heard fairly well, though the racket was kept up during the greater part of the meeting. We deny that democratic or populist boys have molested republican marchers or attempted to injure their torches or banners, or that they have disturbed their meetings. We do not believp that they have used insuiting language to re-

publican ladies or committed any indignity to them. If it was discourteous to wear “McKinley Nit,” which has no other significance than that the wearer is not for McKinley, gif that was discourteous, than we would ask if it was not equally discourteous for a McKinley rooter to label himself “Bryan Nit,” as was done on Friday and also on Saturday. It has not come to pass yet, we hope, that even in the town where the Rensselaer Republican is printed, the people of one party will take as an insult to themselves the indentical counterparts of the things they so bounteously bestow upon their opposing neighbors.