The Republican Ratification

1 he meeting Saturday evening at the opera house was a success. The speakers were introduced by Col. Henry S. Dean, in a very happy manner, and were received with much enthusiasm. Of t!ie speeches, the Daily Times says: "If any Deinocrat went there expecting to be called a "fire-brand anarchist," "a beer-gnzzling socialist," "a dishouest repndiationist," "a longhaired, grizzled populist," a shirtless tramp" or auy other invective he was doomed to disappoiutment. The gentlemen who spoke not only treated their oppouents with great courtesy, butalso attributed to them the best of intentions. The speeches were cleancut and left no ill feelings in the minds of any who listened to them. "Col. John Atkinson was the principal speaker of the evening. The doughty Colonel has the reputation of being quite a wit, Dut lie did not turn much of it loóse on the audience Saturda.. night. He compared the República platform witli the Democratie plaC form and spent more time on the question of protection than any other oue plank. He Uien devoted a Iittle attention to the currency planks of the two parties and while he substantially conceded the position of the Democrats to be right, he thought a mixture of free trade and free silver was more llian the country could stand. McKinleyisui was the one panacea for existing evils in his opinión. He talked on the war record of the Eepublican party, the Cuban question, the Hawaiian stew, the Venezuelan tempest, eulogized McKinley and Pingree, both of which ñames elicited yells of approval. "Gen. Spalding was next introduced and spoke at some length on what lie considers "safe" bimetallism- tliat is by international agreeinent and treaty, claiming it is as necessary as to have a treaty in regard to international trade. His argument was that the demand for silver should be greater than the supply and thus the price would be kept ou a parity with gold. He therefore claimed that if this country would play a game of solitaire bimetallism, the supply would exceed the demand and a parity of the no metáis would be an impossibility. He closed with an appeal to the voters to cast their ballots for "McKinley- and Pingree- and Hobart." "Fred Merchant, of Ypsilanti, made a happy speech and kept the audience n good humor. After he had finished Col. Dean led the audience in three heers for the candidates and the crowd hen dispersed."