The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1876-07-19
The ST. LOlB Convention.
TILDEN AND HENDRICKS,
Detailed Report of the Ma
tional Democratic
Convention.


The convention assembled at ten
o'clock in the large and beautiful hall OF
the st. Louis chamber of commerce,
which was decorated with garlands OF
leaves, state coats-of-arms, flowers, etc.
The delegates were promptly in their
places, but it was twenty minutes past
twelve before the convention was called
to order by Hon. Augustus Schell,
chairman Of the national democratic COM
mittee.
Mr.. Schell, In calling order, said:
GENTbEMEN.-As chairman of the nation
al democratic convention, the duty has been
assigned to me to call this convention to or.
der. According to the usages of the dems.
cratic party, this large body of Representa-
tiyes, coming from every section OF the
union, have assembled for the purpose OF
nominating for the democratic party tandi.
dates for president and vice president of The
United States, whose election will make a
change in the administration of the govern.
ment, and stay the corruption which is now
destroying it. .[Applause.1 The moment
Gus issue before the country is outlined and
clear, in a distinct form and proportion, and
it cannot be overlooked, underestimated or
avoided. Administrative reform is demand
ed by the American people, Of every class,
Tapplause1 and Of all parties. The cortbps
ton which now exists in the government
which is suffering from It must be purified
and elevated, and the question to whose
hands shall be committed the duty of cleans
ing and raising it; shall it be committed to
these whose unclean hands have spoiled It'll
No; in this hour, when the national honor,
public virtue, and the moral sentiment OF
mankind demand reform, the duty mist and
shall be assigned to the democratic party.
rGreat applause.1 The people will not sup.
port this that the thing TO be reformed can
be reformed by itself. They will answer: Il
Ia NECESSARY in the case of an individual who
is answerable to his conscience and to his
God for his sins; but what is to become OF
public officials integrity If men to whom is
| assigned the performance of public trtistE
shall abuse their power, violate their obliga'
tions and their oRthsS The people are gener.
ous and conhding, and are honest. They
may be slow, but in the end they arc intelli
gent and sagacious. The people well com
prehend their rights and their interests
Their rights have been fearfully violated, and
their interests too shamefully neglected to
ever again trust the administration of their
government to the republican party. [Great
applanse.1 There is also another issue which
commands the consideration Of the country
and that is the currency issue. The demo
cratic party has from its origin, and through
all the time of its existence, been what is
| known as the hard money panty of the coun'
try [applausel, and the subtle and adroit
efFcrt on the part Of the republican party To
charge upon the democratic party the pre-
sent condition of affairs, and to insist that
that party is now the softmoney party, is
entirely incorrect; for, let me ask, on what
page Of the statutes, on what act of public
authority, in which democrats have had the
power and the control, is there written one
word, one line, one law, which has provided
! or caused the present condition of things
All the acts OF this government recognize
and the issue of paper money authorizing
their use as legal.tender, and the action oi
| the supreme court in declaring the law con
stitutional under which these acts were au
| thorized, were all done and performed dur
| ing the existence and power of the republi
can party. What has been the effect of iti
| Commerce is paralyzed; the manufacturing
| interest almost destroyed in the country
| prosperity has disappeared, and want ha'
| taken its place. How is it to be remedied
| The democratic party with its interests viii
see that the remedy is applied of afrugal anC
economical government and diminutiOn d
taxation. It cannot be brought about BY
forced contraction. [Applause.l 1t shoulc
1 net De HHElSBHu ny bQuIGOlld1 luudb1OuI Du
| take the country as it stands, [applausel
We are called upon to apply the renaedy, anC
| one remedy which commends itself to ever
honest man and to every reasonable demo
crat is to demand the repeal Of the resuHip
ton act Applausel. | repeat, that ac
put the government in the power Of the dem
| oeratic party, and let them pursue the courst
which they will pursue, of an economical ad
ministration of that government, and as
sure you the time is not far distant wheI
specie payment will be resumed, the pros
| perity Of the country be restored, and thu
/ whole American people be happy once more
| Gentlemen, the tide is suspicious and tn
/ occasion suggestive one. One hundred
years ago the Grst democratic assemblag,
met in Philadelphia, representatives Of th'
| colonies Of the Atlantic shore of this coun
| try. TApplause1 They were under th'
| guide of Chat sage, that patriot, that nam'
| ever TO be revered, Thomas Jefferson Zap
/ piausel, who laid the foundation Of that eivi
/ and religious liberty which our fathers built
/ and which we now enjoy on this occasion
| This centennial year the democratic part.
| has assembled incOnventiOn once more to d.
/ that which eur fathers did /; that is to say, Il
| proclaim the course and to adopt the mean
| which shall be necessary to restore us to ou
| ancient prosperity. [Applause]. During al
| the time that the power of the government
| has been in the hands Of the democratic par
| ty, during all that time prosperity hes gov
| erned our country; bat whenever that flag
has been dropped by the advances OF repub
/ lican power, sorrow and shame have bseI
our condition. [Applause]. May we no
/ hope nov, after sixteen years of republican
| power, that the democratic party may as
| sume its rightfRl position before the country
| TApplausel. / shall not attempt to fOrecas
r Al vi.
| auce OF the duties which it is called upon to
nerform either In the nomination of presi
| dent or viee-president of the United State
or in the adoption Of its platform. The rule
/ by which this convention is governed arr
such rs to insure the nomination OF some
/ gentleman whose character and position as
/ Statesman and as an individual is ripe in th'
i experience of one and pure and stainless II
| his character in the other; who viii see tha
none other is nominated fer either OF thos'
Offices. AS 10 the platform, this convention
| win act wisely and in accordance with th'
| principle that those are best governed wh'
are least governed. LApplausel. douD
not that much will be left to the energy, tn
management and the economy of our people
and less to federal legislation, for the tntur
| government Of our country. ] have now "
| honor. in the name of the national commit
| tee. To propose foryour temporary chairman
Mr. Henry N. Watterson, of Kentucky
| ICheersl.
Mr.. Watterson was unanimously elect
ed temporary chairman, and Senator Bar
mum. Of Connecticut, and Senator Ran
som, of North Carolina, were aPpointe'
a committee to conduct him to the chair
Mr.. Watterson assumed the chair an
was received with cheers. Upon tn
subsidenoe of the applause, Mr.. Waiter
SON addressed the convention.
AT the conclusion of Bfr. Watterson'
remarks, which were received with grea
applause, Bishop Marvin made prayer
the assemblage rising.
MISS PHGBE cozzINs ADDRESSES Tn
CONVENTION.
AT this point the chair announeei
that delegates from the national wC
mans rights organization were presen
and desired to address the convention
No objection being made, Miss Cozzin
then stepped forward and deliveTd a
address.
4 - y 7..... ,-.oi, ! !,