The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-29
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION


DEMUCh4IlC NAllUNhL IUN EhIlOn,
First Day.
The democratic convention assembled in
the large and beautiful hall of the St. Louis
chamber OF commerce, Tuesday. The hall
was decorated with garlands OF leaves, state
coat OF arms, etc The weather was very
warm and sulily.
The delegates were promptly in their
places at noon, but it was 1920 before the
convention was called to order bv Hon.
Augustus Schell, chairman of the national
democratic committee, who, on taking the
chair, addressed the convention, and, in
conclusion, nominated as temporary chair
man, Henry Watierson of Kentucky, editor
of the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Mr.. Barnum, of Connecticut, and Mr.
Ransom, of North Carolina. were appoint.
ed committee for the purpose Of conduct
ing Mr.. Watterson to the chair. Mr.. Wat
terson, being presented, was received with
applause, and said:
MR. wATTERsoNs REMARKS.
Gentlemen of the convention, We are
called together to determine by our vie
dom whether an honest government, adj
ministered by honest men, shall be restored
| to the American people, or to decide by
our folly that it 10 the destiny of this coun-
| try to pursue an endless, ever revolving
circle of partisan passion aud corruption,
| until with the loss of our material well
being we lose the poor mans last hope,
civil liberty itself Every citizen of the
republic, be he Of this party or the other,
| feels, and has felt for many a day, the de-
pressing influence Of what are called hard
times. We look about and we sec neglect
ed fields and vacant houses. factories closed
and furnace doors shut. There are myriads
of idle hands. Tne happy activity OF pros
porous life is nowhere to he found. 10y
alists fatten whilst honest men starve
Empty the mart and shplees the bay.
What is it, what has wrought so great Il
change in the land that, under the rule Of
an intelligent and progressive constitution
| al party advanced within hal q century
while in the condition of huddle Of petty
aud squalid provincial sovereignties, to !
foremost place among nations of The earth
The reason of men must answer, partisan
misrule and sectional instruction.
The republicans, my friends, ale no
alone responsible. With them rest the dis
a-ooo, .-it', tha folii~s. Theso .--,'
agents of national mischance working IN
der the miserable rule of coniraries, hav'
kept the people of North and South aside
and have supplied sustenance to corrup
ton. They have disturbed values. The,
have unsettled prices. They have mad,
our whole financial system a cheat and
snare. They have driven the best element
of political society into exile, and have or
ganized charlatansm into sort of publ
polity, enabling the rogue to get oheal
advantage of his dupe, and sacriiicin,
every popular interest to the lust of tina
ksligarcby, which has become so encruste
with power as to believe itself entitled t.
rule by sheer force of it's own wrong doing
So much let US set down to covenant pre-
text of war SO much TO the long accoun
of damages between the North and South
1t is for you to say whether the same con
lct, with the consequences multiplied an
magnifed. shall by any act of yours be in
augurated between the East and Wes'.
shall not undertake on an occasion of thi
kind and in the presence of SO imposing a
assemblago, to enforce the familiar les
son of mutual forbearancc. Nobody doubi
our capacity to make battle among oul
selves. Entreating you to direct you
energies to common enemy, | ask indul
gence only on my own behalf. You hay
called me to place not merely of dlstinC
ion but of difficulty, to place which re
quires the best training OF better man tina
| am. In takingit trust to your coniidenc
and good nature, and to hearts incapable c
an unmanly or unfair act, The work bt
fore us should relate to ideas rather tina
10 individuals. 1t is the issue not III
man that should engage US. We hav
come here to make the peoples not on
| fight for free, no less than for an homes
government, for the reform of the publ
service, and the generation Of public me
rails; for an administration relief from &C
ministratlve nihilism, imbued in the simpI
creed of home rule, the reduction of taxes
and living chance for the south as We
az the north, for both the cast and III
west. 1T anything comes of the proceed
lngs it mast spring from the spirit of assC
citation and fellowship which warmed tn
followers of Andrew jackson and Sila
Wright, of Henry Clay and Daniel Wei
! ster, whose political descendants meet tC
gether on common ground at last to wires
the government of their affairs from III
clutch of the rings, robbers, federal, stat
and municipal, and who mean TO eXecul
, these, wherever they are found and VIII,
Their they be republican or democratic
Points of the speech were emphasized b
frequent applause.
| At its conclusion the speaker introduce
Rev. Mr.. Marvin, who offered prayer.
PRELIMlNARIEs,
| The chair announced as temporary sec
rotary, Frederick o. Prince, of Massachu
sets, and T. o. Walker, of Iowa, $. Il
Donovan, of Ohio, assistant secretaries, ais
Daniel Able, of Missouri, as sergeant-sl
arms.
Mr.. Abbott, of Massachusetts, moved
resolution, adopting the rules of the Lar
national convention, until otherwise OF
dered.
Mr.. Littlejohn inquired If this include
the two-third rule; Voices, ayes !""Yes
if so, all right. [Applause.
The chair announced that II did. TIL
resolution was adopted.
Mir. Smslley of Vermont, moved resc
luton to call the states in order for pres
entation of candidates. Adopted.
A Minnesota delegate moved a resolutio
to call the roll OF states for committee o
permanent organization and credentials
Adopted.
The roll was call and the committee
named.
Mr.. Carroll, of Tennessee, moved tha
when the convention adjourn 1t be to fiv
tonight, and that the committees jus
named shall then report. Adopted
MIR. Smith of Illinois, moved resolu
ton that committee of one from eac
state be appointed on resolutions, and tina
Ill resolutions relating to the platform b
referred to said committee without debate
Adopted.
Mr.. Weed, of New York, moved that tn