Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1876-07-01
81. lUOIO.
The NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION.
TILDEN and HENDRICKS.
HARMONIOUS WORK, AND THE BEST
SELECTION WHICH COULD NAVE
BEEN MADE.
TWO STATESMEN FOR CANDIDATES,
REFORM AND RETRENCHMENT
THE ISSUES,
TIlDEN AND HENDRICKS.
TWO STATESMEN FOR CANDIDATES,
NOW FOR THE BATTLE.
OPENING SCENE

OPENING SCENE.
ST. LOUIS. June 27.-The Convention assem-
bled in the large and beautiful building Of the
St Louis Chamber of Commerce. 1t was deco
rated with garlands of leaves, state coats-of-
arms, flowers, etc. The weather was very
warm and snltry, with heavy thunder-storms.
but 1T was i2:e0 O'Clock before the convention
was called to order by Hon. Augustus Scheii
chairman of the National Democratic Commit,
tee. In the meantime, the military band played
in the rear of the chairman's desk, and kept the
sssemblage interested by rendering various
lively airs.
sCHELL's ADDRESS.
Gentlemen: As chairman of the National DEM
ocratic Committee, the duty has been assigned
to me to call this convention to order. Accord
ing to the usages of the Democratic party, this
large body of representative men, coming from
every section of the Union, have assembled .sr
the purpose OF nominating, Tor the nemGcrat!e
party, candidates for President and Nicerresi1 sii,
dent Of the United States, whose election Will
make . change in the administration OF the gov
ernment, and stay the corruption which now
sue before the country is outlined, and clear in
u distinct form and proportion. 1t cannot be
adminislrative reform is demanded by theAmer
lean people Of every class (applausel and by all
parties. The corruption which now exists IN
be purified and elmlnated; and the question is,
to whose hands shall be committed the duty Of
cleansing and raising 1t? Shall It be 10 those
AN sure when the national honor, public virtue
and the moral sentiment of mankind demand
reform, the duty must and shall be assigned to
pe W this sa
be reformed can be reformed by itself. This
will answer in the case of an individuol who is
answerable to his conscience and God for his
sins. But what is to become OF the public and
official integrity if men. to whom Is assigned the
their power, violate their obligations and their
osths? The people are generous, and conhding;
and honest. They may go slow, but in the end
will comprehend their rights and their interests,
and those rights have been too shamefuliy neg
lected for them to ever again trust the adminis-
tration OF their government to the republican
There is also another issue which commands
the consideration OF the country, snd that 10 the
currency issue. The Democratic party has,
from ITS origin, and through all the time OF its
existence, been what Is known as the hard
money party Of the country. IAppause.l The
subtle and adroit effort, on the part OF the re-
publican party, to charge upon the democratic
party the Of & anu TO fn
is incorrect. For, let me ask, on what page Of
the statute. or what act Of public authority in
which Democrats have had the power and con-
troll, is there written one word or line OF law
which has produced or caused the present con.
dition Of things? All the acts OF this govern
ment, recognizing the issue Of paper money,
authorizing its use as legal tsnder; the action
OF the Supreme Court, in declaring the law cor
stitutiunal, under which these acts are autho-
existence and power OF the Republican part.
What has been the effect of it? Commerce 10
paralyzed; the manufacturing interest is almSt
DESTROYED in the country; prosperity has dsao.
psarsd and want has taken its place! How isit
to be remedied? The Democratic party will zee
that the remedy is applied OF frugal and econon-
icsl government and a elimination of xxtio.
It cannot be brought by forced contraction.
lApplauss.l 1t should not be assisted by I'd.
stands. [Applause. We are called upon to
apply the remedy. One remedy which COM
mends itself to every honest man and to every
resumption act. [Applause.l Repeal that act.
put the government in the hands of the Demo-
cratic party and let them pursue the course
which they will pursue, Of an economical aa-
ministration OF the government, and l assure
you that the time il not far distant when specie
Of The country will be restored. and the whole
American people will be happy once more.
tApplause.l
Gentlemen, the time is auspicious and the oc-
caslon is suggestive. One hundred years ago
the first Democratic sssemblage met in Phiiadei-
phia, representatives of the colonies on the At
there, Under the guide Of that sage. tSat patriot.
that man ever to be rsvered, Thomas Jefferson.
[applausel laid the foundation 81 tnst SfEi 2Rd
ti which We now enjoy on this occasion. In this
Centennial year the Democratic party has as
ssmbled in convention once more to do that
which fathers did that is prOcla, m the cOui Sc
and adopt the means which shall be necessary
to restore US to our ancient prosperity. Zap
plause. During all the time that the power vi
the government has been in the hands of the
but Rs F
cd by the advance Of the Republican power,
sorrow and shame have been our condition:
Republican power, that the Democratic party
may assume its rightful position before the
country? [Applause.l l shall not attempt to
fOrma of the duties which it Is called upon 10
transact either in the nomination OF President
or Vics-President Of the United States. or in ths
L.. I.SN~ alan Ia hInk
the conv. ntion is governed. such as TO insure
the nomination of some gentleman whose CHAR
acter and position us n statesman and ss All IN,
divdua is ripe in the experience of the one, and
pure and stainless in his character In the other
We must see that none other is nominated fol
either Of those Offices AS to the platform; this
convention will act wisely, and In accordance
with that those are best governed who are leas
governed, doubt not that much will be left to
people, and less TO federal legislation for the
| future Cover nment of our country.
TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN.
At the conclusion of his speech, Mr.. schel
nominated Henry Watterson. Of Kentucky, fol
temporary chairman. tApplause.l Unsni
Hon. ". Ii. Barnum, of Connecticut, ant
hon of North ths W
Mr. WattersOn to the chair.
wArTERSoN's SPEECH.
Mr.. Watterson being presented. was received
with applause. He said: Members of the u n
ton: We are called together to determine. Dy
our wisdom, whether honest government adj
| ministered by honest men shall be restored t.
| the American people, or to decide by our Jolly
that 1t is the destiny of this country to pursue al
| endless, ever-revolving circle Of partisan pas
sion and corruption. until with M the loss loss Of og
last, best hope, civil liberty itself. Every cIti
zen of the republic, be he OF the party or thu
| other, feels, and has felt, for many q day, th
| depressing influence OF what We call hard times
| and vacant houses. The factory is closed, til,
furnace door is Shut there are myrIads OF i,il,
| hsnds. the happy activity OF prOspt rOus life i
no where to be tound. Loyallsts fatten whil
honest men starye. Empty the mart aud ship
great u change in a land that, under the rule. o
| IN intelligent progressive constitutional policy
advanced. within half a century, from the con
ditiOn of II huddle OF petty and squalid prOvln
ciai sovereignties. to a. foremost place among
| thu nations of the earth? The reason Of IneI
must anSwer-partisan miSrule and sectiOna
misdirectiOn. The Republicans. my friends, ar,
| not alone responsible. With them rest the dis
graces, with us the iOilies. These twin agent
| OF national mischance, working under the mis-
cradle rule OF cOntrarIes, have kept the people o
| the North and South aSunder, and have supplied
| sustenance to corruption. They have disturbed
values; they have unsettled prlces; they hav,
made GU! whole financial system cheat and
| sna.e. They have driven the best elements o
political society into exile, and have organize,
| charlatanlsm into Il sort OF public policy, snab
| ling the rogue to get cheap advantage of hi
| dupe, and sacrihcing every popular Interest t
| the lust ui that Oligarcly which has become 81
encrasted with power a. to believe itself eI titet
| to rule by the sheer force OF its own wrong do
| ing. SO much let lis set down to the con venien
| pretext Of war. So much to the long account o
damages between the North and South 1t Il
IOr you to say whether he same conflict witt
consequences multiplied and magnihed, shall
BY any act of yours, lie inaugurated between th
LNAo I,..h .nftlr N6a.tA