New-York tribune., 1876-06-29
DESPERATE BATTLE on FINANCE.

DESPERATE BATTLE ON TlNhNIE.
AN AFTERNOON OF INTENSE EXCITEMENT AND
GREAT CoSFUsIoN-EwEGs FIGHT IN COM
MIlrEE AND AFTERwAgD IN CONVENTION
CRUSHING DEFEAT.
GEY TELEGRAPH TO TBr TnIBUNE]
ST. LOUIS, June 2S.-The only real contest in the
Platform Committee came was expected, in the
finance plank. The other portions of the platform
were disposed Of without much diicuty The
finance plank was by common consent reserved to
the last. The debate over this occupied nearly The
whole session Of the Committee, rnd lasted until an
early hour this morning. The fight was made for
soft money by two extreme nfatonists and gigantic
takers Gen. Ewing OF Ohio aud Daniel W. voorhees,
of Indiana. They contested every inch OF the way
with the hard I-1noney men, moving an amendment or
substitute for every clause and nearly every word III
the resolution. They made bitter opposition to the
clause in the Tilden platform as submitted. which
pronounced the failure of the Republican party to
redeem legal tenders lesson IN dishonor TO the
youth of the country. Both Gen. living ana MI
Voorhees, took the ground that it would be unwse
TO attack currency of which the Republican party
is so proud. and that it is the greenback that has
Maid the soldiers and soldiers widows, and has de-
yeloped Ohio into the second manufacturing State
in the Union.
Lieut.-Gov. Dorsheimer made speech in rtpif
which il described by members Of the Committee as
exceedingly eloquent and effective. Though the
Committee were meeting IN small room III the IN
formal way committees have, his speech caused so
much enthusiasm that it brought the hard-noney
men TO their feet in bursts OF cheering He used
greenback a. practical illustration OF ms argu-
ment He read the promise OF the United states 10
nav. and asked whether it did pay and whether the
nronse Of the United states onght not to be second
i'm sacredncss only 10 promise from God himself
The debate finally developed into personalities MI
Voorhees, tannted Mr. Doshcimcr with having been
n recent convert from the Republican party; anu
Mr.. Dorshemer neatly turned the point much 10
tl,e claprin of Mr. Voorhees,, by recalling tho FAC;
that Gen. Ewing had come 10 the Democratic party
at about the same time with himself.
Mr. voorhees, and Gen. Ewing were deIea' Ell III al
the attempts to amend the resolution except one.
Tbev succeeded in insertnga demand for repeal of
that clause Of the actiof 1879 which hSrS the uie
for resumption. They were prevented, however,
first from demanding an nncondltiohal repeal anu
second from demanding that the repeal be made
forthwith. Tie Committee finally adolrlcd uh'h
IL o'clock this morning to complete their work.
poRsnEIMER's VIGOROUS READING.
The Committee came together this morning and
went through much the same contest until the Con-
ventiOn met. There were countless propositions
made by tho soft-m0ney men which were usually
voted down. They finally took the form of
minority report, which was made 10 the Convention
in the afternoon.
When the Convention came together at 2 o'clock
the hall crowded to suifocaton and the air was
full of excitement. IL known that a great con-
test on the money question was coming, which was
likely to be prolonged and embittered by the COM
mon efforts Of two factions, the advocates of soft
money and the opponents of Gov. Tilden. Imne-
dately after the Convention was called 10 Order
Judge Meredith Of Virginia announced that the Com
lnttee had agreed upon a report. IL read by
Lieut.-Gov. Dorsheimer, whose appearance was
greeted with applause and cheers. Ho read
the platform with far more vigor, express
sion and depth of feeling than is usually displayed
in the rendition of political platform. He threw
his whole strength Of gesture and emphasis into it.
He gave formulated statement OF principles all
the fire and vydness of oratory The care and skill
with which the platform had been drawn made such
a careful aud skilful reading worth while. The
passages where the Administration was declared in
urgent need of REFORM where the devotion OF party
to the Union was announced with ts adhesion to the
constitutional amendments MS q final settlement OF
tho controversies which endangered civil war, where
superiority of the civil the military power and
the total separation OF Church and State were de-
clared where liberty of individual conduct was de-
manded unvexed by sumptuary laws, were received
with loud applause. The first great burst OF cheer
ing, however came when the resumption clause Of
the act Of 1875 was denounced and Its repeal was
demanded Tha annlanaa lasted aaveral mnutes