The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-06-28
ByTeIegraph
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT
TO THE DAILY NrELLIGENoER
ST. LOUIS.
Organization Of Democratic
National Convention.
SPEECH OF. AUG. scHELL.
General MoCIernand, Of illinois,
Permanent President.
His Speech on Taking the Chair

schell, Of New York, in the following
| words:
GenLlemn-As Chairman Of the Ma
tional Democratic Committee the duty
| has been assigned to me TO call this Con-
yention to order, according to the usages
Of the Democratic party this large body
OF representatives, coming from every
section OF the United States, have assem-
bled for the purpose Of nominating for
the Democratic party candidates for Pres:
ident and Vice President OF the United
States, whose election will make change
| in the administration Of the government
and stay the corruption which Is now
destroying il. (Applause.) The mo-
mentous issue before the country Is out
lined and clear. II cannot be overlooked,
undereslimated or avoided. Admins
tratiye reform is demanded by the
American people OF every class, Zap
plause,) and by all parties. The cor
fuption which now exists in the govern
ment, which is suffering from it, must be
purified and elevated, and the question
il, into whose hands shall be committed
the duty Of cleansing and raising il?
Shall it Be committed 10 those whose nn-
clean hands have spoiled il? No. In
this hour, when the national honor, the
public virtue and the moral sentiment
Of mankind demands reform, the honor
must be assigned to the Democratic
party. [Grea: applause. The people will
not support this idea that the thing to be
reformed can be reformed by itself. This
will answer, yea, II is necessary, in the
case Of an individual, who ia answerable
| 10 his conscience and 10 his God for his
sins; but what is to become Of the public
integrity II the men TO whom is assigned
the performance OF public duties shall
abuse their power and violate their obliga-
tions and their oaths? The people arc
generous and confding, and they are hon.
est. They may be slow, but in the end
they are intelligent and sagacious. The
people will comprehend their rights and
their interests, and those rights have been
too feariuly violated, and those interests
have been loo shamcfully neglected for
the people ever again TO trust the admin
istration Of their government to the Re-
publican party. tGreat applause There
Is also another issue which commands
the consideration OF the country, and that
| is 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. Applause. Another
subtle and adroit effort on the part Of the
Republican party to charge upon the
Democratic party the present condition
Of affairs and to insist that that party is
now the soft money party, is entirely in-
correct for, let me ask, on what page
OF the statute, on what act OF public
authority In. which the Democracy have
the power and 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 govern
ment recognizing the issue OF paper mon
ey, authorizing It's Use "a legal tender,
the actions OF the Supreme Court in de-
claring the law constitutional under
which these acts we're authorized, were
all done and performed during the ex-
istence and power OF the Republican par
ty. What has been the effect OF II? Com
| merce is paralyzed. The manufacturing
interest almost destroyed in the country.
Prosperity has disappeared and want has
taken its place. How is this to be rem
edied2 The Democratic party with its
interests will see that the remedy is ap.
piled Of frugal and economical govern
ment and dimunition Of taxation. II
cannot be brought about by forced con.
traction. (Applause.) It should not be
BY additional imitation, but we take the
country Us II stands. Applause. We
are called upon TO apply the remedy, and
one remedy which commends itself to
every honest man and to every reasona..
ble1Democrat, is'to demand the repeal OF
the resumption act. Repeal that act, put
the government in the power OF the
Democratic party, and let them pursue
their course, which they will pursue II
an economical administration of that
Government is perSevered in, and l as
sure you that the time is not far distant
when specie payments will be resumed.
Thu prosperity Of the country will be re-
stored, and the whole American people
be happy once more. Applause. Gen
tlemen, the time Ia auspicious and sug-
gestive.
One hundred years ago the first Demo.
cratic assemblage met in Philadelphia,
representatives OF the colonies Of the AZ.
lantiC,shOre Of this country. Applause
They were there under the guide 7of that
sage, that patriot, that name ever to be
reyered, ,"Thomas Jefferson" Applause.
He laid the foundation OF that civ
lii and religious liberty which
our fathers maintained, and which we
now enjoy on this occasion. This Cen:
tennial year the Democratic party have
assembled in convention and will show
itself to be that which our fathers was;
that Is to say proclaim the course and
adopt the means necessary to restore ps
to our ancient prosperity. Applause.
During all the time that the power OF the
government has been In the hands Of the
Democratic party, during all that time
prosperity has governed our country,
but wherever that flag has drooped by
the advance OF Republican power, sor-
row and shame have been our condition.
I[Applause.l May we not hope BOW af-
Ter sixteen years Of Republican power
that the Democratic party may assume
its rightfnl position before the country.
| l[AppIause.l l shall not attempt to fore
cast the action OF this convention in the
performance Of the duties which 1t called
upon to perform either in the nomina-
lion Of a President or Vice President Of
the United States, or in the adoption Of
| its platform. The rules by which this
Convention Is governed are such a. to In.
sure the nomination Of some gentleman
whose character and position as states
man and as IN individual Is ripe in the
experience OF one pure and stainless In
his character. In other words, we will
see that none other ia nominated for
either Of these Offices. As to the
platform, this Convention will act
wisely and in accordance with the
principles that those are the best
governed who are least groyerned. APP
plause.) doubt not that much will be
left TO theCnergy Of the management and
economy Of our people, and less to
federal legislation for the future govern
ment Of our country.
I have now the honor in the name Of
! the National Convention to propose for