The Osceola times., 1876-07-08

leaves, state coa,s-oi-arms, flowers, etc
The delegates were promptly in thei
places, but it was twenty minutes pas
twelve before the convention wa. callct
to order by Hon. Augustus Schell
chairman of the national democratic com
mittee.
Mr.. Schell, In calling order, said;
0EHrLEMEN.-As chairman of the nation
al democratic convention, the duty has bee
assigned to me to call this convention to OF
der. According 10 the u.ages Of the dems
cratic party, this large body Of represents
tives, coming from every section OF th
union, have assembled for the purpose o
nominating for the democratic party candi
dates for president and vice president of tn
United States whose election will MAKE
change in the administration of the govern
ment, ard STAY the Corruption which is nov
| destroying il. Applause. The moment
ous issue before the country is outlined ant
clear in a distinct form and proportion anC
il cannot be overlooked, underestimated oi
avoided. Administrative reform is demand
ed by the American people, of every class
tspplausel and of all parties. The corrup
tion which now exists in the government
which is suffering from Il must be purified
and elevated, and the question to whose
hands shall be committed the duty o. cleans
ing and raising il; shall /. be committed ia
these whose onuiean hands have spoiled it
Mo- IN this hour, when the national honor
public virtue, and the moral sentiment oi
mankind demand reform, the duty must and
shall be assigned to the democratic party
Great spplause.l The people will not sup.
port this that the thing 10 be reformed can
be reformed by itself. They will answer II
is necessary in the east OF on individual who
is answerable to his conscience and to hi,
God for his sins; hut what is to become OF
public officials integrity if men to whom is
assigned the performance of public trust-
shall abuse their power, violate their obliga
tions and their oaths The people are gener
Gus and conBding, and are honest. They
may be slow, but in the end they are intelli
gent aud sagacious. The people well com
prehend their rights and their interests
Their rights have been fearfully violated, and
their interests too shamefIlly neglected IL
ever again trust the administration of theil
government 10 the republican party. [Great
applause. 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 |,
known as the hard money party Of the roun
try lapr.euse1, and the subtle and edroil
e"..vrt on the par, Of the republican party tc
charge upon the democratic party the pre-
sent condition of affairs and TO insist That
that party is now the soFt-mohey party, i,
entirely incorrect, Tor, let me ask, on what
page uf 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
I'd the ISSUE of paper money authorizing
their use as a legal-tender, and the action oi
the supreme court in declaring the law con
stitutionai under which these acts were au
thorired, were all done and performed dur
ing the existence and power of the republ
can party. What has been the effect Of il
Commerce is psralysed; the manufacturing
interest almost destroyed In the country
prosperity has disappeared, and want ha,
taken it's place, How is it to be remedied
The democratic party with its interests viii
see that the remedy is applied of a frugal and
economical government, and diminutiou o
taxation. 1t cannot be brought about by
forced contraction. Applause II should
not be assisted by additional imitation, bu
take the country as it stands, Applause
We are called upon to apply the remedy, anC
one remedy which cOmmends itself 10 ever,
honest man and to every reasonable demo
crat is to demand the repeal of the resump
ton act [Applausel. | repeat, that ac
put the government in the power of the dem
ocratic party, and let them pursue the cours,
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 he resumed, the pros
perity Of the country be restored, and tn,
whole American people be happy once more
Gentlemen, the tide is auspicious and thu
| occasion a suggestive one. One hundred
years ago the irst democratic assembling,
met in Philadelphia, representatives of thu
| colonies Of the Atlantic shore of this coun
try. [Applausel They were under th
| guide Of that sage, that patriot, that nam
ever to be revered, Thomas Jefferson lap
plausel, who laid the foundation Of that civi
and religious liberty which our fathers built
and which we now enjoy on this occasion
! This centennial year the democratic part
has assembled in convention once more to d.
| that which oWr-fathers did that is to say, 4
proclaim the course and TO adopt the mean
which shall be necessary to restore MS to GU
ancient prosperity. LApplausel. During al
the time that the power Of the government
| has been in the hands Of the democratic pal
ty, during all that time prosperity has go,
erned our country but whenever that fla
has been dropped by the advances of repul
lean power sorrow and shame have bee
our condition. [Applausel. May we no
hope now, after sixteen years OF republican
power that the democratic party may a'
sumo its rightful position before the country
| TApplausel. shall not attempt TO forecas
the action of this convention in the perform
auce of the duties which IL is called upon I,
perform either IN the nomination Of pres
dent or yice-presideut of the United State
or in the adoption Of its platform. The rule
| by which this convention is governed ar
such as to insure the nomination ef som
gentleman whose character and position as
statesman and as an individual is ripe in tn
experience of one and pure and stainless il
his character in the other; who will see tina
none other is nominated for either Of thos
/ offices. As to the platform, this convention
will act wisely and in accordance with tn
principle that those are best governed VIII
are least governed [Applausel. | dout
not that much will be left to the energy, tn
management and the economy of our people
and less. to federal legislation, for the futur
government of our country. ] have now "
honor in the name of the national commi
tee, to propose foryour temporary chairma
Mr.. Henry NJ. Watterson, of kentuck!
| [Cheersl.
Mr.. Watterson was unanimously y cleo
ed temporary chairman, and Senator Ba
mum, of Connecticut, and Senator Raj
som, of North Carolina, were appointe
committee to conduct him TO the chai
Mr.. Watterson assumed the chair an
was received with cheers. Upon tn
subsistence of the applause, Mr.. Waite
son addressed the convention.
| At the conclusion Of Mr.. Wattcrson
remarks, which were received with gres