The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-12
CONVENTION NOTES.
Echoes From the Late Democratic
Convention.
Ringing Speeches From Democratic Ora
tors-Prohibition Discussed-Repub-
lican False Pretenses in Regard
to the Colored Nan.

ton assembled at Leavenworth the Grand
Opera House was very handsomely decor
ated with flags of all sizes and strings of
Chinese lanterns were suspended from the
balcony. The stage was also handsomely
decorated with flags and flowers. In call
ing the convention to order, Hon. W. C.
Perry, in alludiDg to the fact that he is
Federal officer, announced that his activity
in politics would necessarily close with the
duty lie was then performing. He conclud-
ed as follows:
The prospect is bright. the political sky
radient with promise, and the gathering to-
| gether of such a body as this is pregnant
| with augury of success that will carry con-
sternation into the ranks of the enemy. L
am happy to congratulate the Democracy of
| Kansas in the present proud pos ton of their
party from a national standpoint. Success
has crowned undying ia tn and never weary
! ing work. The gospel of the constitution,
| as revealed by the fathers of the party, is
again triumphant, and the affairs of the Ma
| ton are being administered in accordance
| with its tenets. If we are wise il will con-
| tinue so until the end of time, for the public
| conscience both loves and rewards faithful
| service. In conclusion, il is a pleasure to
take the first opportunity of publicly thank
| ing the people of Leavenworth for the mag
! nificent reception offered by them TO the
| members of, and visitors to, this convention.
| The generous hospitality of this people has
| long been known; the royal entertainment of
| their present guests will only serve to renew
| that knowledge and to further cement the
universal love OF kansans for them. / now
| have the honor, by further direction of the
| State Central Committee, to propose, as the
! temporary organization of the convention,
two gentlemen well known to everyone pres
| ent and both EN- nent citizens OF the city
| which is our host, Hon. Thomas P. Fenlon
| for temp orary chairman and the veteran FL.
Miles Moore for temporary secretary.
| Mr.. Petry's speech was frequently inter
| rupted by applause, and with the suggestion
| that the name of Colonel Fenlon be consid-
| cred as the nominee for TEN pOrdry chairman
| the house broke out into the most enthusi-
astic cheers.
On appearing at the chairman's desk Col
onel Fenlon was received with the warmest
| applause. He sad that before even thank
ing the convention for the honor conferred
| on him he wanted to read resolution which
| had been written since the receipt of the
news OF Samuel j. Tildens death. The res
| olution as published was then read.
Mr. Burton, an elderly gentleman from
| Graham County. who said he had often heard
the voice of Mr.. Tilden before the bar and
on the political stump, asked permission to
add tribute to the memory of the departed
leader, which he did in short and feeling
speech.
Colonel FenlOn then delivered the follow
Gentlemen of the Contention: need not say
TO you that l profoundly appreciate the dis
interested honor you have conferred upon
me by selecting me to pres de over the pre-
liminary deliberations of this magnificent
convention and must conclude that you in
tended the honor to this banner county
rather than to one of its humble representa-
tives. 1t is the second time have had the
special special privilege, in The name of the
Democracy and of the people generally of
Leavcnworth of bidding the assembled repre-
seutatives of the Democracy of the State
hearty and generous welcome TO the homes,
the hospitality and the hearts OF the people
of the metropolis of Kansas.
We meet day my fellow delegates. the
accredited ambassadors of more than 100000
freemen of this Commonwealth, under CIR
cumstances that never greeted us before.
For the first time in the polit' cal history of
this State-fOr the first time in the twenty-SlX
years of our existence among the sisterhood
of States, we meet in this fair city as part and
parcel of the great National party whose flag
now floats to the breeze by the will of the
people of the Nation from the dome OF the
capitol at Washington. Those of us who
have gone through all these weary years in
Kansas. who have gone through all the dark
DAYS of the past and amid troubles, trlbula-
tons and dangers have been true to the faith
ought TO and do appreciate the sunshine that
lightens our parkway to day. This is no
day for personal grievances, individual am
bitons or petty StrifeS for place or
power. but day of rejoicing that we meet
as part of the great Democratic party of the
Nation, not militant. but now triumphant to
express by our action the will, purpose ana
wishes of the 10000 Democrats who sent us
here. AS the party based upon principle the
principle of democratic and individual lib
will live in the hearts and affections of the
people when we and all our petty quarrelS
shall have been buried i'll the grave of the
past. Whatever of differences we may have
had or have now, must be forgotten here and
now. for as | understand our duty as dele
gates we represent no man or set OF men. but
we do represent the Democratic party of
Kansas. In the performance of this duty. |
feel in looking over this convention there
wilFbe no failure: we come here for COM
mon object and we must all be friends. May
| not TO this convention in the touching
language OF LincOlns inaugural address,
I'VE are not enemies, but friends. We must
not be enemies: though passion may have
stra ned, it must not break our bonds of
affection. The mystic cords of memory
stretching from every battlefield and pat
riotic grave TO every living hcart and hearth
stone throughout this broad land will yet
swell the chorus of the union when again
touched, as they surely will be, by the better
angels of our nature. In union and har-
mony there is strength, and these 1 invoke.
] am here only temporarily to perfect the |
organization of this body ana shall endeavor
to perform the duties of my position with |
fairness and impartiality.
When the Committee on Permanent Or |
gan Zatiou reported aud Governor Click was |
chosen chairman of the convention, the ex-
Governor returned thanks for the honor |
conferred by the convention an honor any |
body might be proud OF. He eulogiZed |
Grover Cleveland for his wise administration |
of National Sffars, which had given the |
country an idea of what the Democratic |
party could do, and which was an admins |,
tration which the Democratic party could in |
dorse and point to W tn pride. The Repub- |
! caus, be said, seemed to think that Kansas |
belonged to them. The Democratic party |
proposed to show them that Kansas would |
fall into line with the Nation by giving a |
sweeping Democratic victory this fall. He |
cOmplimented ST. John for his manhood and |
his square fight, which was contrasted with |
the cowardly attitude of the Republican |
party on the prohibition question. The Gov |
ernor then closed his remarks with feeling |
tribute TO the life work and memory of sam
DISCUSSING PROHIBITION.
In discussing the platform T. Z. Lewis, of
Pratt County, said of course every Democrat |
was in favor of resubnisSion. but he would |
like to have plank inserted favoring the
enforcement openly and m0nfully opposing |
the law. He thought il slghter s.n TO go |
openly and take driLk than 10 falsely sub
scribe in drug store to cert fcate of sick
ness.
Mr. Lewis wanted TO know if the Demo
cratic party could afford to go before the
people in the attitude of opposing the en-
forcement of the prob bitory law as 1t was
on the statute books and he offered an
amendment TO that effect.
Mayor Nicely said the Democratic party was
opposed to all sumptuary legislation. He
thought it would place the convention in
ridiculous position to now indorse law
VIII ch the party had been unalterably OPP
posed to aud which the party had had 10
hand in placing on the statute books.
J. S. Mason. OF Franklin County, recalled
the emphatic language of Grover Cleveland
when he declared that his conception of
Democracy was the enforcement of ali the
laws on the statute books.
Thomas Fairchild, of Pottawatomie Coun-
ty, said the only way to get a bad law re-
moved from the statute books was to strictly
live up TO it.
c. F. Dinenbacher, of Barton County said
the Democracy was and always had been in
favor of obeying the laws. and he did not
deem il necessary for the party to come in
now and pledge itself to the enforcement of
any law on the statute books.
Judge John Martin regretted that the reSo-
luton in favor of enforcing the Prohibition
law had been placed before the convention.
L.