Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-03-03

we do not ask for sympathy or charity
We demand justice" The closing
sentences were delivered with q We
hemence which aroused the enthusi-
asm of the assembly. Some of the
delegates rose to their feet, and at the
top of their voices. announced their
intention of carrying out Mr.. Polk's
suggestion.
Mr.. Powderly spoke and said that
the Knights of Labor would ego to
the end of the furrow with the farm
ers."
Col. Ignatius Donnelly was next
heard and said
"This is the most tremendous event
that has occurred in American his
tory. We have come here to over
throw the bloated vampires of monop-
oily and cast them down and sit upon
them. Who," he exclaimed as he
paced the platform, twill dare speak
of the old parties as compared with
this gathering? Why, the gatherings
in Chicago and in Minneapolis will be
simply coagulations of unprincipled
| DOlltIClduS w ulNiuc IIC pluhuCl vi
the republic"
Illustrating a point in his argument
for the necessity of an independent
party, he said that there would be a
wedding soon. 1t would be between
Democracy and Republicanism. Gro
yer Cleveland and Ben Harrison
would act as bridesmaids. The devil
would give away the bribe and Jay
Gould would be present to pronounce
his benediction.
Marion Cannon, of California, was
elected temporary chairman, and John
P. Steele, of Illinois, Secretary.
Three delegates from each organi-
zation was appointed committee on
credentials.
The committee on credentials did
not report until the second day. When
it did so, Hon. L. L. Polk, was elect
President; Ben Terrell, first vice
president; Miss Francis E. Willard,
second vice president; John w.
Hayes, of the Knights of Labor, sec
retary, and colored delegate named
w. H. Warwick from Virginia, assist
ant secretary.
Numerous disputes of a minor ma
ture being settled, the committee on
platform was announced. All resolu-
tions were referred to this committee,
and after a good deal of speech max
ing the convention adjourned to give
the committee time to report.
The third days proceeding opened
with stirring and patriotic prelude.
Across the stars and stripes, held aloft
by Texas ranger, who lowered above
his surroundings like giant, Paul
Vandervoort of Nebraska, ex-com-
mander-in- chief of the G. A. B., and
Colonel l.. l.. Polk, one of the bravest
of the men who followed the blue from
his native State of North Carolina,
Joined hands on the stage of the Ex-
position Hall and swore eternal friend
ship.
THE FRATERNAL PROCEEDINGS
were inaugurated by Ben Terrell of
Texas, who was loudly cheered as he
came forward with the big banner
bearer. He said that he was not
ashamed of the fact that he was one
of the men who wore the gray. He
wore it honorably and the Union boys
honored him for it just as he honOred
and respected them. Bnt the time
had come when these thoughts should
be buried. In that spirit and with
that view he would present to them
the ex-cOmmander-in-c chief of the G..
A. r., Paul Vandervoort. When the
robust Nebraskan, with the Grand
Army badge on his breast, made his
appearance under the flag he received
terrific welcome. Without preface,
he proceeded to read the following
resolution:
"We, the representatives of the
blue and the gray, believe that the
day has come to bury i'm one common
tomb the dissensions, malice and Sec
tional hatred resulting from the war,
and, united under one flag and citizens
of one grand nation, we gladly join
hands TO emancipate the homes we
cherish from the tyrannical oppression
of the money power of the land"
When the enthusiasm that the reso-
luton evoked had in a measure sub
sided, Vandervoort made an earnest
address in its support: He said that
the day had come when the veterans
of both sides should stand on one
common platform for the benefit of
the people and TO restore peace, pros
perity and harmony. AS one who had
faced them on the field of battle he
had always been willing to meet them
half way, and today that desire had
been accomplished. They had joined
together in defense of the rights of
the people-the blne and the gray-to
march under the banner of principles
that would come forth from this con-
vention. God speed the movement
and he for one would go South to
build it up.
The Union veterans We'd with their
old foes in shouting and cheering
when Colonel Polk was presented on
the other side of the flag as q repre-
sentative ex-Confederate. With evil
dence of deep emotion he said that he
thanked God that he had lived to see
this day. He wished that the ruling
politicians of the country were there
to see it, too. They cannot afford to
die without leaving as legacy to
L