The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-24
BOURKE COCKRAN'S SPEECH
What the Democratic Orator Thought of
Cleveland Before He Was Nominated.
Most Remarkable Protest Ever Made to Con-
vention-The Mugwump Stuffed" De-
nounced in Calm, Measured Terms.

Gr0ver Cleveland. IS Ole OF Tammany's
representatives in Congress. He is DEM
'ocrat who has been honored as no other
Democrat has been honored. No one who
attended the last Democratic national con-
vention at Chicago will ever forget the
scene of which Mr.. Cochran was the central
figure. 1t was five minutes to o'clock on
the morning of June %. The convention
had been practically in continuous session
all the previous day and all night The
free-trade and wildcat money platform
had been adopted, nominating speeches
made, and the delegates, weary and cross,
were awaiting the call of the States for the
ballot that was to decide the candidate OF
the party. 1t was then that Mr.. Cochran
arose from his seat in the midst of the New
York delegation and made the most re-
markable speech ever delivered before
national political gathering. 1t was re-
markable because of the time of it's de-
livery. the attention given the orator when
the delegates were excited and
impatient. and the intense feeling
and eand0r exhibited by the
protested, IN oil the forceful languarge
that an eloquent orator can command.
against tie nomination of Grover Cleve-
land, denouncing the contemplated action
OF the convention as an outrage on the
party, and one that would bring sure defeat
at the polls in November. Not one man IN
the vast audience doubted the sincerity
of Mr.. Cockran's utterances: his words and
manner indicated that he was speaking the
truth. No man could have commanded o
hearing before hostile, wornout body at
that hour unless he spoke from the bottom
of his heart. Mr. COckran's speech was re-
aid. the most ardent Democratic paper In
the West. and the extracts printed below
are taken from Its columns. Mr.. Cleveland
has not changed since it's delivery; he is
the same stuffed muGwump prophet that he
was on June %. How can Mr.. Cochran rec
oncile his position on that day with his
conduct nowi He spoke the truth then;
he is now speaking-what? The main por-
tions of Mr.. Cockran's speech follow:
have a request to make TO the convention,
and am about 10 ask its indulgence. 1t is now
five minutes OF 2. | am worn out, physically,
and think the convention is worn out It Will
be matter of great physical hardship to me to
address the convention now. what L have to
all good faith and in all kindness. and I ask the
indulgence OF this convention that we may take
recess until 1880 o'clock. Cries of "No."
PLAIN, FRIENDLY STATEMENT.
Mr.. Cochran, seeing that the request to
adjourn dld not meet the wishes of tho con-
vention, went forward to the platform. and,
after stating that he had been requested by
his delegation to make q plain. quiet..
friendly statement of the political condi-
tions In New York State, said:
Wehavehad the action of our State foretold for
US. our loyalty pledged for us by gentlemen who
are about to ask you TO reject our advice, and by
some gentlemen who have not hesitated TO taunt
us. Gentlemen, we will be loyal, but our expel
riences In this body are apt to convince us that
there may be such a thing too much-loyalty
for ones personal comfort Ii seems TO me that
the spirit in which this convention has ap-
preached this subject Is the profession of the be-
lief that New York Democrats will be loyal any
how, and because they Will be loyal they must be
outraged by the party that depends upon their
loyalty. We have come here 10 this convention,
and Notwithstanding that fate to which we are
about to be led we state to you that If 1t be de-
cided to cast aside the precedents of O century
to violate every notion OF State rights. as these
notions have been entertained, cherished and
preached as articles of the Democratic faith il
IL be determined to thrust down throats a
nomination against which we protest; IL il DE
determined by this convention that contumely
shall be heaped by the party upon the heads of
loyal soldiers, soldiers must still be loyal, no
matter what outrage be perpetrated against
sthem by the party OF cause which they serve.
But gentlemen. while the members of this del
egation ia this convention, while the members
or the great organization which We represent.
VIII he loyal 10 the action OF this body. no mat
ter what it's acfien may be, there is In the Stnte
of New York vote which cannot be controlled
by political machinery. and that is not always
the mugwump vote. The distinguished gentle
man from New Jersey, Governor Leon Albeit.
who proposed the name of Mr.. Cleveland, end
some OF the gentlemen who seconded the nomi-
Reamad uefO
that the business OF the Democratic party is 10
officer its conventions, shape its policies and
ment that despises our party, derides its history
and processes superiority TO IL. Mr.. Chairman,
IL is said there is an independent element that
VIII accept certain candidacy and no other
that there 10 an element that will accept GER
tain candidacy because Ii Is better than the DEM
ocratic party-that the candidate is superior to
the party from which he springs. and so it will
support the man while it will continue to deride
anu denounce the party. But what
We do protest against In New York is that our
party sholi be surrendered into the control OF
those who despise 1t and dislike Ii. that one man
may be exalted and the Democratic hosts de-
graded.
Mr.. Chairman, let me say to this convention
In spirit OF entire oandor, and in that same
spirit of friendly discussion in which hope to
continue and conclude. that it Is not surprising
to me that Mr. Cleveland should be popular
in other States. IL is not surprising to me. above
all, that he should be popular in Republican
live outside the otate of New York remember
him only as the last Democratic president. and
the only Democratic ex-President who ever ad-
ministered the affairs of this Nation within the
memory OF most of N, All your associations
with him were pleasant ones. All your memo
ries OF him are probably grateful ones He
the only man whose career brought you
In touch with the great federal gov
eminent which you suppS,FGt by your taxes
your lives IL Ii were in danger. Applause For
four years we have seen nothing of, him. For
four years he had passed on the stage, and. ex-
cept an occasional letter written to some friend
upon some public question you have had no
evidences even OF his existence. except those
memories or which have spoken But with va,
in the state OF New New York, gentlemen let me
say TO you in kindness. let me say to you in 10
spirit OF disparagement to Mr.. Cleveland or TO
his history. TO his record rs an administrative
officer TO his patriotism al a man. TO his virtue
q n citizen; let me say. i repeat. that. in the
state OF New York. for four years the forces that
sumed the name OF tho Cleveland Democracy
are the men over whose PROSTATE bodies the
Democratic party has been compelled To march
to victory.
FOES OF THE PARTY.
We have been told in the campaign of 1893
that the Democratic nomination for Governor
was not mp 10 the Gle veland standard. The men
who are now here from New York State support
ing his candidacy headed bolt against the
Democratic candidate for Governor. The peo-
pie were up to tho standard. but they were up TO
Democratic standard by twenty thousand ma
jority. Ever since he vacated his office he has
lived in the State of New York, and he has been
too busy 10 attend to politics. Through
ont all these four years these men who have
suIHec speak of the Cleveland Democracy as
their especial property have been the foes OF
every Democrat which he assumed 10 support.
-. - Ar,.. NJ - =.