The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-10

from years of distress, fastens upon the public
mind in free country, and the people are de-
termined to have redress, leader is always
found who is q platform in himself and to
whom they instinctively turn as the logical
exponent of their hopes.
The people are not iconoclasts nor false to
their convictions. They followed Jefferson
when he assailed the centralizing and mon
archical doctrines of the old Federalists and
was denounced as a communist and leveler by
the wealth and culture of New England and
New York. They followed Jackson when he
took the United States Bank by the throat and
was proclaimed a tyrant and ruffian by the
usurers and money kings. They followed Lin
coin when he attacked the slave power and de-
clared that this country could not exist "hall
slave and half Free
The great movement for bimetallism-the
free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver
at a ratio of 16 to land the restoration of sill
yer to its constitutional stains is mo sapling
chance-sown by the fountain, blooming at
springtime, in winter to fade"
1t has come to stay 1t is protest against
the wrong and outrage of 1878, when, without
debate and with the knowledge Of only few
men in Congress, the silver dollar was stricken
from the coinage and the red despot of gold
made supreme as to all values. 1t is DECLARE
ton by the free men of America that the
United States must withdraw from the con-
spiracy which was formed to destroy one-half
the metallic money OF the world, in order to
establish the slavery of greed and usury, more
degrading than the tyranny of armed forces.
1t is the stern demand from unrequited toll,
bankrupt enterprise and ruined homes, for a
change in the money system which Tor years
has brought disaster and desolation.
In this crisis of our country and party we
must take no step backward in platform nor
candidate. We want no uncertain nor doubt
full leader. mo laggard in peace or bastard in
war" No latter-day silver saint, but grIz-
zled and SCARED veteran who has borne the
heat and burthen of the day and whose breast
is marked from edge of sword and point of
lance on a hundred fields. Twenty years ago
the battle for silver was begun in the halls of
Congress by modest, unpretending, brave
man, not an iridescent orr nleteorie statesm an.
but of the people and from the people, who has
never faltered for an instant in the great sIrug-
gle. Others doubted and wayered, some
yielded to Establishment and patronage, and
are now holding office under the gold power
others misrepresented their constituents and
have been provided for in the Natianal in
Urinary of the present administration, but
Richard Parks Bland stands now where he
stood then, the living, breathing embodiment
of the silver cause.
He struck with steel point the golden shield
of the money monopolisls as did Ivanhoe that
of the proud templar in the lists at Ashby,
and has neither asked nor given quarter.
Nor is he a narrow, one-idea man. For twenty
years in Congress he fought in the front ranks
for Democratic principles and policies as taught
by Jefferson He stood by the side of Randall
and rtsked health and life to defeat the first
force bill. He opposed ably and thy that
browning tariff infamy, the Mckinley act, and
was again among the foremost opponents of the
last force bill, which passed the House but was
defeated in the Senate. He introduced the first
free-coinage measure in Congress and was the
author OF the seigniorage bill, which passed
both houses and was vetoed by President
Cleveland. If this be an obscure record, where
can be found the career of any public servant
which deserves the plaudits of his country
men?
The Democrats o. Missouri who have passed
through the fiery furnace of Republican pro-
scription seven times heated, and whose State
flag has always been placed beneath the great
orifiamme ofthe National Democracy, make no
apology nor excuse when offering such a can
didate for the Presidency.
If it is "whence comes our candidate?', we
answer: mot from the usuer's den. nor temple
of Mammon, where the clink of gold browns
the voice of patriotism. but from the farm, the
workshop, the mine-from the hearts and
homes of the people,"
To reject him is to put brand upon rugged
honesty and undaunted courage and to chill
the hearts and hopes of those who during all
these years have waited for this hour of
triumoh. To nominate him is to make our
party again that of the people, and to insure
success
Give us Silver Dick and silver quick,
And we will make Mckinley sick
In the ides of next November
The voice of the Missouri Senator. never
at any time very robust, was quite lost in
the vastness Of the hall. His mention of
BANDS name was followed by only a very
slight demonstration of applause not half
so loud as the clamor of the delegates
fighting their way into the convention.
Mr.. Comstock of Rhode Island COM
planned TO the chair that he had been
almost torn TO pieces" in forcing his way
in through the force of police. A similar
complaint was made by delegates from
New York, and instructions were given to
the sergeant-at-arms to remedy the evil.
The chairman and the sergeant at arms
appeared to be utterly unable to cope with
the situation, and Mr.. Vest went on with
his speech nominating Mr.. Bland. The
only part of his speech that stirred the
crowd was the closing rhyme:
Give us Silver Dick
And silver quick.
And we will make Mckinley sick
This brought down the house and hats
and flags were waved amid great uproar
which lasted for some minutes. The band
came to the help of the crowd, striking up
1.-THE Battle-cry of Freedom" All the
silver delegates rose to their feet, cheered
and INDUCED in all the usual manifesto
tons OF popular enthusiasm, so that what
at first was but faint wave of applause
grew into tumultuous storm in the thick
of which Bland banner was carried
through the hall with the motto:
:slLvER DIcK-THE PEOPLES CHOICE:
band of music at either end of the hall
added to the uproar, while the official band
struck up amid great applause "The Red,
White and Blue, putting the rival must
clans to silence. By this time there were
three handsome silver Bland banners I'M
rolled and carried about with likeness of
the candidate and the motto. "Free Silver.