The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-19

participation in the tariff debates of
two congresses and by his famous pro-
test against the nomination of Mr..
Cleveland in the convention four years
ago The events We're kinder to Mr..
Cochran than they had been to Mr..
Bryan for an afternoon shower had
cooled the air and made the night an
ideal one, a pleasant contrast to the
SWeltering atmosphere which oppressed
the Bryan shOuters. At 6 O'Clock the
doors were opened, two hours before
the meeting was to begin. AS the
people fled in it was noticeable that
ladies composed large proportion Of
the crowd They found the hall elab-
OrateIy decorated with banners and
bunting of the national trf-colors. In
place of the small platform from which
Mr.. Bryan had spoken was erected
DIG stand where We're assembled the
many vice presidents of the meeting
whose names made a list 300 strong and
in whose ranks were included many OF
the most prominent business men and
hnanciers, bankers and railroad presi-
dents of New York and other cities
Among them were ChaS. 5. Fairchild
and VIM l. Trenholm, officers of the
first Cleveland administration; Con-
gresham John COWan, president of the
Baltimore & Ohio railroad; Ex-Gov-
ernOr Flower, Senator Gray Of Della
ware, ext Congressman DOWner of New
York City, Cultivate of Ohio, Tracey
of Albany and Everett of AIassacnu-
sets, Carl Schurz, Abram s. Hewitt,
James c. Carter, President NJ. E. In
gals of the Big -Four railroad, VIM. NJ.
Singerly, A. X Mcclure, E. L. GOdkin,
St. Clair McKeIway and Oswald Often
dorfer.
Eighteen thousand seats had been
placed in the Garden and all of them
were filed when Mr.. Cochran ad-
vanced to the front of the platform and
was greeted by tremendous cheer,
men climbing upon their seats and
waving little American flags which had
been strewn through the hall Three
hearty cheers were given for Mckinley
and there were Misses WIN a gallery
god yelled What's the matter with
Bryan?"
The president Of the league called the
meeting to order and addressed his fell
lows. exhorting them to save that party
lows exhorting them to save the party
from Reputation, anarchy and socialism
Perry Belmont made q short speech by
way of overture to Mr.. Cockran's eff
fort.
There was a second outburst ofcheer-
ing when Mr.. Cochran was introduced
which lasted several minutes, and while
it was in progress sixty singers chosen
from the city banks called the City
Banks Glee club sang Star Spangled
Banner" the vast audience swelling
the chorus with thunderOus echoes. Mr..
Cochran was smooth shaver when he
confronted the audience, and his first
words rolled to the further end of the
hall. Frequent outbursts OF cheers fol-
lowed his periods
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Fellow Democrats, All:
with the inspiring strains of that
national song still ringing in our ears,
VINO can doubt the issue of this CAM
paign2 (Applause) Stripped of all YER
bal disguise, it is an issue of common
honesty, an issue between the honest
discharge and the dishonest repudia-
ton of the public and private obliga-
tons 1t is a question as to whether
the powers of this government shall be
used to protect honest industry or to
tempt the citizen to dishonesty. On
this question honest men cannot differ
It is one of morals and Justice. 1t in
wolves the existence Of social order. It
is a contest for civilization itself A
Democratic convention renOunces the
Democratic faith. but the Democracy
remains faithful to Democratic princi-
pies. Democratic leaders may betray
a convention to the POpulstS, but they
cannot seduce the footsteps Of Demo
cratic voters from the pathway ofhonor
and of justice.
"A candidate bearing the mandate of
a Democratic convention may in this
hall open a canvass leVeled against the
foundations of social order, and he
holds the Democrat tic masses confront
ing him organized for the defense. Eel
low Democrats, let US not disguise from
ourselves the fact that we bear in this
contest a serious and grave and sol
emn burden of duty. We must raise
our hands against the nominee OF our
party and We must do it to preserve
the future of that party. We must op-
pose the nominee of the Chicago con-
vention, and we know full well that the
success of our opposition will mean our
own exclusion from public life, but we
viii feel contented and gratif1ed by the
reelection that it will prove more, that
the American people cannot be divided
into parties on a question Of simply
morals or of common honesty.
I'VE would look in vain through the
speech delivered here one week ago to
End true statement Of the issue in