Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-08-20


the full text of the speech of William
b. Stone of Missouri, acting as chair
man of the notification committee, de-
liyered at Madison Square garden last
evening, formally notifying William
Jennings Bryan of his choice by the
Democratic national convention as the
nominee of the party for president Of
the United States:
Gov. Stones Speech.
MR. CHAIRMAN We are here this evening to
give formal notice of their selection to the
gentlemen nominated by the National Demo-
cratic convention candidates for president
and vice president Of the United States
Hitherto, By immemorial custom. the pleasing
duty OF delivering notifications O. this charac-
ter has devOlyed upon the permanent chair
man Of the national convention. acting By
virtue Of his once. as chairman Of the notifica-
ton committee. Except for unfortunate cir
cumstances, unexpected and unavoidable, the
usual custom would not be departed from in
the present instance. regret TO say. however.
that unforeseen events Of personal nature have
arisen which make It practically i'm
possible for the chairman of the con-
yention. Hon. stephen NJ. White. Of
California, &c be in New York at this
time. 4 few days since he telegra Dhed me to
the effect. and did me the honor 20 request me
70 represent him on this occasion While
greatly appreciate the compliment conferred
by this designation. can not but deplore the
Enforced absence OF the distinguished orator
from California, and am directed by him TO
express his sincere regret at his inability to be
present and participate IN the interesting
ceremonies of this hour.
Mr.. Chairman. the convention which as
sembled at Chicago on the 7th day OF July last
was convened in the usual way. under q call
issued in due form, by the National Demo-
cratic committee. There has been nothing out
Of the ordinary in the manner Of its
assembling. and nothing ins the action of the
committee under whose authority it was con-
vOked to distinguish IL from it's predecessors
1t was in all respects a regular national con-
ventiOn of the democratic party. Every state
and territory in the Union. from Maine to
Alaska. was represented by full quota Of del
egates. and. may add with perfect truth, that
a more intelligent and acknowledgements
tive body Of American democrats was never
assembled on the American continent. The
convention was called for two purposes; first,
to formulate a platform declaratory OF party
principles. and, secondly. to nominate candi-
dates for president and vice-president of the
United States. Both these purposes were fully
accomplished according to the usuagcs that
have been recognized. and the methods of pro-
cedure which have obtained in democratic con-
ventionS for so years. The acts of the conven.
tion there acts of the democratic
party. It's work was done under the sover-
eign authority Of the national organization:
and the work was the direct outgrowth Of
calm Nell-nlaLureu judgment OF the people
themselves, deliberately expressed through
| their representatives chosen from among the
wisest, most trusted and patriotic Of their cit
| liens in all the states.
All that have said is literally true. yet the
| fact remains OF which everyone is conscious,
that there we're extraneous circumstances
| le1ling up TO the convention which attracted
unusual attention to it's deliberations and in
vested them with unusual Importance. To such
! an extent YES this true that I may say, with
l
Yention has been assembled in this country
since the civil war upon which public attention
was riyeted with such intensity, or in the out
come of whose deliberations not only the
American people. but the nations Of the
earth. felt such deep concern. We are
which / refer. The existing national
administration was created by the democratic
party 1t is the result of the great victory won
in 1892. The campaign Of that year was fought
almost wholly on the tarin issue. 1t a
war waged against the excessive. monopolistic,
trnst-breeding schedules of the Mckinley law
The democratic party was united almost as one
man against that law, and thousands of those
who believe IN the policy OF protection, when
conservatively administered for the public
good and not for private enrichment. protested
against this monstrous measure Of extortion
for individual and corporate emolument OPP
position to the Mckinley law was the DOM
inant principle % that campaign, and the
majority Of the American people But, Mr..
Chairman, desire to say that although the
tarin was made the issue Of 1892, there
were thousands of democrats who then
believed that reform in our none
tary system was OF far greater fmpor-
lance even than a reform in our revenue poll
cies. 1 was among those who so believed.
Those holding to that belief did not in any de-
gree underestimate the importance OF the
tariff issue On the contrary. its Importance
was fully appreciated, but they believe none
the less that the control of our fiscal affairs by
o mercenary combination of Wall street bank
ers dominated by foreign influence. was more
perilous to national safety and more pernicious
in it's effect on national prosperity than all the
tariffs the misery hand sof gluttonous greed
could write. However, we acquiesced in the
decision of our party convention, accepted the
issue as made, and as one man rallied with
loyalty and alacrity to the standard of revenue
reform. We rejoiced in Mr.. Cleveland's election.
and confidently expected, as we had right to,
that he would bring the tariff question to
q speedy settlement, and strip monopoly Of its
opportunity to plunder the people. But in this
just expectation we were doomed to diSap-
pointment. Instead OF devoting himself to
prompt and wise solution OF the important
issue upon which he was elected, he inconti-
nently thrust it aside. and began, almost at
the threshold of his administration, to exer-
else the great powers Of his ONCE to commit
the country to a financial system fnauglIrated
by the republican party, and which the demo-
cratic party had time and again condemned in
both state and national conventions. In the
beginning Of this attempt the masses of the
people, disappointed and distressed, looked on
in Amusement With absorbing interest and
with constantly-!ncreasfng resentment they
watched the rapid development of events. AS
these events passed before them one by one in
quick succession, and when they came TO
understand their full meaning and effect,
resentment turned to wrath and pro-
test rose into revolt. Then began within
the democratic party one of the most
remarkable struggles that has ever occurred
in the political history OF this nation. It was
a struggle for mastery between the national
administration and the great masses OF plain
people who constitute the party which created
that administration. The prize they fought
for was the national convention That con-
vention was to determine whether the demo-
cratic party should abide by the traditions of
the fathers and adhere to its ancient faith, or
whether it should obSequiously abandon the
principles OF true democracy and become
plant agent TO advance the mercenary ends Of
insoivent plutOcracy. The people won.
They won q glorious victory. The full
Significance OF their triumph can not be es-
tImated at a glance. Suppose they had lost.
what then? Suppose the Chicago convention
had followed the servile example OF the Tepub-
pensd what hope would the skies now reveal
&c the uplifted eyes OF anxious millions:
Would the star of hope then have risenlumin-
Gus to the meridian have fallen with wan
ing light upon a cloudeG horizon? Upon what
stan would the toiling millions In field and
shop then have rested their tired hands? What
bulwark OF defense would then have stood be-
tween the great industrial and producing
classes. who cor stitute the solid strength and
- zensa usrEH 10 k.frynsI