The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-02
FLORIDA'S CALL.
A That Arraigns the PopO-
cratic Party in Strong Terms.


Never could more enthusiasm in a cause
be instilled in the bosoms Of men than that
demonstrated by the members of the Flori-
da delegation, who are now at the Grand
Hotel. 1t was a strong delegation, made
up of the best thinkers of the State, where
the Democratic party is the leading party
and has in its ranks most of the great
leaders of the State; and the greatest of
the leaders are with the sound-money
movement. About the Grand Hotel the
yellow badges of the members of the dele
cation were very conspicuous yesterday
and the men were frequently engaged in
argument by local silver sympathizers, who
were seen about the lobby of the hotel dur
ing the day. The Florida men were, how
ever, as strong in argument as in en-
th2siasm for their cause, and several sill
verites were compelled to retire from the
argument, which they started, in defeat.
The delegation is strong, as well might
be expected of men coming from a Dem
ocratic stronghold, who were chosen by q
convention of Democrats called together by
the following circular, which was ad-
dressed to the Democrats of the State by
the executive of the sound
money Democracy of the State:
ITO the Democracy of Florida-A great
crisis is impending in the affairs of our
country. The issues now before US are the
gravest that have been presented since
those of the year 1860. the results of which
are too deeply imbedded in mems minds to
have been easily forgotten.
The national credit and honor are at
stake: the pure principles of Democracy
enunciated by its founders, faithfully fol-
lowed and adhered to up to the present
time, and upon which the Democratic par
ty has fourished and withstood attack,
both in victory and temporary defeat, the
only party that has t~riumphantly ridden
tlA ~A1;+iapJ tAny0 tho + hayvn GyNaTlf tina
country from time to time, are now threat
ened with pollution and prostitution to the
greed of office seekers and party machtn-
cry. Populism and communism are now
masqueraded before the public under the
sacred name of Democracy.
Party machinery controlled by Popu-
and still the promptings of patriotism ana
honesty, and vote for the support of the
ton. and by so doing trar1pie upon and
stifie the great principles we have strug-
gled so long to maintain, and bend the
knee to a misguided popular sentiment los
tered by elements of discord, to the end
that present success of party machinery,
led by alien leaders, may be secure, no
matter if the final result be bankruptcy
and dishonor.
IF there be a time when the allegiance
due from every patriot to his country
should be the paramount and dearest duty
he may perform, it is now, when evil in
fuences which sap the very foundation CT
the government and threaten its disruption
rears its front boldly and in the disguise
and in the name of all that we hold dear,
stalks abroad in the sacrilegious language
of it's leaders, with it's crown OF thorns''
pressed down in assumed innocence and
humility by a cross of gold appealing to
and arousing in the hearts of men the
baser passions and spreading broadcast the
seeds of diSlOyalty and discomfort.
we call upon the Democracy of Florida
in the name of the pure principles of the
party in which we have been reared; m
the name of our fathers who supported,
upheld and handed it down to US unSullled;
in the name of our great Nation whose
honor it at stake, to stand firm to these
principles, to reject as indecent and dis
honorable the cry of party machinery and
devoid of one redeeming trait, TO rally TO
the great STANDARD of the party and It's
great standar bearer, Grover CleVelan1,
to rebuke the insult thus offered TO our
manhood and our patriotism. and with our
sister States to form a bulWark against
this devastating tide, which. standing frm
as the constitutional rock upon which our
government is founded shall check Its on
slaught and defeat its power.
Rather a thousand times to lose a party
fight than conquer trailing through the
mire our party honor, and follow to victory
in the funeral train of a nations reputa-
ton!
"Our aim is to preserve the true pr1nci-
pleS and doctrines of our great party, so
r1thlessly swept aside by the Chicago con-
y~ention, and to hold together out or the
present detection a nucleus around Wnlcn
the people shall rally and form upon, when
rolled away. and with a clearer vision hey
shall view the present Chicago platform IN
its true c~olorS-the success OF when means
marty disintegration and humiliation"