Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1896-07-17

HUI is TIC speech ny w. y. BY
an in the national convention al
Chicago that made him famous and
that nominated him for the Dresi
dency:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
CONVENTION:
would be presumptuous indeed to
present myself against the distinguished
gentleman to whom you have listened
it this were but measuring of ability,
but this is not a contest among persons.
The humblest citizen in all the land
when clad in the armor of righteous
cause is stronger than all the whole
hosts of error that they can bring.
come to speak to you in defense Of a
cause as holy as the cause of liberty-the
cause Of humanity.
When this debate is concluded, a mo-
ton Will be made to lay upon the table
toe resolution offered u COMMUNICATION
! re- the administration, and a,l..o TIE res
olution in condemnation Of the admin
| istration ! shall object to bringing this
| question down to a level of persons
| The individual is an atomic is born,
he acts, he dies-but principles are eter-
nal, and this has been q contest of prin-
ciplo.
Never before in the history Of this
country has there been witnessed such a
contest as that through which we have
passed. Never before IN the history of
! American politics has . great issue been
fought out as this issue has been by the
voters themselves. On the 18th of March,
1895, a few Democrats, most of them
members of congress, issued an address
to the Democrats of the nation asserting
that the money question was the para
mount issue of the hour, asserting also
the right of a majority of the Demo-
cratic party to control the position Of
the party on this paramount issue, con-
Guiding with the request that all believ-
ers in free coinage Of silver in the Dem
ocratic party should organize and take
charge of and control the policy of tho
Democratic party.
Three months later, at Memphis, an
organization was perfected and the sill
yer Democrats went forth openly and
boldly and courageously prcclaiming
their belief and declaring that if success
full they would crystalline in a platform
the declaration which they had made,
and then began the conflict with zeal
approaching the zeal which inspired the
crusaders who followed Peter the Her
NIT. Our silver Democrats went forth
from victory unto victory until they are
| assembled now, not to discuss net to
debate, but to enter the judgment rem
dered by the plain people of this coun-
try.
In this contest brother has been ar
rayed against brother and father against
son. The warmest ties of love and
acquaintance and association have been
| disregarded. Old leaders have been cast
| aside when they refused to give express
sion to the sentiments Of those whom
they would lead, and new leaders have
sprung up to give direction to this cause
of truth.
Thus has the contest been waged, and
we have assembled here under as bind
| ing and solemn instructions as were
ever fastened upon the representatives
of people. Wed not come as individ-
uals Why, as individuals we might
have been glad to compliment the gen.
| tleman from New York Senator Hill
But we knew that the people for when
we speak would never be willing to put
| him in position where he could thwart
the will of the Democratic party. l
say it was not question of persons; it
was question of principle, and it is
not with gladness, my friends, that we
find ourselves brought into conflict with
those who are now arrayed on the other
side.
The gentleman who just preceded
Governor Russell) spoke Of the old
state of Massachusetts. Let me assure
him that not ore person in all this con
vention entertains the least hostility te
the people Of the state Of Massachusetts.
But we stand here representing people
who are the equals before the law of the
largest citizens in the state of Massa.
chusetts. When you come before us ano
tell US that we shall disturb your bust.
ness interests, we reply that you have
disturbed our business interests by YOU
course.
We say " yO0 u1iAo va AA'A v -'>>>>
too limited in it's application the def
milton of the business man. The MAI
who is employed for wages is as muci
business man as his employer. The
attorney i'll a country town is as much
a business man as the corporation coun
sci in a great metropolis. The merchant
at the crossroads store is as much 6
business man as the merchant of New
York. The farmer who goes forth IL
the morning and tolls all day, begins il
the spring and tolls all summer, and by
the application of brain and muscle tt
| the natural resources of this country
creates wealth, is as much business
| man as the man who goes upon the
board of trade and bets upon the price
of grain. The miners who go athousano
feet into the earth or climb 1000 feet
upon the cliffs and bring forth from
+1oir bidiup 7,lacac tho 1,rocio11S metal Is