Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-10

WILLIAM ]. BRYAN.
as vital Democratic doctrine rs to de-
mand a distinct statement OF what they
! hold to, as the only just and true express
sion of Democratic faith upon this impor-
tant issue. as follows. which is offered as
| a substitute for the financial report Of the
majority.
1--WE declare our belief that the expert
ment on the part OF the United States
alone OF free-siver coinage, and a change
in the existing standard OF value inde-
pendently Of the action of other great ma
| tions would not only imperil our finances,
! but would retard or entirely prevent the
| establishment of international bimetal-
| lism. to which the efforts OF the govern
mont should be steadily directed. II would
| place this country al once upon a silver
| basis. impair contracts disturb business,
| diminish the purchasing power OF the
wages Of labor. and in1ct irreparable
evils upon our nations commerce and in
! dustrv.
Until international cooperation among
| the leading nations for the coinage OF sill
| yer can be secured. we favor the rigid
| maintenance of the existing gold stand
! ard, as essential to the preservation or
| our national credit, the redemption OF
our public pledges. and the keeping In
| violate Of our countrys honor. We in
/
keot at a parity with gold The Demo-
cratic party is the party Of hard money,
| and IS opposed 10 legal-tender paper
money as a part Of our permanent fnan-
| cial system; and we. therefore, favor the
| gradual retirement and cancellation Of
all United States notes and Treasury
notes, under such legislative provisions
| as will prevent undue contraction. We
| demand that the national credit shall be
resolutely maintained at all times and
under all circumstances.
! COMMENTATOR OF ADMINISTRA-
TION.
"The minority also feel that the report
Of the majority is defective ia falling TO
make any recognition Of the honesty,
courage, economy, and fidelity Of the
/ present Democratic administration, and
/ they therefore OFFER the following decla-
ration as an amendment to the majority
report:
1--WE commend the honesty. economy.
courage. and fidelity OF the present Dem
ocratic administration.
! (Signed) David 3. Hill New York: Will
linn f. Villas Wisconsin: George Gray,
| Delaware; JohRx-rentiss Poe Mary
land; Irving w. Drew. NeU Hampshire:
c. O. Holman, Maine: " j. Farrell.
Vermont; Lynde Harrison. Connecticut;
| David n. Baker Rhode Island: Thomas
l.. G. Weadock, Michigan; James
| O'Brien. Minnesota; John f.. Russell,
| Massachusetts,; Robert +. Wright,
! Pennsylvania; William r. Steele. South
! Dakota; Allen McDermott, New Jer-
sey."
The amendment endorsing the admins
| tration of Cleveland. as read by the Sec
retary, was cheered.
Mr.. Whitney rose with the New York
delegation, and joined in the cheering. but
/ Mr.. Hill retained his seat.
The amendment prepared and proposed
| to be offered by Senator Hill was then
read as follows:
"But it should be carefully provided by
law. at the same time. that any change
in the monetary standard should not apply
to existing contracts"
! Second amendment:
"Our advocacy of the free coinage Of sill
/ yer is based on the belief that such coin
age will effect and maintain a parity be-
tween gold and silver at the ratio at 16
/ TO /, but we declare, as a pledge Of our
party, that If such free coinage shall fail
to effect such parity within a year from
its enactment by law. such coinage shall
thereupOn be suspended"
TILLMAN.
The chairman then announced that Sen
ator Tilman. of South Carolina. would
now offer an amendment, and would be
heard for fifty minutes. This statement
met the favor of the audience and at
II 80 O'Clock Senator Tillman mounted the
platform amid much applause He said
that he could no more than make partial
| ailusion TO the important planks n the
platform. He would begin by introducing
/ himself to the representatives Of the De-
mocracy of the United States "as | am,
| and not as the lying newspapers have
taught you to think me " (Cheers) He
! hoped they would carry away from the
| convention a different idea OF "the pitch
| fork man Of South Carolina" from that
| which they now held. He came from the
| land Of secession, from South Carolina.
| "a hiss)
Said Tillman. turning in the direction
from which the offence came. There are
but three things in the world that hiss
the goose. the serpent and man. (Cheers
and laughter)
| He did not know whether he could say
he was a representative of the United
| States Shouts of Yes" and 'No.')
He had gone through fourteen Southern
States since April last, announcing a new
declaration OF independence-'free silver
| at 16 to ] "
! since the war the South had been
| Democratic, and at the last election II
/ was solidly Democratic. While the South
| thanked the Democracy OF New York
| Connecticut, and New Jersey for its as
| sistance and cooperation in the past
and for It's protection, the South had
| realized long since that its people were
but hewers of wood and drawers of water
for the North and East. to which they
were tied In bondage. and by which they
|, were having their substance eaten out The
! people of the West have also come TO
realize, during the last few years, that
the conditions of the South and West
are Identical. Hence it was found that
the Democratic party in the West was
here in almost solid phalanx 10 help 10
relieve the South Of that incubus.
Slight applauseD
INEQUALITY OF WEALTH.
! Senator Tillman went on TO give figures
by way OF comparison In order TO show
how the Eastern States had gained in
wealth over the Western and Southern
states during the last decade. He said
he knew that the newspapers would not
publish his figures. but he would state
them TO his hearers. 1t had been asserted
Yesterday by a delegate from Massa-
chusetts George Fred. Willlsms) that
This was not sectional issue, but ne
(Mr. TillmaO asserted that 1t was