The Irish standard., 1896-06-27
IFIlEE YER ILIIE6B
4 Democratic State Convention Dis
u cul,sses Tariff, rloney and othsr I
5ss 5s Issues.
AIRY is HADE ron 4 MODERN HOSES
Governor AltgeId Explains the Miseries
Attending Our nonetary System
--Free Silver.

Peoria, Ill.,, June 23.-In q. conamedious
wooden structure on Hamilton avenue
the representatives Of the Democracy Of
the prairie state assembled today to SELECT
delegates to the national conv y, "a
Chicago. All hour before the time SET oy
the official call fully $500 people were
packed within the rectangular pt1lolns
and couple Of thousand more were un-
able to obtain admission. As the Leading
spirits Of the gathering entered 70 the
strains Of music they were greeted with
enthusiastic applause. Among those SO
honored were Gov. Altgeld, ex-CongEess-
men Fithtan, ;iForman and Dow 1on;
Lambert Thee, ex-minister to Belgium ana
Carter III. Harrison, Jr son ana name
sake Of Chicagos murdered mayor.
At 1915 Secretary of state W. n. Hlen-
richsen, by virtue Of his position as chair
man Of the state central committee called
the convention to order and introduced as
temporary chairman Alexander Hamilton
Bell, Of Carlinville. He was given g nearly
reception and spoke at length. Among
other things he said:
''If- there ever was time in the history
of any political party when every step
should be taken with prudence but with
out fear, and when wise counsels should
prevail, that time Is now at hand for the
Democratic party. Great issues are before
the people. Mornentous interests are at
stake This year will become famous IN
the calendar. Though our natural de-
sources are exhaustless yet many OF our
people are In want. Though we are the
greatest AGRICULTURAL nation In the world,
yet through unwise legislation the ports
OF the world are placed beyond the reach
OF our products. Though our gold anu ST.
yer mines should make US rich, yet;
through folly or crime, we have destroyed
the value of one half our wealth or prec-
ious metals by statute. Though the great
money kings of the. east grow rapidly rich
er, the common people are becomlng
gradually poorer. While millionairesinz
crease in numbers tramps multiply and
wander up and down our land. Our farm
ers produce great crops without profit.
Their horses and cattle are sold at loss;
our mines produce great quantities OF
precious metals which our own laws dis
honor. Our worknen find employment at
low wages for uncertain periods and De-
tween times look in sorrow upon the want
that Expresses their wives and children.
It may be true that the workman who
earns dollar today can buy with 1t as
much as under happier circumstances he
could buy for two, yet there are TO-DAY
millions of men who have no opportunity
to earn dollar Our mines, our farms,
the hands Of cold, CRAFTY, organized
wealth. Is there no remedy for these
evils?
What Moses shall arise to lead us out
Of the land of Egypt and out of the house
of bondage? What mind shall conceive,
what tongue shall speak, the words that
will fire the hearts of our people and give
back to us the constitutional rights and
liberties enjoyed by our fathers?
s-'I believe that none Of these great social
md economic questions can be rightly
solved except by the Democratic party.
1t is the party of equal lights.
II would be ashamed TO coubt the equal
patriotism, or intelligence Of my Repub-
ltcan nelghbors, but the Republican party
is powerless to redress these wrongs. 1t
is securely dominated by the Northeast
ern states OF Union, Mains, New :Hamp-
land, Connecticut, New York and New.
Jersey dominate the Republican party,
and through 1t have ruled this land.
Through 1t they have impoverished the
West to enrich the East. We might as
well pray to the gods Of the heather as to
seek remedy through the Republican
party. The East has never controlled the
Democratic party. Four years ago we
nominated man for the presidency from
the state Of New York in spite of the pro-
tests of the delegation from that state
May God forgive US for 1t: There en- must uIst
have since then been beaten as with a
scourge Of scorpions.
1.-THE Republican national convention
last week, dominated by the northeastern
section Of the Union, declared for a single
gold standard. In my minds eye can see
the conspirators at their work There are
Platt and Quay, Depew and Hobart, and
Lodge and Hanna, and a lot Of ignorant
negroes who, for ready cash. would sell
themselves and their posterity into a
worse slavery than their race ever knew.
Moved by self1shness that knows no hui
cta1 1Yy,fo limo r1,axr
seal the compact. The great states OF the
West, under the leadership of Senator
Henry M. Teller, withdrew from the con-
vention What will our nation do? Will
the East control it's action and write it's
platform? Rest assured that it will ex-
hal,st every effort to do SO. If they fail
in their effort will they remain loyal to the
party or will they bolt? I don't know, but
I would have our national convention de-
clare its purpose fearlessly, explicitly, and
let those bolt who will. I am tired of fol-
lowing New England or New York. Let
nois be henceforth the empire state. We
have been suckers long enough. God for
bid that should preach 2 spirit Of sec
tionalisn. We have had sectionalism to
our prejudice and resent it. IF we must
have sectionalism want my section to get
the benefit of it, When we hold our ma
tional convention we will have to go to
q large city. No ordinary city will accom-
rnodate US. We have within cur borders
the greatest city on this Western contl-
nent: our matchless Gueen--Chicago.
There we will go and I have no doubt
that the convention will unequivocauy
f7eclara for free and unlimited coinage Of
cold and silver at the ratio OF IL to | i'm
medtately, whether England says so or
not. ,
thew are binoetallists but are not ready to
subscribe to the l6 10 ! doctrine They
SOW that the ratio is not Of the essence
~ h,metallisr1,. They say they are in IA
yor Of declaring for the doctrine of himet-
allism but that it is for congress to- de-
tern,ine the ratio. We are told by some Of
our friends that we must have harmony
IN the party, and that for ,sla rnony's sake
mo must corlpr olnise we must conciliate
We mist straddle. There will be no strad-
a1inq IN this campaign. We cannot COM
,,rornise with error. We cannot daily with
Gin without pollution. There is no swerv-
ing from a right line that may lead eter-
nai,v astray, When our national conven-
tion declares 16 to binetallism what will
he the result? God only knows, but this
great question must be settled and settled
tight It may not be settled this year, but
Il will be settled. The duty to act fear
lessly is upon US; the result Is with the
great God Of ma tons who doeth all things
we'll
. ..The great agricultural states OF the
west and Southsare to be arrayed against
the bondholding East. It is the people
against the plutecrat; the common people
against the unfeeling avarice Of organized
wealth. It Isl the golden fields OF Illinois
against the golden. letters with which the
~A~.17 tSvA - Vy6