The record-union., 1896-09-04
PALMER OF ILLINOIS and
BUCKNER OF KENTUCKY

the despot on horseback riding to the
front, compel obedience to the law, Sc
cure the preservation of public order
and demonstrate to the world that or
all Governments that of liberty is in
deed the strongest? (Applause.) This
was done, and in such a way that every
philosOphic thinker now knows that this
government is in war the most war
Ike; in peace the most powerful that
the world has ever seen. (Cheers.)
Now we come to the crucial test of
universal suffrage. Are the people fit
to be trusted with the universal suf-
frage of sovereignty? And we are here
to-day in the name of true Democracy,
the conservative, radical Democracy,
which constructs and never destroys, to
say that the problem is solved.
(Cheers) The American people have
left the thin fringe of the Atlantic
Ocean, and in less than 130 years has
gone to the Pacific Coast. We are colo
nists, not adventures. AS Milton said,
we are the builders of empires. We
have built on foundations that we be-
lieve to be as absolutely stable as the
granite rocks on which God has placed
the great ranges Of mountains. And
iiciS IL SOillG llldt, III lilc CId VI eilC
nineteenth century, we are to rediscuss
all the problems of the last twenty-five
centuries? Are we to have agrarian-
ism and rapine and the vagaries of Ri
enzi over again? Are all the mad ideas
of Jack Cade to be again presented for
disputation and decision at the bar of
public opinion?
THE convention at Chicago, the con-
vention at st. Louis, like two unequal
parts of one story, of which the intro
duction is that at Chicago and the con-
Clusion is that at st. Louis, is story
of destruction and dissatisfaction. 1t
is the evangel of hatred and discord; +;
it is an appeal to every dissatisfied citi-
zen and he who stands upon these two
platforms (Mr. Bryan) honestly stand
ing upon one and dodging the admis-
sion that he stands upon the other, has
been presenting dishonesty and discord.
Is it true that here in America there
are divisions of classes and masses?
Are We not all American citizens and
equal before the law? Is it true that
we have broken up into classes, and
that we have to wipe cut that class leg
islation? Is it not true that every boy
in America has an equal chance with
every other one in life If he is frugal,
honest and wise?" (Cheers)
Proceeding to a discussion of the Chi
cago platform, Mr.. Breckenridge said
II denounce it because it's result is
universal dishonesty and discord. 1t
is destructive in every part of it. We
have an executive. 1T condemns him
for being an executive. We have laws
tc be applied. It condemns the officers
OF the law because they applied it. We
have a judiciary, and because it is in
dependent, even If it be wrong-and l.,
for one immodest as it may seem, put
my poor name as lawyer against one
of it's latest decisions on one great de-
cision-because they disagree with that
decision they determine that that great
tribunal shall be supservient to party
caucus, and be corrupted to be tool
of party wishes" (Cheers)
Mr. Breckenridge went on to speak Of
the feeling of reverence with which the
judiciary was regarded in the South,
which could be hardly appreciated by
Northern States, who had never known
what it was to live subject to the will
of one silent commander. I'VE of the
South he said, put our trust and hope
in an upright judiciary. With you ii is
a sentiment. With US il Is living prin-
ciple, burned into our hearts by the
disasters Of the past, and, standing in
the midst of a renewed Democracy, in
the name of the entire South, L plead
that the last refuge Of an oppressed
minority, an upright judiciary, be left
untouched by the polluting hand of
partisan corruption. cloud cheers)
1T is sometimes said we are here to
| elect Mckinley. our free silver friends
took that job out Of our hands. Great
! laughter and cheers.) We elected a
| Democratic President on the two great
| Democratic economic principles of free
trade and sound money in lS3Z. our
| free silver friends at once attempted to
| destroy the Democratic party. l saw
| ii stated the other day that they had
the scalps of their enemies hanging at
| their belt They have the scalps Of
| their friends. (Renewed laughter and
| cheers) They disregarded the admoni-
| ton of Cleveland, and the Republican
! Government reiSns in New York, where
| we used to have a Democratic Govern
ment They would not believe in
| sound money, and Maryland sends a
| Republican Senator to sit with Mr.. Cor
| man, and Republican Governor sits In
| the chair at Annapolis. They disre-
! garded the councils OF the most lovely
| of American statesmen, William Wilson
/ of West Virginia, and Mr.. Elkins sits in
the United States Senate. They divid-
| "a the Democratic party in Ohio, and
! Foraker takes the place of that long
| line of Democratic statesmen ending
/ with Thurman and Pendleton. They
disregarded the teachings of Carlisle
IN, ha ~ nfrrn lyu
| Ccheers) and we have a Republican
! They pardoned the anarchists in the
/ great State OF Illinois, and more Dem
! ocratic Congressman walked the plank
/ at the next election. There has not
been the ghost of chance to elect a
! Democratic President since 1894, be-
/ cause of free silver. Therefore when
! they charge us with trying to elect
\ Mckinley / charge back that they have
done that job much more skillfuliy
| applause and cheers.) What we do in
| tend to do is to prevent the election Of
| the Chicago ticket under the pretense
| that ii is a Democratic ticket / voted
| for Horace Greeley: l am not ashamed
| OF it, 1t was not very delightful
dose at the time 0aughter). but the
| memory of IL has become more palatable
| in five and twenty years. But did not
| vote for him as Democrat standing on
a Democratic platform. and / shall not
vote for Populist standing on a Pop
| ulistic platform" (Cheers)
After stating that the Chicago Con-
| vention had disobeyed instructions. and
| therefore Democrats We're absolved
from supporting it, Mr.. Breckenridge
| proceeded: Il have nothing TO say
about the young gentleman who is now