Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-07-05


demonstration OF the gold standard fac
ton tonight attracted friendly au-
dience of 5000 people to the magnificent
auditorium who cheered speeches by
Ex-Governor Roswell P. Flower, of New
York; Hon. Franklin MacVeigh, of Chi
cago; Ex-Governor VIM. E. Russell, of
Mass; U. S. Senator Gray, of Delaware,
and District-Attorney John R. Fellows,
of New York.
The audience was weli-dressed one
and seemed to include very many dele
gates to the convention so that the prlc-
tical success of the meeting as a mis-
sionary effort was problematical.
A large proportion of the people were
ladies' whose presence may have placed
some restraint upon the antagonstic
silver element. whose disapproyal of the
doctrine preached it had been predicted
would inspire strife and turbulence.
This rumored outbreak of the silver
men may have attracted some to the
meeting, but they were disappointed Of
their sensation for that part of the au
dience which differed from the senti-
ments pronounced by the orators gave
a respectful hearing. Under an i'm
mense American flag stretched above
the stage there sat beside the speakers
eX-Congressman VIM Everett, of Mass;
Comptroller Eckles, Ex-Governor Geo.
w. Peck, of Wis, and lesser lights.
VIM. c. Whitney during part of the
evening held a conspicuous position in
box, but other prominent New York
ers in the city were not visible. Sena-
tor Hill and Governor Russell, of Mas
sachusetts, were the objects Of the
greatest enthusiasm. That directed to-
ward the New York Senator was wasted,
however, for he failed to put in an ap-
pearance.
During every lull in the proceedings
the enthusiastic cried fiercely for Hi
and Russell. When finally their de-
mands were answered by a bow of the
brilliant young Bay State statesman,
and a reference by Mr. McVeagh. who
as presiding officer introduced the
speakers. to the fact that in what he
Eermed "a normal Democratic year"
Mr. Russell would be one of the fore
most candidates for the highest honor
in the gift of his party, there was such
a responsive cheer as would fiatter any
public man. Mr.. Russell's speech was
rather more conciliatory in It's tone than
certain others, although there was little
of defiance in any of the utterances, for
the whole tenor of the meeting was en-
appeal to the silver men to turn back
from their contemplated committal of
the party to free coinage and to refrain
from disrupting the Democratic organ
iZatiOn as the speakers predicted thG
silver campaign would do.
Only once did the silver sympathizers
in the audience manifest their feelings
with any vehemence. The single out
break occurred when Mr.. McVeagh at
tackled the administration of Governor
,Alageld: an attack which inspired an
overwhelming protest of howls Kisses
and grOans from the galleries, met by
counter cheers from the floor, the dem
onstration seeming to indicate that the
Governor had many friends among the
men who filled the upper tiers. Alto
gether the audience seemed to be com
posed of a majority OF administration
Democrats for every allusion TO Presi-
dent Cleveland and every tribute to his
administration was cheered with enthu-
siagm.
Mr.. Macveagh said in part:
Gentlemen:-This meeting has been
called and this great assemblage he's
gathered because the nation and the
Democratic party are both face to face
with an impending crisis. 1t is now
thirty-six years since a memorable
Democratic convention met in 1860.
Then also both the nation and the
Democratic party stood face to face
with an impending crisis. Then there
was at stake the unity Of the nation.
Now It is the nations honor. That hon
or must be preserved. The agOnies and
waste Of war North and South, would
turn to Wantonness in the pages Of our
history, if our happily united country
should have been preserved only to be-
come a defaulter and to pay its debts
with fifty cent dollars.
We, who appeal to the coming con-
ventiCn against silver monOmteallism,
are not all gold monOmetallists. Many
of us are earnest bimetaiists. eager TO
see silver and gold equal in the coinage
of our mints. That which for this crisis
unites bimetallists and gold monOme.-
allists in the awful spectre Of silver
monometallism.
We cannot hope 10 appeal with sue
cess to all the silver delegates. The
great body OF them would not even
listen to persuasion. The wild charac-
ter Of the movement is shown in its
fury and anger. But there must be
many silver delegates who find them
selves out of touch with fury and reck-
lessness: and who can still be made TO
see where this passion and excitement
is carrying them and their party, and
possibly their country. To their sOOer
reason this meeting is an appeal. They
may still listen TO the solemn warning
of dispassionate men, dispassiOnate
Democrats. dispassiOnate Americans.
We are here without passion, with
out excitement, without fury but with
a perfect vision OF the crisis that is be-
ing forced upon the party and the ma
ton. The questionable majority in the
convention. if not arrested by conserva-
tive silver men, will defeat the Demo
cratic party.
But what does defeat on this issue
mean? Who can fail to know that if
the Democratic party shall borrow this
Popu,istic idea from the POpulists and
be defeated. it will not regain the re-
spect and confidence OF the people for
years and years to come; nor. after all
these years, Until il has been born
again2 The silver movement will pass,
as the greenback movement has passed.
and as have passed all that series Of
historic attempts to make money out OF