The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-03

of indianapolis. in the State of Indiana.
Sergeant-at-arms-Walter kessler, or In
dianapolis. in the State of Indiana
LII of which is respectfully submitted
The report of the was adopted
by unanimous vote.
GOVERNOR FLOWERS ADDRESS.
Chairman Palmer named as a committee
to escort the temporary chairman to the
platform Governor Jones. of Alabama, and
George F. Peabody, of New York. The
ommitt waited on Governor Flower and
escorted him TO the platform. where he
was saluted with three cheers, the dele
gates rising while they cheered.
Senator Palmer presented Governor
Flower to the convention, which again rose
and cheered their temporary presiding Off
Ger. Governor Flower addressed the con-
vention as follows:
This gathering is notice to the world that
the Democratic party has not yet sur
rendered to Populism and anarchy. The
true principles of Democracy. eXpounded
by Jefferson and exemplifed through a
century of natural history. are not dead
because those principles have been repudi-
ated by a convention calling itself Demo-
cratic. but controlled by undemocratic in
fuences. Those are true Democrats who
remain true to the principles of their party
declarations which betray party faiths and
threaten both party and country with dis
aSter.
BY our presence here we emphasize the
genuine character of our Democracy and
demonstrate the patriotic nature OF our
craftsmanship. There have been numerous
instances in political history where in the
name of party loyalty men have, justified
their nonsupDort of party platforms or
candidates, and in too many of such cases
has the movement failed because, when
analysed, it's inspiring influence was found
to be nothing higher than a desire to
avenge disappointed ambitions or to over
throw a political organization. NO such
sordid motive can be charged against this
gathering.
No Democrat here sought honors from
those who framed the Chicago platform:
Every Democrat here has only political
humiliation TO xpect in the event of the
success of. the Chicago ticket. No Demo-
crat honored here by being made the can
didate Of his convention can look forward
with any reasonable hope to an election.
None of US who help to nominate him can
expect to be participants in any distr1bu-
ton of political favors. We are here be-
cause we love the Democratic party and
because we love our country That IS the
inspiration which has drawn us together
fact which evidences our sincerity and
makes our cause strong with the people.
For myself | can say that for over II
half century 1 have teen u~nfiinching in my
support of Democratic principles, and do
rot propose to give them up now. even If
l have to bolt my party platform and
ticket in order to maintain those principles.
1 have lived and worked for my party in
a town and county where Democrats were
so few that it was only by accident that
we could elect even a constable once or
The chief complaint which my political
critics have made against my acts in pub
lie life have been that l have been too much
of a Democratic p~artisan-too devoted to
the interests of my party. But in no test
of craftsmanship have ] been a better friend
of the Democratic party than feel am
to-day in joining with those who would
save the party from the abyss toward
which it has thrown itself.
DEMOCRACY DEAR TO HIM.
Dear to me is this Democracy upon
whose principles I was reared and for
whose. success L have labored in season and
out. Dear to me are the teachings of those
great Democrats, Jefferson, Jackson and
TiIden, who, if alive to-day would stand
With US for party and public honor.
And because 1 love my party and my coun-
try l am here to do what 1 can to shield
them from dangerous attack.
The Populistic convention at Chicago did
not realize that the ASPIRATIONS cast by
them would in the future add luster to the
object of opprobium. Long after the fes-
tering sores shall have healed and shall
have passed into history as an incident as
grotesque as Coxey'S march to Washing
ton, there will stand out with the other
foremost leaders of Democracy the name
of the man they now villify, Grover Cleve-
land. Tremendous applause)
lies not alone nor chiefly in its declaration
for a financial policy which would be ruin
Gus. The danger lies in the revolutionary
and animated it's platform.
Men may justly differ as to the best
scheme of national finance, and may de-
bate their differences without recrimina-
ton or without questioning the honesty of
motives. But when men. led on by anbl-
tiouS politicians, their minds fired not by
the example of American patriots, but by
that of the radicals of the French revolu-
n 1on; q oc cenyention pa to- secure pIece an effect dVe
majority, then by aid of that majority
raise aloft the incendiary banner of the
poor against the rich, attack the integrity
of the Supreme Court, threaten the sub
version of national institutions and the in
direct perversion of constitutional guaran-
tees, incite diSrespect to law and author
ity, suggest and in substance recon-
mend the Reputation of national and pri-
vate debts and reject by intended implica-
ton the fundamental principles of Democ-
racy that that government governs best
only for Democrats to forsake that mot
ley and un-American gathering, to reject
that undemocratic and un-American
enunciation of doctrines, and to join in such
manner as may seem best with all patriots
who cherish their country's honor and wish
to protect the welfare of its people.
/ mistake the moral sense of the Amer
lean people if the action of the Populists
at Chicago, reinforced and emphasized
has not rekindled the spirit of American
patriotism and awakened the American
conscience to the national dangers which
Turk in the forces and influences behind
Bryan and Sewau or Bryan and Watson.
PATRIOTISM H REAL ISSUE.
The real issue in this campaign is an
issue of patriotism. In many a presidential
election has the fight waged fiercely
between the advocates Of different p~oliticar
doctrines, and the ruin Of the country has
been freely predicted ii either set of doc
trines were established as the policy of the
government-such predictions being merely
the extreme expression of party politics;
but in this election the issues around
which the battle is waging involves the
integrity of our institutions and the
sacrednesS of our national honor, and when
men have stirred that deep well of
sentiment, ordinary party differences
disappear, the moral issue predominates
and all good citizens stand shoulder to
shoulder against those who would deile
the American name and undermine the
walls of her political structure.
Mr.. Bryan takes pains to reiterate in
about every second speech that he stands
~squarely on the Chicago platform and sup
ports every one of its planks. He has not
yet announced his acceptance of all the
planks of the Populist platform, but mas
much as these are only different in degree,
and he has been identified with Populism
quite as much as with Democracy, it is
but fair to assume that he stands on both
platforms.
Not quite so radical in his views. per-
haps, as Altgeld or Tillman: not quite so
frank as Tom Watson, he is nevertheless
a fit representative of the revolutionary
forces behind im-ambitious. unsteady
and unsafe. There is nothing in his career
or in his present utterances to encourage
the hope that if elected he would rise
above his surroundings or stay the hand
which threatens to destroy and pervert.