The record-union., 1896-08-21
KENTUCKY SOUND
MONEY DEMOCRATS.
Nearly ali the Leading Members Of the
Party Present.
They Nominate Delegates to the
National Convention.

Breckenridge, the SiIver-Tongued,
Makes a Stirring Address and
Says the Result of the Popu-
Iistic Platform Would Be Utter
Destruction - Our Remedy for
Wrongs Not by Anarchy or Riots,
But by Peace.
LOUISVILLE (Ky), Aug. 20.-The
sound money Democrats of Kentucky
met in State convention in Music Hall
this afternoon and tonight, and amid
great enthusiasm adopted platform
embodying their views, named dele
gates -at-large to the national conven-
tion at Indianapolis, selected electors
from the State at large, formed an or
ganization to carry on the campaign
and indOrsed Ex-Governor S. B. Buck
ner for the nomination for Vice-Presi-
dent.
Nearly every leading Democrat in the
State was present. The big hall was
jammed. Ex-Governor Simon Boliver
Buckner entered the hall just before the
convention was called to order, and he
was given a rousing reception. After
prayer by Rev Dr. c. r. Hemphill ex
Lieutenant-G -GoverOnr James r. Hind
man was elected Temporary Chairman.
His speech of thanks was followed by
loud demand for ex-COngressman W. G.
?. Breckenridge, who sat on the stage
with his wife. The silver-tongued or
ator came slowly to the front of the
stage and the convention went wild.
Mr.. Breckenbridge's speech was a
great oratorical triumph. He began by
saying that he could not stand by the
| Chicago platform nor support the NOM
| inee. He felt no worse when he was
| driven into the Confederate army to
maintain his convictions than he did
now, when he was driven into opposi-
ton to the regular nominees of his
party. He was a Democrat from con-
viction mad had been so all his life, but
| he joined with the best and greatest
men Of the party to put it upon Sc
cure basis. The last time he had spoken
| in Louisville he had predicted that if
| Grover Cleveland should be nominated
| the party would be certain of triumph.
After the Chicago convention he looked
forward upon years of struggle, but he
/ believed the party would come out tri-
umphant and purified He had helped
reorganize the party. He knew what it
was to go to defeat. 1t had won vic
tory that carried with it the seeds of it's
own destruction.
The Democratic party of 1892 was a
heterogeneous collection, and it was now
reaping the reward of it's insincerity
He referred to the greenback craze, and
said no party deserved victory nor de-
served life when it became dishonest.
For the third time the Democratic
party of Kentucky had the opportu-
nifty to immortalize itself Now in Ken
lucky the first State convention to be
held since the Chicago convention would
rise up and proclaim the eternal prin-
ciple upon which the Democratic party
was founded; it was a rare honor that
all this party had gone through was to
fit it for this occasion. Kentucky Dem
ocrats stood now to plead with the ma
ton TO maintain the position which the
fathers of the party had taken, to insist
upon public and private honesty and
| the observance of the laws.
"Our remedy for wrongs is not by
anarchy, not by riots, but by peaceful
means" said the Colonel. I'VE do not
believe in paternal Government; we
do not believe in the right to take the
taxes of it's citizens and purchase
17700 miles of railroad and give op-
pOrtunity for the unspeakable corrup-
tion that must follow. The result of
the Populistic platform would be utter
destruction. We will not walk in the
road the st. Louis and Chicago conven-
tions point out. You need not tell me
it is a regular Democratic nomination.
1 walk not into that cesspool.
4 do not dispute the regularity of the
! Chicago convention, but it had no power
to pledge Democrats to the adoption of
hostile principles. The convention
/ called itself the Democratic convention;
we do not obey it. It was not Demo-
cratic because it wore the Democratic
| robes. it is the hand of Esau, but we
recognize the voice of Jacob. We are
not a blind, cid Isaac, and we recognize
the voice of the masquerading Jacob,
| and we decline to go that way.
The heart of Kentucky is with us.
We were a sound money State years
ago We lost through want of vigilance
and cowardly leaders, and we almost
became reconciled to free silver But
we did not look forward to platform
in which the best thing in it is the free
silver plank"
Bryan, he said, was an undeveloped
and emotional young fellow. He thought
Bryan believed in his platform and
would try to make that the law of the
land BY the help of God, he should
never have the opportunity. Speaking
for himself alone he believed the cleo
ton of Bryan would be the greatest
calamity that could happen to the peo-
pie. The duty of the Democratic party
was to defeat the election of Bryan.
That accomplished, they would keep
open the old Democratic home for the
reception of those who having been
misled. would desire to return thither.
They would be received with open arms,
and nobody would say to them, Il told
you so" He regarded this day as an
eventful one and this a grand conven-
tion of Democrats that would live in po-
litical history.
Just as Colonel breckenridge was
bringing his speech to a close a specta-
tor in the rear Of the hall yelled, "Hur-
rah for Bryant" amid cries of Throw
him out!" The police escorted the Bry-
an enthusiast through the door. Colo
mel Breckenridge asked them to let the
disturber alone. and closed with a plea
for money good the world over and for
a tariff for revenue only
After the transaction of minor busi-
Iness the convention adjourned at 4:1j