The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-24
RIVER AT 8 A. NJ.
FLING THEIR BANNER TO THE
BREEZE.

There have been few political
gatherings in Minnesota comparable,
in the deep earnestness of their men,
bers and the absolutely disinterested
devotion exhibited to public duty and
the national honor, to the conference
of sound money Democrats that as
sembled in st. Paul yesterday. 1t
was surprise even to those who were
in sympathy with the movement to
find how general and ready was the
response. Here were young men and
old, the Democrat who cast his first
presidential vote sixty years ago and
he who was just entering upon the
enjoyment of his political preroga.
tives, all gathered together, after
Journeys from distant parts of the
state, without prospect of victory
at the polls, without hope of emolu-
ment or reward, solely to testify
their fidelity to the principles that
mean to them the life and death of
the republic; solely to profess their un-
dying love of Democracy, and their
willingness to fight to the death. at
any sacrifice, whatever offends
against or denies Democracy as it
has commanded their allegiance and
their love.
1t was an inspiration to sit in this
conference yesterday and listen to the
words of men who were ready to Weld
all to their devotion to principle
There were eathered tbara M ,.o,
for spoils, no hot-heads anxious to en-
courage to desperate deeds in order
that they might rise to an unworthy
leadership, but body of men whose
sole concern was the public good. The
spirit of the fathers has not died out
among us; the patriotism that has pre-
served this republic and made It
glorious has not grown dim or fallen
by the way; loyalty to our institutions
still responds in the breasts of noble
men to the call that is made upon 1t.
All these men were Democrats. Nv
their voices and their votes they have
testified to their allegiance. Among
them were those who have led the
party through good times and through
EVIL IN the past. From every lip there
IelI tributes of unresting devotion TO
democracy as it is understood bv
those who cannot accept the revo-
utionary doctrines announced bv the
chicago convention And each man
brought to that assembly the shirt of
the hero and the daring and conse
Grafton of the volunteer
These Democrats, animated nv CO
me a courage and so generous a spirit
of self-sacrifice, determined unon tbsi,.
course for the future. For all others
there was charity. No words of cen
sure were uttered against those who
still call themselves Democrats but see
their duty differently. But for these
there was no other possibility than
that OF steadfastness in the faith. Re-
garding the new doctrines announced
at Chicago. the free coinage of silver
the overthrow of the supreme court
and non-interference. with mob vio-
lenee as subversive of public order and
the existence of government itself
they repudiated utterly the Chicago
platform and its nominees. To each in
dividual they left liberty of action. ac-
cording to the dictates of his con-
science and his Judgment of what the
situation might require But by an al
most unanimous vote the pleasure of
the convention was declared to be the
nopination of sound money Demo-
cratic ticket on sound money plat
form; and the delegates sent to the
Chicago conference. as we'll as those
appointed to attend a national con-
vention, should such be called, were
Instructed to give expression to this
as the voice of the sound money Dem
ocrats of Minnesota
So is the flag of the old-time Democ-
racy, the party that has stood for lib