The Yale expositor., 1896-09-11
PALMER, OF ILLINOIS,
AND BUCKNER, OF KENTUCKY.
HEAD THE TICKET
or the New National Democratic Party
Tho Convention Held at indianapolis
Adopted "A Strong Gold Platform-The
Chicago Convention Denounced.

The last of the national political con-
ventions for the campaign of 1896 was
that Of the gold Democrat boilers from
the Chicago convention, which was held
in Tomllnson hall, at indianapolis. There
were S2i delegates present at the opening
session, representing II states and terri
tories. The delegates themselves were an
imposing body of men. Among them were
many who have for years been prominent
in national affairs and the counsels of the
Democratic party. Not a few were dele
gates to the Chicago convention, sever
al chairmen of delegations, who returned
here in the came capacity except that
whereas, they were Kissed. therefore de-
clining L. participate in the proceedings
their appearance here was the signal for
outbursts of enthusiasm. The big New
York delegation of 70 members perhaps
attracted the most attention. Enthusiasm
was very plentiful and prominent men
were cheered at every opportunity and
the name of President Cleveland was
greeted with great demonstration every
time II was mentioned.
When the temporary officer, Senator
John NJ. Palmer, OF Illinois, arose to call
the convention 10 order, he received an
ovation. He announced that 1t was the
first Democratic convention OF the year
and that it's purposes were purely patri-
otto Bishop White (Ep,scopaD offered
prayer and ex-CongressmSn Cultivate, OF
Ohio, read the call of the convention Az
ter the call Of the states. Senator Pal
MGR said he would pass the remarks by
himself called for by the programme,
and introduced Mr.. Brennan, of Wiscon-
sin. who read the report of the national
committee. The report recommended eX-
Gov Flower, of New York, for temporary
chairman, and John r. Wilson, of lnci-
ana, for temporary secretary. The men
ton of cx-Gov Flowers name was the
signal for a burst of applause which
was tremendous. Ex-Gov. Jones' of Al
ALBANIA, and George f. Peabody, OF Mas
sachusetts, escorted the distinguished
New Yorker to the stage, and Gov. Flow
er read the first speech of the convention,
which was the keynote of the affair." and
was IN part as follows:
This gathering is a notice TO the world
that the Democratic party has not yet
surrendered 10 pOpulism anu aIarchy'
The true principles OF Democracy, eN-
pounded by Jefferson and exemplified
through a century of national history,
are not dead because those principles
have been repudiated by convention
calling itself Democratic but controlled
by un-Democratic influences. Those are
true Democrats who remain true TO the
principles Of their party and who refuse
TO be bound by party declarations which
betray party faiths and threaten both
party ana country with disaster
by our presence here we emphasize
the genuine character of our Democracy
and demonstrate the patriotic nature OF
our partsansnip. There have been nu-
merous instances in political history
where in the name of party loyalty men
have iustihed their non-supporI OF party
platforms or candidates and in too many
of such cases has the movement failed
because when analysed its inspiring in
fluence was found 10 be nothing higher
than desire TO avenge disappointed am
billions or to overthrow political organ
ization. No such sordid motive can be
charged against this gathering No DEM
ocrat here sought honors from those who
framed the Chicago platform. Every
Democrat here has only political humilia-
tion 10 expect in the event OF the success
of the Chicago ticket. No Democrat hon
ored here by being made the candidate
of this convention can look forward with
any reasonable hope to an election. None
of us who help 10 nominate him can eX-
pect to be participants IN any distribu-
tion 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 to-
gether and encourages our action. That
is the fact which evidences our sincerity
and makes our cause strong WIN the
people.
lies not alone nor chiefly in its declaI- ton
for a financial policy which would be ru-
inous. The danger lies in the revolution
airy influences which controlled the con-
Vention and animated its platform. Men
may justly differ as TO the best scheme
OF national finance and may debate their
differences without recrimination or with
out questioning the honesty of motives.
But when men, led on by dishonest poll
ticians, their minds fired not by the ex-
ample OF American patriots. but by that
of the radicals of the French revolution,
overturn party precedents and pack a
convention TO secure an effective maiori-
t., then by aid of that majority raise
alcft the incendiary banner OF the poor
against the rich, threaten the subverson
CT national institutions and the indirect
perversion of constitutional guarantees,
incite disrespect to law and authority,
suggest and in substance recommend the
reputation OF national and private debts
and reject by intended implication the
fundamental principle of Democracy that
that government governs best which gov
ems east-then 1t is time not only for
Democrats to forsake that motley and
un-Amerlcan gathering, TO reject that I'M
Democratic and un-American enunciation
of doctrines. and to join, in such manner
as NAV seem best with all patriots who
cherish their countrys honor and wish to
"Al Of Mr.. Bryan's. specious pleas and
arguments for silver are based on the
assumption thai the free coinage Of sil;
establish and maintain b!metallism-the
parity OF gold and silver at the exchange
is Incorrect or ili-founded each OF his
arguments falls to the ground and every
one OF his predictions loses Its force. Not
one word has he uttered in advocacy Of
silver standard. Not one word does
he dare utter in behalf of a silver stand
ard. He will declaim by the hour against
the evils of gold monometallism and
nearly everything he says on that sub
ject Is equally applicable to silver mono
metallism also. Bimetallism Is a genu-
inc Democratic doctrine, but bimetal-
lism can never be attained by the men
who dominated the Chicago platform.
There is reason to doubt whether the
force which controlled that convention
even desired to accomplish bimetailism.
The word bimctallsm does not appear in
the platform. The convention, by an
overwhelming vote, rejected a PROPOSE
ton pledging the government to ma ntain
the parity OF the two metals. The dis
position OF the convention, as indicated
by it's expressions and it's actions, was
towards silver recommendation or ir-
deemoble fat money. AS we'll might
the Ark of the Covenant have been in
trusted TO the Phiistines as TO intrust
the cause OF bimetallism 10 the reyolu-
tionary horde behind Bryan.
Against threatened calamities we have
met as Democrats and as patriots to pro-
test our purpose Is too serious to per-
init differences on minor matters or per-
sonal jealousies TO divide our councils or
weaken our influence. We have come
here as Democrats to exert such infiu-
encc as may have among Democrats