The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-08-15
THE OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION
Concise and Able Statement of the
Political Situation.

was calls for Bryan. After a moment
! the senator was able to introduce Mr..
| Danforth the chairman OF the meeting.
Mr.. Danforth in his turn pounded with
a gavel on the rail, and i'm his turn was
showered with calls for Bryan. Mr. Dan
forths speech was a brief one, formal
introduction of Governor Stone. Governor
Stone read his notification from printed
script, but his voice carried to almost the
ends of the hall. Governor Stone SAID:
Mr. Chairman: We are here this
evening to give formal notification OF
their selection to the gentlemen nomin-
ated by the national democratic conven-
ton for president and vice president OF
the United States. Hitherto, by imme-
mortal custom, the pleasing duty of de-
! livering a notification of this charac-
ter has devolved upon the permanent
chairman of the national convention by
virtue of his office, as chairman of the
notification committee. Except for un-
fortunate circumstances, unexpected ana
unavoidable. the usual custom would not
be parted from in the present Instance.
l regret to say however that unforeseen
events of a personal nature have arisen
which makes it practically impossible for
the chairman of the convention. the Hon.
Stephen nj, White of California to be in
New York at this time few days since
he telegraphed me to that effect and lid
me the honor to request me to represent
him on this occasion. While | greatly
appreciate the compliment conferred by
this designation l cannot but deplore
the enforced absence of the distinguished
senator from California and | am directed
by him to express his deep regret at his
inability to be present and participate
in the interesting ceremonies of this
hour
Mr. Chairman. the convention which
assembled at Chicago the 18th day Of July
was convened i'm the usual way. under an
act issued I'm due form by the national
democratic committee There was moth
ing out of the ordinary in the manner of
its assembling and nothing i'm the action
of the committee under which authority
it was convoked to distinguish it from
its predecessors 1t was in all respects
a regular national convention of the
democratic party. Every state and ter
ritory in the Union. from Maine to Alas
ka, was represented by a full quota OF
delegates, and l may add with perfect
truth that a more intelligent and thor
oughly representative body of democrats
was never assembled upon the American
continent.
The convention was called for two
purposes: First, to formulate a plat
form decaratory of party principles; sec
ondly. to nominate candidates for presi-
dent and vice president of the United
States Both these purposes We're fully
accomplished and accomplished accord
ing to the usages that have been recog-
nized and the method of procedure which
has obtained for so years. The acts of
the convention, therefore were acts Of
the democratic party Its work was done
under the sovereign authority of national
organization: and that work was the di-
rect outgrOwth of the calm, wel-maturcd
judgment of the people themselves, de-
liberately expressed through their repre-
sentatives chosen from among the wis
est most trusted and patriotic of their
fellow citizens i'm all the states. AL
though all have said is literally true.
yet the fact remains of which every one
is conscious. that there We're eXtraordin-
ary circumstances leading to its delib-
erations and vested them with unusual
Importance We rejoiced i'm Mr. Cleve-
lands election and confidently expected
that he would bring the tariff question 20
a speedy settlement and strip monopoly
of its opportunity to plumber the people.
But this just expectation was doomed TO
disappointment. Instead of devoting him
self TO "a prompt and wise solution of the
importance upon which he was elected.
he incontinently thrust il aside and be-
gan. almost at the threshold of his add
mnistration. to exercise the great powers
of his Office TO commit the country to a
financial system inaugurated by the re-
publican party and which the democratic
party had time and again condemned IN
both state and national conventions. Ina
the beginning of this attempt the masses
of the people We're disappointed and dis
tressed and looked on ma amazement.
with absorbing interest and with CON
stantly increasing resentment they watch
ed the rapid development of events As
these events passed before them one by
one, in quick succession, and when they
came to understand their full meaning
and effect the resentment turned to
wrath and the protest rose into revolu-
ton. Then began with the democratic
party one of the most remarkable strug-
giles that has ever occurred in the polit-
ical history of this country. 1t was a
struggle for mastery between the national
administration and the great masses OF
the plain people. who constitute the party
which created that administration
THE prize they fought for was the ma
tional convention. That convention was
to determine whether the democratic par
" should abide by the tradition of our
fathers and adhere to its ancient faith.
Without eXaggeration, it is certain that
nn nj har
bled in this country since the civil war.