Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-07-16

number OF useless onrees the salaries Of which
drain the substance Of the people.
The absorption OF wealth by the few, the con-
,S S'stlon OF our leading railroad systems and
nriser control by the federal govenms.t of
h|-i arteries OF commerce. We demand the
engagement OF the powers OF the interstate
commerce commission and sush restrictions and
guarantees In the control OF railroads as will
sion $50 f'
We denounce arbitrary interference by federal
authofltes IN local AFFAIRS as violation OF the
constitution OF the United States and a crime
against free Institutions and we especially OBJ
}eet to government by injunction a and
mghly dangerous form OF oppression by which
federal judges In contempt Of the laws OF the
states and rights OF citizens become at once
legislators, judges and executioners: and we
approve the bill passed al the last session OF
me United senate and pending in the house
aeIsuVe 70 contempts In federal courts and pro-
contempt
No discrimination should be INDUCED by the
government OF the United states in favor OF
any OF it's debtors. We approve OF the refusal
OF the hfty-thrd congress to pass the Pacific
railroad funding bill and denounce the effort
ot the present Republican congress 10 enact
similar measure
Recognizing the Just claims OF deserving
Union soldiers. We heartily indorse the rule OF
lhe present commissioner OF pensions that no
names shall be arbitrarily dropped from the
pension roll. and the fact Of enlistment and
service should be deemed conclusive evidence
against disease disability before enlistment.
We favor the admission Of the territories a
new Mexico and Arizona into the union
states and We favor the early admission of all
me territories having the necessary population
ana resources 10 enttle them to statehood, and
while they remain territories we hold that the
oneiais appointed TO administer the govern
ment or territory. together with the District
OF Columbia and Alaska, should be bona hde
iesdents OF the territory district in which
oneir duties are to be performed The Demo
uatlc party believes In home rule and that all
public lands OF the United States should be APP
propriated to the establishment OF free homes
for American citizens. We recommend that
the territory OF Alaska be granted a delegate
| IN congress and that the general land and
timber laws Of the United States be extended
We extend our sympathy to the people OF
Iuoa IN their heroic struggle for liberty and in
We are opposed to life tenure in the public
service We favor appointments based upon
| merits, nxed terms OF office, and such an ad-
mlnistration OF the civil service laws as will
| snord equal opportunities to all citizens Of
| certained fitness.
| We declare 1t to be the unwritten law OF this
repub lie, established by custom and usage OF
100 years and sanctioned by the examples of the
kreatest and wisest OF those who founded and
nave maintained our government that no man
should be eligible for a third term OF the pres
| The federal government should care for and
| improve the Mississippi river and other great
| waterway Of the republic so as TO secure for
! the interior states easy and cheap transporta-
| ton TO tide water. When any waterway OF the
| republic is OF sufficient Importance to demand
| ald OF the government, such aid should be
! tended upon a definite plan OF continuous work
until permanent Improvement is secured.
|
| necessity OF it's success at the polls, submit
| the foregoing declaration OF principles and pur-
| american people. We invite the support of all
| cltizens who approve them and who desire TO
have them made effective through legislation
| Tor the relief OF the people and the restoration
| or the country's prosperity.
Senator Tillman was the first TO get
the floor after the reading of the report.
| lie presented a striking figure, but won
the antagonism OF the assembly by his
harsh expressions. He was Kissed more
than he was cheered, the convention evil
IDENTIFY not being I'm a mood to appre-
eiate his Haunting proudly OF the fact
that he came from the state which was
the home Of secession" Nor did they
agree with him when he said that the
silver question was a sectional issue, that
| II arrayed the south and west against
the east. "Hillr "Hillr' were the cries
which came from all sides when Tillman
mad finished, but Senator Jones, of Ar
kansas, came TO the front and said ne
could not allow the statement that the
SILVER issue was sectional one TO pass
unchallenged. Great cheers greeted this,
and plainly showed that the convention
was of the same feeling on that point.
There was wild scene when Senator
form. He shook the hands OF the pre-
siding officer, and then with a smile
bowed his acknowledgements to the
shouting crowd Men were on their
/ chairs waving handkerchlefs, flags and
| tossing hats in the air. The vast volume
| OF sound ebbed and flowed, and would
4 no sooner Gle away IMAM IL would be
! again taken up and echoed and re-echoed
| until the great building rang. Mr.. Hill
said he deprecated attacks on those
who believed in the free coinage OF sill
| yer at 10 to j. He had always treated
men OF this opinion with respect and he
| would do the same to-day. To him the
| question was one on which men fairly
| differed. He believed the best course
| for this convention to pursue was tC
take the first great step toward interna-
tional bimetallism. He denounced a dec
money as suicidal. The income tax
plank, also. he scathingly criticised He
| attacked also the plank which he said
for the irst time committed the party
| to opposition to life tenure OF the Demo
| cratic fathers 1t was foolish and un-
necessary. 1t was revolutionary steI
in party history. He concluded with a
plea for the integrity OF the party. I'VE
want to build up the Democratic party,
he said, mot tear II down. We love and
honor the principles OF Jefferson and
we are true to the old faith. II we stand
| by the traditional policy OF the Demo
cratic saints OF the past we can win
| III we put them aside are lost" The
gold delegates climbed upon their chairs
and joined the galleries in the demon.
| stration In honor of their champion AZ
he descended from the platform and re-
sumed his seat In the New York delega-
| ton.
Senator william f. Villas, Of wiscon-
sin, who had served in the first Cleveland
cabinet as postmaster-general, stepped 10
the platform when the Hill enthusiasm
had begun TO wane and made a brief
speech, i'm which he said IL was 10 pro-
test against proposed revolution In
party faith that he spoke for the minor
ity.
The Bay state delegates stood on their
chairs and sent IN three ringing cheers
as Villas descended and there were cries
of Russell. Russell, Russell" for the
young statesman, three times governor of
Massachusetts. Il have but one word 10
say he began. THE time for debate Is
past ! am couscious-painfuly conscious
that the mind OF this convention is not
and has not been, open TO argument
know the will Of this great majority
which has seen fit TO override precedents
and attacks the sovereignty of states Is
TO rgidly enforce its views. / know full
well that an appeal also, will fall on deal
ears. There is but one thing left-tC
enter my protest. | do so, not I'm anger
or In bitterness, but with a feeling of in
mite sorrow. our country. IL not thi.
convention, will listen TO our protest"
The demonstration that followed was
submerged beneath the storm OF cheer.
that greeted the appearance on the stage
OF William j. Bryan, Of Nebraska, tn,
boy orator of the Platte" who made {
speech which seemed 10 set the vast as
semblage into blaze. He spoke depre
catingly of himself But" he added
the humblest citizen in the land. wher
clad In the armor OF righteousness, Is
stronger than all the hosts OF erro- ,
This struck a keynote which sounded "a
A Ne.saa g.