The San Francisco call., 1896-07-08

And if you are not afraid of me as a
1gnter, why should you be afraid of my
associates? What will the Republican
party say if you violate your traditions at
the very opening OF the convention. They
will say one of two things. They will say
that you did it because you were afraid of
us. [ A voice, 'We areP'] Or they will say
that you did not because you were afraid
of US but because you gloried in heaping
personal indignity upon US. [Cries of
mo, no, no!"]
"You say No., but your acts do it.
Fellow Democrats. whom are you propos-
ing to turn down in indignity and dis
honor? All, who is the man who has
fought against the foes of the people since
lie first voted and has fought successfully?
He has fought against the criticisms and
insults of Republicans, and he has fought
without the approval of mugwumps and
without the aid of patronage and power.
If you turn him down do you think that
you will stop him or any Democrat from
making speech in this convention and
expressing his views? Do you think you
will stop David B. Hill? "A voice,
"Neyer."l The speech he would make to
you from the platform would be wise,
| conservative speech, becoming his position
as temporary chairman. But if you stop
him doing it he will make his speech from
the floor. and it will go to the people and
create enthusiasm, SO that the indignity
which you put upon him will fall upon
yourselves. In Gods name, think of
it with reason and sense and don't i'm
pose upon the East the indignity that is
proposed. We are not worms, as you
knnW mr. pua
times turn on those who tread upon them.
Treat US as you ought not to do, insult US
by breaking the traditions of your party
turn down David B. Hill, as indiscreet
men advise you-and 1 tell you what we
will do; We will fight you here and else
where, and we will fight you until you are
sorry for your action of this day. [Cheers.]
This is the grand old party of my heart;
l love it as love my family, and 1 resent
an unwise action which may harm it badly
and bring disaster to the country. This
is feeling of at least one-third of this
convention. | ask you to consider that
feeling. Let us act in these preliminaries
with courtesy to everybody. Let US stand
together in the Democratic party-that
party which has stood by the people and
has foughs for it and is the pride of the
Republic. I trust in God that not hing
will occur here to prevent its doing so
while the Republic lasts" [Cheers.l
Charles S. Thomas of Colorado, one of
the minority of the National Committee,
defended the minority report and urged
that the majority report was simply rec
ommendation which the convention might
adopt or reject as seemed proper to il.
The minority had no desire, he said, to
| suppress discussion, but he reminded the
delegate from Connecticut that he and
those with whom he had acted had
boasted that they would capture the con-
ventionA without yielding to any one.'
| The minority of the committee has there
fore duty imposed on them to carry out
as far as possible what they conceive to be
the wish OF the majority OF the conven-
tion. They knew that II the National
Committee were constituted SO as to repre-
sent the will of the convention it would
have reported in favor of Senator Daniel.
| [Cheers.1 He repelied the charge that the
Democrats of the United States desired to
inhict indignity and disgrace on
the Senator from New York. Moth
ing could be farther from their in
tention. They recalled the fact that
four years ago the man who now stood
forth as his friend and those who sup
ported him declared him unworthy OF The
respect of the Democratic convention.
[Cheers.] For his own part, he wished
with his own heart God to bless him. II
they were to judge Senator Hills future
by his pact, his utterances on the great
question that now confronts the conven-
ton were warm in the hearts Of his fellow
citizens TCheers
At this point Mr.. Thomas referred to his
standing under the picture of the i'm NOR
tai Washington, and was proceeding to
apostrophize the Father of his Country
when he was made aware by the outburst
of laughter that he had made mistake,
and that it was the alleged likeness oi
Jefferson under which he stood. He got
out of it very well by remarking that
Washington and Jefferson were both i'm
mortal Democratic names.
He went on to defend the action of the
minority of the National Committee and
said they had taken their action because
they had been told in the public prints oi
this and other cities Tin which they had
no voice and where they could not be
heard) that the purpose of the other side
was to assume control of the convention il
possible, and they had made up their
minds that If the matter vas to come to an
issue the sooner it came the better. He