The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-26
ALMOST UNANIMOUS FOR BRYAN
The Middle-of-th Road Men Showed
Under by Big Majority.

called the convention together at 8: 50.
There were not 100 people in the gall
lery. One belated straggler, who had
probably remained in the hall all
night, continued his slumbers, peace
fully stretched out ON the floor IN re-
mote uortion of the hall.
The band was not present, and there
was no music.
Sergeant-at-Arms Mcdowell, in eX-
PLANTATION of the absence of bhis sooth-
ing influence, said the contract with
the Business Mems League of St. Louis
expired last night and the musicians
had been instructed by the League not
TO put in an appearance to-day.
Good, good" shouteHlthe weary
delegates. Were glad of it
Some of the delegates stretched their
limbs and yawned. \ little music, the
newspaper men thought, might have
enlivened things perceptibly.
The chairman then called for the
nomination of President.
General Weaver came forward and
formally placed Mr.. Bryan in nomina-
ton.
'sMr. Chairman, rise before you this
morning in my judgment, facing the
most critical period that has ever oc-
Cured in the Populist party.
If YOU have all read the papers this
morning you have read the manly dis
patch from the Democratic nominee
for the Presidency. the Hon. VIM. j.
Bryan. (Applause). No man could
have done less and be man. His manly
attitude concerning the action of this
convention, we must all respect, and
every member of it, and every person
who reads the proceedings of this con-
vntion must do the same. But, any
fellow citizens, this question has reach
ed point where neither Mr.. Bryan nor
his personal friends have any right
whatever ITO say in regard to what the
action of this convention shall be.
(Cheers). This is a greater question
than the personality of THE candidates,
and /, as an individual, tell you that
that is the fact. Afer your action
last night, after / had read the tele-
grams, | Utterly refused, and L here and
now utterly refuse to confer with Mr..
BRYAN or Mr.. Jones as to who shall be
the nominee of this convention. Cloud
applause).
right to determine ourselves. 1t is the
relief of 70000,000 people that is al
L
but one thing and to ask the con.
sideration and the attention of this
convention to that one thing. We have
constantly urged, through good and
through evil report, that our princi
pies were more important than party
associations; were above all condera-
tions Of private fortune or the petty
and feverish ambitions of men. We
4 10
words.
This country has recently witnessed
new Pentecost and received another
baptism of fire. The recent conyen-
ton at Chicago sounded a bugle call
for union which can neither be mis-
understood nor go unheeded In its
patriotic untterances and action il
swept away all middle ground and
opened the road to a formidable or
ganic alliance. They not only made
union impossible, thank heaven, they
have rendered it inevitable.
From the very beginning our or
ganiation has made party fealty subor-
dinate to principles. We will mot here
reverse ourselves and refuse to accept
victory now so easily within our reach
We viii not refuse the proffered assis-
tame of at least 1900, 900 free silver
Democrats and not less than 1000, ,000
free silver Republicans simply because
they have shown the good sense to
come with an army fully equipped and
manned for battle. Let them have
their own division and army corps
Let them manifest their own esprit de
corps The field of glory is open to all
competitors who are fighting for the
same principles.
81 would not endorse the distin-
guished gentleman named at the Chi
cago convention. / would nominate
outright and make them our own, and
then share justly and rightfully in
their election.
Therefore, in obedience of my high
est conception to duty, with solemn
conviction that / am right, / place in
nomination for the Presidency of the
United States, a distinguished gentle
man, who let it be remembered, has
already been three times endorsed by
the Populist party of his own State
once for representative in Congress,
once for United States Senator, and
only last week for the Presidency. /
name that matchless champion of the