New-York tribune., 1896-07-24

shade of difference has appeared we regret
to say. between the Massachusetts, and Con-
nccticut delegations to the aggregation OF at
fractions now on exhibition at ST. Louis rs thes
only rival Of The Greatest Show on Earth
1t was just after Mistress Pennington. the
campaign singer Of Arkansas" had moved all
hearts by a sweet and mclOdious rendering or
parody on that noble ode. Yankee Doodle
Dandy" that Mr.. Washburne. Of Massachn-
setts, announced from rhe stage that he mad
an important resolution 10 offer The COnven-
tiOn was ar once all ears. 1t is. most OF the
time 1t now used them for listening purposes.
For every delegate felt that II an important
resolution was in sight ii would be his duty
to move an amendment to it, or denounce it as
an insldious attempt to Influence the COnven-
ton improperly. or utter large number OF
burning words in favor Of its immediate pas
sage The Convention waited for the impor-
tant resolution much as school Of buciish
wait for the first gmmer Of the shining scales
on the oily elusive and incdlble menhaden. In
much the same way ii snapped nj II so soon as
ii was read
1t was an apparently harmcSs-thOugh In the
Judgment Of Washburne, the mover important
resolution. 1t began with the preamble.
"Whercas. we are all Populsts." and proceeded
to "deprecate the talk which has appeared in
"some OF the newspapers that there is n dis
position on the part of any portion Of this Con-
"ventiOn to refuse to abide by the action Of this
Convention" after which it formally put on
record n population of "al such utterances as
"a reflection upon the fidelity Of the members
"of this Convention and Of the Peoples party"
1t was an uncorker. Forthwith the Cave Of the
Winds blew open and the gate OF Janus, creak
Ing to the tune Of Yankee Doodle Dandy" as
just warblcd by "the campaign singer Of Ar
kansas" swung ajar. a Texas delegate moved
an amendment declaring for the nomination
OF Populist on a Populist platform" There
was "a storm Of protests"-everybOdy up and
the atmosphere of the Convention. redolcnt
with the highcs. order Of craftsmanship, beaten
and banged and slangwhanged by swinging
arms and brandished fists, seemed surcharged
with patriotic emotion. Mr. Washburne, OF
Massachusetts with his important resolution
had touched off a tornado and uncorked a cy-
clone.
At length a Connecticut delegate-to wit,
Henry c. Baldwin. of Naugatuck in that State
rising above the tumult and standing on a chair.
arrested the disorder with one OF those striking
conundrums with which he has for many years
been in the habit Of piquing the curiosity Of
sewing societies Of the Naugatuck Valley III
the papers say we are asses" shouted Baldwin.
"shall we pass resolution saying we are not:"
Nothing could have been more pertinent or ap-
propriate Baldwin might talk for a hundred
years and never come near hitting the bulls
eve 1t was an inspiring utterance. 1t had be-
hind 1t all the water power Of the Naugatuck
Valley and all the wind power that lately
devastated ST. Louis. AS an argument 1t was
a pic-driver. AS conundrum 1t was corker.
Here was this Massachusetts man offering in
a Convention before which the only real 1ues-
ton was whether 1t would keep together or
split. resolution saying that there was no
such question. and repudlating the newspaper
utterances in that regard as untrue. What was
the use? All the newspapers were saying 1t,
and there was not a man in the Convention
who did not know 1t to be the truth. Why pass
n resolution cOntradiciing the newspaper utter
anres which everybody knew 10 be true!
1t was Henry &. Baldwin. Of Connecticut
and Connecticut may well be proud OF states
man Of such qulckness of lntellect-who cut Off
sny we are asses'-nnd that is what Baldwin
and the whole Convention knew that all intelli-
gent newspapers were saylng-"shnl we pass
a resolution that we are notY' BY no means.
1t Is all very we'll TO get together in Convention
and resolve that ffty-three cents are a dollar.
That Is only forty-sevcn cents ont Of the way.
But when 1t comes to resolving that they are
entirely harmonious while they offer nothing to
public view but rafting inharmony and dis