The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-09-11

thhAo NtbitntC CttiTitS liS Gnu, Wt nave
archy, condition as destructive to honest
labor and its rewards as death is to the
tissues of the human body.
Spirit of Revolution at Chicago.
The atmosphere of the Chicago conyen-
ton was surcharged with the spirit of rev.
olution. This platform was carried and its
nominations made with accompanying in
cidents of frenzy that startled the onlook-
ers and amazed the country. The courts
and the president were arraigned for en-
forcing the laws, and government by the
mob was given preference over government
by the law enforced by the court DEGREES
and by executive orders. The spirit that
exhibited itself In this convention was SO
wild and strangely enthused that Mr.
Bryan himself likened it to the zeal that
possessed the crusaders when they re-
sponded to the impassioned appeals of Pc
ter the Hermit to rescue the sepulcher of
our Lord from the hands of the infldels.
His historical illustration was more po-
tent and more forcible than he knew, for
the zeal OF the crusaders was blind and
ignorant zeal. They sought to rescue the
transient and Intellectual sepuloher that
had held the body of the Son of God while
they trampled upon the precepts of love
and mercy which he had left for their
guidance In lifc He told us that this sill
yer crusade had arrayed father against
son and brother against brother, and had
sundered the tenderest ties of love.
Recalls Senator Hills Action.
Senator Hill, watching the strange pro-
ceeding, had to extend that brief political
code from which he has gained SO much re-
nown. He felt compelled to say, 81 am q
Democrat, but l am not revolutionist +"
Senator Vest, realizing that they were in
augurating a revolution, reminded the con-
vention that revolutions did not begin with
the rich and prosperous. Mr.. Tillman felt
that the change in the management Of pub
lie affairs was to be so radical that he
proposed sulphur fumigatiOn for the ship
before the new crew took possession of It.
Now, my friends, all these things indicate
the temper In which that platform was
adopted and the spirit that prompted the
nominations that were made. There was
no calm elaboration. There was frenzy.
There was no thoughtful searching for the
man who from experience was most able
to direct public affairs There was an I'M
pulsive response to an impassioned speech
that selected the nominee.
Not amid such surroundings as that, not
under such influences, are those calm, dis
Greet things done that will commend them
selves to the judgment of the American
people They denounce in their platform
interference by federal authorities in local
affairs as violation Of the constitution of
the United States and q crime against free
institutions. Mr.. Tillman In his speech
approved this declaration 1t was intend
ed to be in words direct condemnation Of
Mr.. Cleveland, as president of the United
States, for using the power of the execu-
tive to brush out of the way every obstacle
to the free passage of the mail trains of the
United States and the Interstate commerce.
And, my friends, whenever our people
approve the choice of president who be-
lieves he must ask Governor Altgeld or
any other governor of any other state per-
mission to enforce the laws of the United
States we have surrendered the victory the
boys won in 1861.
His Appeal to the Veterans.
Once we were told, and grave question
was raised, that the United States could
not pass its troops through Kentucky to
meet a rebel army in Tennessee. My
friends, this constitutional question, this
division between the general and local au-
thorities, is plain and easy one. A dis
turbance which is purely local in a state is
a state affair. The president cannot send
troops or lend any aid unless the legisla-
ture calls upon him for help, or the gov
ernor, If the legislature Is not in session.
But when law of the United States is In
vaded and broken, 1t is the sworn duty of
the president to execute 1t, and this con-
vention arraigns the president for doing
what his oath compelled him to do.
Comrades In the great war for the On
ion, sons of those who went out to battle
that the flag might not lose It's luster, will
we consent after these years that that doc
trine, that was shot to death in the great
war, shall be revived and made victorious
in civil campaign? But this assault does
not end there.
The supreme court Of the United States
and the federal lower courts are arraigned
because they used the familiar writ of in
junction to suppress violence, to restrain
men from breaking the law, and that plat
form plainly means-I will show you that
1t was SO understood In the convention and
in the committee on resolutions-that the
Democratic policy was that when the su-
preme court, exercising its constitutional
power and duty, gave an Interpretation to
q law of the United States that was not
pleasing to congress they would increase
the number of judges and pack the court
to get decision to please them.
The Assault Upon the Court.
My friends, our fathers who framed
this government divided its great powers
between three great departments-the leg
islative, the executive and the judicial.
They sought to make these independent,
the one of the other, so that neither might
overshadow or destroy the other. The SUI
preme court, the most digniled judicial
body In the world, was appointed to inter
pref the laws and the constitution, and
when that court pronounces decree as to
the powers of congress or as to any other
constitutional question there Is but one
right method If we disagree, and that Is the
method pointed out by the constitution
to amend n to conform TO our views. That
is the position today.
Mr.. Hill said In his speech of this assault
upon the court: "That provision, II 1t
means anything, means that 1t is tho duty
of congress to reconstruct the supreme
court of the country. 1t means"-and
now note his words-''and 1t was openly
avowed that 1t means, the adding Of add
tional members to it or tho turning out of
Office and reconstructing the whole court.