Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-07-17

nism and desire for revolution of our fl
nancial system.
Bryan's nomination was in very large de-
gree a personal triumph. II was even more
so than was the nomination of Garfield the
result of single speech. Political history
records that Garfield's name was more
than a possibility before the converting of
the convention in $780, Bryan's name
had been scarcely mentioned. When the
convention opened his delegation was dis
credited as contestants, and without seats
on the floor
The other delegation from Nebraska was
the one supposed to be entitled to place
in the convention, and Bryan and his fol
lowers would probably not have been recog-
nized but for the fact that the silver forces
wished to obtain the necessary two-thirds
majority. Forty-eght hours after the COM
mittee on credentials decided to admit
Bryan and his followers as delegates the
leader was receiving congratulations upon
his nomination.
He was formally placed in nomination,
not by delegate from his own state, or
from any northern or western state, but
by member of the Georgia delegation.
George Fred Williams of Massachusetts,,
the new and sudden free silver convert,
seconded his nomination.
The Speech.
The speech which Bryan made in the
convention on Thursday in support of the
platform as presented, with the straight
free silver plank, and closing the debate
on that subject, was phenomenal in its ef-
feet. 1t was not great speech or strong
speech. 1t did not especially abound in
strong points. 1t is evident that 1t was
not so much what the speaker said as it
was his graceful and eloquent manner, and
his peculiar quality of personal magnetism,
that stampeded the convention TO him.
When he mounted the platform he was
little more than a name to most of the vast
crowd which he faced. When he left 1t he
had practically secured the presidential
nomination. The convention, attracted
by his personality and stirred as few gath
erings have ever been stirred before by his
adroit and glowing periods which appealed
to their passions and prejudices, made him
their idol and demanded the sacrifice of
every other candidate.
The speech was in the guise of plea
for humanity, for the farmer and the la
boring masses as against the capitalists.
1t was filed with aphorisms and epigrams
built up on false premises, and appealed
constantly to the emotions and passions of
his hearers. A period in the early part of
his speech which set the free silver men
wild was his declaration that-"We do not
come as aggressors. Our war is not war
of conquest We are fighting in the de-
fence of our homes, our families and pos
terity. We have pettioned, and our petit
tions have been scorned. We have en-
treated, and our entreaties have been dis
regarded. We have begged, and they have
Knocked, and our calamity came. We beg
no longer; we entreat no more; We petit
ton no more. We defy them
When, toward the end of his speech, he
took up definitely the financial question as
the paramount issue in this campaign he
made much of the proposal of the gold
men to adopt bimetallism, and thus get
rid of the gold standard when the other
nations of the world will agree to this His
peroration, with its simile Of the crown of
throns and the cross of crucifixion, was in
these words
"If they dare to come out and in the
open defend the gold standard as good
thing, we shall fight them to the uttermost,
having behind us the producing masses of
this nation and the world. Having behind
us the commercial interests and the labor
ing interests and all the toiling masses, we
shall answer their demands for a gold
standard by saying to them, you shall not
press down upon the brow of labor this
crown of thorns. You shall not cruelty
mankind upon a cross of gold"
This climax was the signal for a ire
mendous outburst of enthusiasm. The
standards of 81 states were carried from
their places and gathered around the Ne
braska delegation. Apparently three
fourths of the delegates stood upon their
chairs and waved handkerchiefs, hats and
umbrellas and canes. The half-wild dele
gates formed a procession and carried a
number of the state standards around the
aisles, and it was fifteen minutes before
a semblance of order was restored so that
business could be proceeded with.