The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-19
COCKRAN's SPEECH.
Ringing Address i'm Opposition to
PopOcracy's Proposed Reputation.


There was a second outburst of cheering
and of flags when Mr.. Cochran was intro
duced which lasted several minutes and
while it was in progress sixty singers.
chosen from among the citys banks and
called the New York Banks Glee Club.
sang THE Star-spangled Banner the vast
audience swelling the chorus with thun-
derous effect Mr.. Cochran was smooth
shaven when he confronted the audience.
and his first words rolled TO the further
ends of the hail. Frequent outbreaks of
cheers followed his periods. He said:
Mr.. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen.
fellow-Democrats, all-(App!ause) With
the inspiring strains of that national song
still ringing In our ears who can doubt the
issue of this campaign. (Appause.) Strip
ped OF all verbal disguise. IL is an issue of
common honesty, an issue between the
honest discharge and the dishonest repu-
diation of pubic and private obligations.
Ii is question To whether the powers
Of this government shall be used TO pro-
to dishonesty: On this question honest
men cannot differ. 1t is one of morals and
Of justice. 1t involves the existence of So
cial order. 1t Is the contest for civilza-
renounce the Democratic faith, lbut the
Democracy remains faithful to Democratic
principles. Democratic leaders may be-
tray convention TO the Populists, but
they cannot seduce the footsteps of Demo-
cratic voters from the pathway of honor
mandate of a Democratic convention may
IN this hall open a canvass leveled against
the foundations OF social order and he be-
holds the Democratic masses confronting
him organized for the defense.
Fellow-Democrats. let las not disguise
from ourselves the fact that We bear in
THIS contest serious and grave and SOL
emn burden of duty. We must raise our
hands against the nominee of our party
and We must do it TO preserve the future
O %
nominee of the Chicago convention and we
know full we'll that the success of our op-
public life. but we will be consoled and
gratified by the reflection that it will
prove that the American people cannot be
pie morals or of common honesty.
We would look in vain through the
speech delivered here one week ago TO
lind a true statement of the issue involved
In this canvass. Indeed l believe IL is
doubtful If the candidate himself quite un-
aerstands the nature of the faith which he
processes l say this not in criticism of
his ability. but in justice to his morality
| believe that If he himself understood the
inevitable consequences of the doctrines
which he breaches that his own hands
would be the very first to tear down the
platform on which he stands. We all must
as fiercely in the Western skies as that
sunlight which through the past week
Ioretold the torrid heat of the ensuing
day, and here upon this platform we find
that same rhetoric as mild. as insipid
as the waters of a stagnant pool. He is a
candidate who was swept into the nominal
tion by wave of popular enthusiasm
awakened by appeals to prejudice and
greed. He is a candidate who declaring
Ihat there was revolutionary movement.
no sooner found himself face to face with
the American feeling. than he realized that
THIS soil is not propitious to revolution:
that the people of this country will not
change the institutions which have stood
the tests and experiences of a century for
institutions based upon the fantastic
dreams of Populist agitators that the
American Nation will never consent to sub
Stitute FOR the Republic of Washington,
OF Jefferson and of Jackson for the Re-
public of an Altgeld. a Tillman or a
Bryan