The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1896-06-24
Gold Standard Advocates Have No Stand
Ing in the State Convention.
Altgeld Renominated for Governor by
Acclamation.

Candidate for the Presidential
Nomination Who is Not Known to
Favor the White Metal.
PEORIA Gid. June 23.-To-day the
Democratic party of the State of IL
linois, which in 1892 gave Grover
Cleveland a plurality of 26,993 votes,
goes on record as almost unanimously
in favor of free, independent and UNI
limited coinage of silver and as unal-
terably opposed to the present admins
tration and its policy. There We're in
the neighborhood of 1000 delegates and
visitors in attendance when State
Chairman Hinrichson called the State
Democratic Convention to order in the
immense Tabernacle, which was
crowded to the doors with visitors,
anxious to witness the successful cul-
mination of the effort to commit the
Democracy of Illinois to the free sill
Yer creed--a policy which was inau
Gurated ini a special convention of that
party held at Springfield over a year
ago for the consideration of the finan
cial question. The thoroughness with
which the silver legions have swept the
State may be judged from the fact that
less than fifty sound money delegates
have seats in the convention.
Hon Charles K. Ladd was presented
as Permanent Chairman and made a
fierce address, in which he said the
West was ready to light the torch of
liberty that would shine over the con-
tinent, and to swear by the Goddess of
Liberty that present conditions should
exist no longer.
The Committee on Resolutions not be-
ing to ready TO report, two hours of
speechmaking We're in order.
Ex-Congressman n. E. Worthington
of Peoria declared that the Eastern
gold bugs were responsible for forty
,ent wheat and ten-dollar horses. but
there was sentiment brewing in the
West that would paralyze them. Just
as the speaker was concluding Governor
Altgeld made his appearance on the
platform and was given a tremendous
ovation. On being presented, he spoke
as follows:
Four years ago our people met under
brighter skies. The people were tired
ct that governmental policy which
made the few mighty and the many
Ioor. In Illinois the people rebelled at
the interference of the State in the per-
sonal affairs of the individual We
promised Democratic government in
rational affairs, and a business admin
tstration in State affairs. The people
took us at our word, and they gave US
their confidence. and we swept the
country by such majority that fidelity
10 Democratic principles would have
ensured supremacy for a quarter of a
century.
But, before the inaugural festivities
had closed at Washington, the head of
the new administra ton sought strange
GODS and espoused alien PRINCIPLES He
called into his councils proph cts who
knew not Democracy or the tenets of
the fathers. Our people were asked to
bow to affairs which they had been
taught to abhor. The interests OF money
We're placed above those of humanity
organized greed was fed with golden
spoons, while the cry of the husband
man was UNDECIDED and the sweat of
the toiler brought him no bread.
1T soon became apparent" he said.
that the new administra ton was try
ing to displace the Republicans in their
principles and place his feet on the ir
ground. Then came defeat to the Dem
ocratic party. Some reaction was to be
expected after 1892 because of the nee
essary disappointments in office seeking
and because Of the hard times But tins
reaction would have been short in dura =
ton il any sympathy had been shown
Tor the suffering masses. All might have
been well If the administration had re-
spected Republican institutions, and
not used its great powers to incre ase
the burdens of our people for the ben eft
Of foreign and Eastern shylocks"
Referring to the financial questi On.
he said The Democratic party mn ,st
speak with no uncertain sound on TIL is
subject. Hedging renders a party inn
potent, reduces it to a mere Office =
getting machine and makes IL con. =
temptible. Our country has gone
through a period of political straddling
on all questions. He was considered the,
best politician who could fool the most
people; but all things come to an end.
and this practice has reached its limit
The people are in earnest, anu demand
plain talk. We must state our posi-
ton clearly. and live up to it. We are
at once confronted with the question
Of ratio. Theoretically, the bimetalisnr
does not depend on any particular ratio.
and If this question could be considered
by Congress on its merits alone, and
AASV AiOAl. oHtSine pressure, IL Is prob
able the subject of ratio would not be
discussed at all by the public
In conclusion. the Governor said that
he appreciated the approval of his
friends as shown by their desire for his
denomination, but claimed that he was
not in a condition to stand for reel &C.
ton His health was broken by his
attention 10 public duties, and his PR pp-
erty interests We're suffering He ad
no ambition to be party leader, nd
asked that he be permitted 70 ret ire
from public life
His closing words were: Let t. he
world know that we regard our par ~
platform sacred as Holy Writ. al I'd
that any pledge made to the pc J.
pie will be carried out, and long befol e
the ides of November the cohorts CT
plutocracy and corruption and q. Il
their hirelings and hangers-on will b e
driven from the great temple Of tn,
people"
The Governors illusions to Presit-
dent Cleveland We're received with tu-