Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-28

maze UP ana tNItNlltN'h 'opN "a ~
Law on the table OF the presiding officer
This was followed as closely as the cir
cumstances would permit.
MIR. Joseph Bryan. who called the meet
ing to order was kept busy throughout
the day. He and Mr. Royal sat to the
right and left Of the presiding officer
through the morning session and advised
with him now and then, and all the after
noon he was closeted with the Resolu-
tions Committee, Of which ne was chair
man. Mr.. Bryan Is given the credit of
having written the address or platform,
but the part that refers to MIR. Cleve-
land was inserted by direction Of the
committee.
The officers Of the body were elected in
accordance with the prediction made In
this paper-Mr. Alexander Hamilton, a
well-known lawyer. of Petersburg. who is
counsel for the Atlantic-Coast Line. and
has been an active Democrat all his life
was made temporary chairman. and Mr..
James Bumgardner. Of Staunton, an at
torney az law and counsel for the Bal
timore and Ohio and Valley railroads.
was made permanent chairman. Captain
Bumsardncr was the Democratic nominee
for Congress in his district in 1856 and
was defeated by Yost. Mr.. II. w. An
derson. secretary of the Virginia Good
Raods' Association, was made secretary
Hon. William T.. Cameron. who has been
engaged TO stump the State for the bolt
ers took only a quiet part in the work Of
the day. He advised with the leaders in
important matters. and made an hour
and a half speech at night. Colonel
Cameron, who was Governor under the
Readjuster regime. has not been very
active in politics the last few years. but
has devoted his time chiefly to literary
work and travelling for the American
Book Company.
While all Of the speakers who addressed
the convention made sharp thrusts at the
Chicago platform and nominees, there
was hardly a word said against the Re
publican party. its principles. or its c.
didates. The purpose Of the movement
was declared to be the defeat of Bryan,
and it was not denied that there il no
sort Of hope Of electing the ticket to be
put up at indianapolis. The only other
result therefore, would be the election Of
Mckinley.
Business of the Morning Session.
There was no apparent hurry about be-
ginning business. The delegates were
slow in arriving. and the leaders were en-
gagged with the necessary prtiiminaries.
Therefore, the convention did not open
until nearly 11:30 o'clock.
Those who were TO take part in the
proceedings of the day began to assemble
in front of the Academy about 10 O'Clock,
and TO form groups for the discussion
of the currency question. When the
Blues Band struck up a tune an hour
or more later the bulk Of the crowd filed
in. and joined the lonesome few who were
already IN their seats. Tickets had been
issued for delegates and alternates. so
as TO make certain that they would get
seats, and not be crowded out BY specta-
tors. but these cards were not at all
necessary. There were plenty of seats
TO be had i'm all parts of the house. even
on the stage. where not near all the
chairs provided for gentlemen Of special
prominence were occupied.
Mr. Joseph Bryan, the recognized leader
OF the gold movement in Virginia. and
who had prepared for and mapped out
the work Of the body. called the conven-
tion 20 order. The audience before him
was by no means a large one. but ap-
peared cold and serious Mr.. Bryan made
no speech He simply raped the gather
ing 10 order and presented Rev. Or. James
i. Smith. VINO offered prayer, asking
Divine guidance for the delegates in their
thoughts and actions. The Blues Band
rendered an overture, after which Mr..
Bryan nominated Mr.. Alexander Hamil-
on, of Petersburg for temporary chair
man, and Mr.. X. W. Anderson for secre-
tary. Both gentlemen were unanimously
elected, and Mr. Hamilton was escorted
20 the platform by the Fourth District
delegation. and was literally cheered.
SPEECH OF MR. HAMILTON.
Mr. Hamilton is a clear and forcibe
speaker. and talks in argumentative
style without attempting oratOry. He
spoke about a half an hour, and though
his audience was rather cold when he
begun they gradually warmed up and
became quite enthusiastic before he con-
cludcd His thrusts at the Chicago plat
form, which were frequent and sharp.
were loudly applauded. and when ne
mentioned the name Of Cleveland the
audience yelled and cheered vociferously.
Indeed, no sentiment of the day evoked
sucn tIlhuSllSlu Us the ItltlthttH IltAe
ever and anon to Mr. Cleveland's Ad-
ministration and financial policy.
Il regret that the duty has fallen upon
me-" Mr. Hamilton begun, "of acting as
your temporary chairman because, as !
understand il, and some of those ab0mi-
nable newspapers say, a speech IS expect
ed OF me. 1 am not In the habit Of
making what are called public speeches,
but this is a crisis in the history Of the
Democratic party, Of our people. OF our
State. which seems TO me TO make it In
cumbent upon every man TO do anything
that he can TO preserve the faith of our
fathers in the Democratic party. Gap
plause)
Mr.. Hamilton pictured the situation in
which the disaffected Democrats find
themselves. and in this connection said:
"We have on one side the Republl-
can party-we are not Republicans we
have on the other side the Populist
party-we are not Popullsts. What shall
we do2 Shall we sit still and do nothing?
Shall we allow the faith to perish. rather
than raise our hands and voices in order
to maintain it, I'm the hope that our breth-
ren. who have run off after false gods
temporarily. may see the light and come
back TO us. (Applause) That is the po-
sition OF every true Democrat IN thls
country. i'm my judgment They call US
'Monocrats' Gentlemen, name
amounts 10 nothing. We believe we rep
resent the true, fundamental. foundation
pure belief OF the Democratic party, as
fixed by the great men of the party ana
the best traditions of the party; and we
believe that I'm less than twelve months
from this time our brethren, who nave
tried TO lead us Off after false gods, ana
turn us over TO the Populists, viii come
to us and say: "You are right. IhahA
your Appause)