The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-11

LIGHTNING of a tumultuous convention
Every one felt in it the sturdy ro-
business of genuine Americanism.
The Tar Heels took deep long
breath Of the words of their fellow
Carolinian and rejoiced-those words
of Kluttz in seconding the nomination,
that were exhiliarating still; that
Young giant of the West, that cham
pion of the lowly, that apostle and
prophet of this great crusade.
1--WE want young giant out of
the loins of the great Republics; we
want no Napoleon to march to throne
under the canopy of a Republic!"
The young man Thursday afternoon
had stepped from the American
prairie to the platform of an Ameri-
can convention, and from that plat
J form into the Presidency.
Simply clad and modest in demean-
or he came with a message, not Yaunt-
inglv. but strong with the assurance,
as he said, that 1.-The humblest citizen
in the land when clad in the armor
of righteousness is stronger than all
| the hosts of error"
AS he stood there in the midst almost
of a hurricane of cheers, noiseless
wave of inquiry swept over the conven-
ton in the midst of the tumult, ask
| ing. do you like him?"
And Democracy answered, yes"
and VIM. j. Bryanvwas nominated for
the high office of President of the
United States.
Nor let it be forgot, not to the end
of boasting, but for the purpose of
| giving some reason for the special en-
thusiasm on the part of North Caro-
| lima,
First, that North Carolina had led
the procession, staying from long be-
fore the start until the finish.
Second, that the nomination-speech
| of Theodore F. KIuttz had come
straight home to these people.
Third, that two North Carolinians,
respectively ex-senator Jarvis and
Maj E. j. Hale, of Fayetteville, had
framed two of the planks of the plat
form on which the candidate was to
| stand.
Having felt the first thrill that went
| with the announcement of Bryan as
| the choice, as was evidenced by the
| telegraphic advices of the organiza-
ton of Bryan clubs all over the State
| in even a short half hour after the
nomination, the feelings of the people
found safe confirmation in the fitness
that Judgment stamped upon what had
been done.
The memories of the people travelled
back over months and over the last
few days, and diagrammed the pro-
gress of the Democracy towards the
/ end marked out from the beginning.
The voters of this country had sent
to one meeting place body of men,
two4thirds of whom had promised TO
make free silver platform and put
upon it a free silver man, who could
| ftly fiji the office of President.
This owo41hirds kept that promise.
They did it in the face of temptations
not outclassed in that serpent that
| PLAYED such havoc in the Garden of
| Eden.
Not even at the beginning of The war
was the issue drawn so squarely be
tween forces.
If all did not agree upon the plat
form presented, the American people
have, at least, the good fortune to
know that the country IS come to a
point when it demands THAT the words
of it's promises ito the people shall be
| solid things rather than glittering
catchy bubbles to be blown into moth
ingness by the changing winds of ex-
| pediency.
That much is healthy in high de-
gree.
1t is healthy, because the eyes of the
people scrutinized every word of that
| platform as they had never done be-
fore. Thus it is platform
of the people, and not of the politi-
clans, and of two-thirds of them.
That man cannot be called an Amer
! Jean in the best sense, who does not
believe that safe majority Of the
people can be trusted to do what is to
the better interest of their country.
From this viewpoint, acquiescence
in that will should be now the temper
Of that faction of the Democracy who
could not find an expression through
this majority of their convictions
strongly sincere though they were.
Just as with policies, so with men, the
luminous shaft of common-sense that
shoots straight through the clouds of
an American convention, however