Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-07-10

first delegate to ascend the platform
/ Senator Vest said: Revolutions d
not begin with the rich and prosperou
They represent the protest of thos
who are suffering from present con
ditions. and whose demands for re
lief are denounced by the beneflciarie
Of unjust and oppressive legislation.
When profound sense of wrong
!, evolved from years of distress, fasten
upon the public mind In a free coun
try. and the people are determined t
nave redress, leader is always foun,
VINO Is a platform in himself and t
whom they instinctively turn as tn
loyal exponent of their hopes.
The people are not iconoclasts, no
false to their convictions
| They followed Jefferson when he as
sailed the centralizing and monarchi-
cal doctrines OF the old Federalists
and was denounced as communist
and leveller by the wealth and culture
OF New England and New York.
They followed Jackson when he took
the United States bank by the throat,
ana was proclaimed a tyrant and ruff
nan by the usurers and money kings.
They followed Lincoln when he at
tackled the slave power and declared
that this country could not exist half
| slave and half free.
The great movement for bi-metallism
the free and unlimited coinage of sill
yer and gold at the ratio of 1G to /
and the restoration of silver to it's
constitutional status, is
No sapling chance sown by the fountain
"a N ar ia fI1a
1t has come to stay 1t is a protest
against the wrong and outrage of
1873. when, without debate and with
the knowledge of only a few men in
Congress the silver dollar was stricken
from the coinage, and the red despot
of gold made supreme as to all values.
1t is a declaration by the free men of
America that the United States must
Withdraw from the conspiracy which
was formed to destroy one-half the
metallic money Of the world in order
to establish the slavery of greed and
usury more degrading than the tyranny
of armed force.
1t is the stern demand from unre-
Quilted toll. bankrupt enterprise and
ruined homes, for a change In the
money system which for years has
brought disaster and desolation.
In this crisis of our country and party
We must take no step backward in
platform or candidate. We want no
uncertain nor doubtful leader. No lag
gard i'm peace or bastard In war. No
latter-day silver saint, but a grizzled
and SCARED veteran, who has borne
the heat and burden of the day and
whose breast is marked from edge Of
sword and point of lance on a hundred
fields
Twenty years ago the battle for sill
yer was begun in the halls of Congress
by modest. unpretending brave man,
not an iridescent nor meteoric states
man. but of the people and from the
people. who has never faltered for an
instant in the great struggle. Others
doubted and wavered. some yielded to
Establishment and patronage, and are
now holding office under the gold
power, others misrepresented their con-
stituents and have been provided for
in the national infirmary OF the pre-
sent administration. but Richard
Parks Bland stands now where he stood
then. the living. breathing embodiment
OF the silver cause
lie struck with steel point the golden
shield of the money monopolists. as
did lvanhoe that of the proud Templar
In the lists at Ashby and has neither
asked nor given quarter
Nor is he a narrow. one ideaed man.
For 20 years in Congress he fought
in the front ranks for Democratic prin-
ciples and policies, as taught by Jeffer
son.
He stood by the side of Randall and
risked health and life to defeat the
ilrst force bill. He opposed ably and
earnestly that browning tariff infamv
the Mckinley act.and again was among
the foremost opponents of the last
force bill, which passed the House but
was defeated in the Senate
He introduced the first free coinage
measure in Congress. and was the au-
thor of the Seigniorage bill which
passed both Houses and was vetoed by
President Cleveland
If this be an obscure record. where
can be found the career of any public
servant that deserves the paudits of
his countrymen?
The Democrats of Missouri. who have
passed through the fiery furnace of
Republican prescription seven times
heated. and whose state flag has al
ways been placed beneath the great
oriflamme of national Democracy
make no apology or excuse when of !
fering such a candidate for the Presi- |
dcnCy.
If you ask, Whence comes our candi
GATE? we answer. Not from the usurer's
den nor temple of mammon. where the
cIink Snll
patriotism. hut from the farm. the
workshop. The mine--from the hearts
ard homes of the people.
10 reject him is to put a brand upon
rugged honesty and unwonted courage
ana to chill the hearts and hopes of
those who, during all these years. have
waited for this hour of triumph To
nominate him is to make our party
again that of the people, and to insure
success.
GIVE us Silver Dick. and silver quick. |
Ana we Will make Mckinley sick |
In the ides of next November
His mention of BANDS name was fol-
lowed by very slight demonstration |
OF applause. not half SO loud as the
clamor of delegates fighting their way
into the convention
The chairman and sergeant alarms |
appeared utterly unable to cope with
the situation. Mr.. Vest went on with
his Spanrb unpoipot;p,r NJ,