The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-27
He HEADS THE DELEGATION.
ALL OF THE PATRIOTS AT CHI
CAGO SENT BACK TO INDIA
NAPOLIS.
GOLD STANDARD MEN NO BoLTERs.
They Are Now az Always, Says
Villas, the Exponent of a True
Democracy.

party was held here today, and dele
gates chosen to represent the state at
the Indianapolis convention. The Wis
consin National Democratic party or
ganization was made permanent by the
election of a state central committee
with E. B. Usher, of La Crosse as
chairman. The central committee was
instructed to name state ticket or call
a convention for that purpose, as it
saw fit. The platform adopted con-
dennis the Chicago declaration and the
candidates named there. The great
event of the convention was the ad-
dress delivered by Senator Villas after
the permanent organization. 1t was
a keynote for The new party, and
ringing one. 1t was a defense of the
National Democratic party and bit
ter arraignment of the element low
| IN controI o. the ole party organization.
Mr.. Villas said:
| think no man more sincerely lament
the conditions which distress Democrats to-
day than l. Most deeply | regret the division
of our fraternal ranks in Wisconsin. My
whole life has been one of constant ardent
support OF the principles of our party, ard
all my political Affiliations and friendships
are with its members. Through all the years
OF early manhood, until advanced in middle
age-those years when the joys of victory
seem greatest TO men-1 fought its losing
battles and bore with brave associates the
pangs of continuing defeat, learning early to
prefer the satisfaction of fight for right, to
the applause and spells of mere success. Yet
out of that hard discipline, it was given to
me to assist in and share the party's tr-
umphs when, most faithful to it's principles
their approval at last gave us the victory,
both in nation and state. My political friends
and attachments, all bonds of political fra
ternlty are with and among Democrats
chiefest and dearest, the Democrats of Wis
no nfh
to have. 1t is therefore, with poignancy of
pain which stings in every nerve and bone
mat see this goodly fellowship threatened
with disruption, friends and brothers divided
against one another and the old party of
constitutional liberty menaced with destruc-
ton.
Were one to consult mere dictates Of ease
ana personal prudence, he might In such an
hour seek to withdraw himself to some safe
covert cove and let the whirling storm pass by
put every impulse of manhood rebels against
it. Upon the issue depends the welfare Of our
country and the peace and happiness of our
countrymen. None but a coward can falter
faot Ia iae course OF duty Is plain Laying
last hold upon the guiding convictions of
me- one must go where they illume the way
IL snOuld mater not, were it the fact that the
Iq rush with impetuous clamor upon
the opposite course. No true man can see
MS fellows moving to their injury or ruin
ana oppose no counsel of wisdom and sefety
he Knows by thousand lessons of history
now often the maddening impulse of the
hour mas overthrow truth to bring misery
to mankind. Whatever the event. whatevar
tne consequences he must take his stand for
the right and without patience without an
ger, without Tear insist upon the overwhelm-
ing reasons which denounce the injury
threatened to his countrymen
Never in all the past of this nation hoe
such controversy controlled political par
tres as is now presented to u.s. All the DIFF
ierences issues and contentious which have
divided parties in the past have been swent
on the political field by the action of the Chi
cage convention, and new, most extraordi-
nary and perilous proposal has taken their
place. The old Democratic party has been
successfully raided, its flag captured and the
enslgns OF party leadership seized by new
and foreign hands. Strange voices issue the
WORDS OF command and new leaders cry
aloud, This is the way of Democracy" and
point to a path hitherto abhorred by our
1alth. Some IN our ranks have rebelled in
anger resentfully repudiatng the party be-
trayal; all exclaiming against it's captors eff
you De OF Israel we go rather with the chill
dren OF Belial." Others follow blindly, say
ing, Is not this the party flag? Do not
these wear the uniform of party generals?'
But many stand sadly silent lainenting the
wild confusion seeking earnestly for some
path of honor to themselves, or future safety
| for their party.
OF them and for them is this assemblage
| gathered. 1t is born of an exigent neces-
sity and Its inspiration is party devotion and
patriotic duty. l congratulate you l rejoice
for the old party. that such and so many
representative Democrats compose this au-
dlence, inspired by these sentiments. Well
may we take heart of hope that, dark as the
cloud has seemed there is yet saving grace
to restore the power and usefulness of the
old party of our fathers.
| What the conditions presented for our
deliberations? On all hands it must be seen
| that there is but one
ovERSHADOwING AND DOMINANT IS
| to be decided in this campaign. That truth
Mr.. Bryan has recognized. He avOwed it in
New York. Whatever the interest faulty
Of any may lead them to assert, whatever
appeals may be addressed to the ghosts of
! past controversy, this fact must be recog
nized by every intelligent man. The i'm
! pending crisis in our political affairs turns
! all upon the solution of this one overruling
| question: Shall the existing standard of
money be swept away with all it's fatal con-
| sequences to business, to labor and to enter
prises, and new, debased and uncertain
standard be substituted?' For such is the
| proposal, that the United States shall open
its mint to the free and unlimited coinage
of silver at the ratio of Is to 1: If anywhere
| in this Union Democrats might have been
especially expected to stand like a rock
| against the surges of such folly it is in Wis
consin. On this subject the party here has
never CROPPED in darkness. Nowhere has
| understanding been clearer, expression more
explicit. IT, now, Wisconsin Democrats pur-
sue this fatuous path their sin is against
| of ignorance-they know better. II they sub
NIT to be led by the blind it is not the blind
who are led, though both. Notwithstanding
! shall fall into tie ditch.
l hold in my hand copy of the resolutions
of our legislature which gave me, by its
| trust my highest title Of honor, the first
Democrats legislature which the state en-
| joyed for more than generation. itself the
product of daring and unhinching fidelity to
the principles Of party: These resolutions
had the practically unanimous vote OF Demo-
| Gratis in that legislature, as well as many Re-
| publicans. By them the Democrats Of Wis
1 consin instructed their senators to use their
utmost efforts to prevent the passage OF the
| bill pending in congress for the free and
unlimited coinage Of silver. From that hour
to this, not less in party fidelity than from
! sincere conviction, my efforts have been
| obediently exerted In opposition to that meas
ure. cannot now be told, because the
/ Goths and Vandals of Populism have captured
party convention that the faith 1 have been
! taught and struggled for was infidelty, nor
| turn to the people / have served with hon
esty, to counsel them that my service was
| a fraud and party liar and cheat.
But two manths since, in the face of this
very controversy, we assembled in conven-
ton in this city. The certainty Of hopeless
| fight against PopEliSm at Chicago was then
! as plainly presented as the result has been
calamatious. and the Apollyon of silver was
| here to wrestle with the Democrats of Wis
consin. But they maintained their ancient
| faith unflincEingly, declaring by a two-thirds
| majority and in explicit terms their oppc-
sition to the free and unlimited coinage of
silver and their adherence to the existing gold
standard. the highest monetary standard of
| the world.
| That, then, was Democrats principle in Wis
| consin; that. then, the true faith of Wis
consin Democrats. What could make that
| declaration a false heresy in three weeks?
What Democrat in Wisconsin, avowing the
party faith, not for lip service or time serv-
! ice, but for it's excellence to his country
| men, can hereafter hold up his head among
or was not responsible for what he said until
he heard at Chicago who was to drive the