The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-07-16


the vanquished stalk sullenly forth into
the daylight. The battle for supremacy
of Democratic principles was fought in
session that lasted from 1 1 o'clock in
the morning until shortly before 5
o'clock in the afternoon.
Each side sent it's champions to the
forum. Senator Tillman, of South
Carolina; Senator Jones. of Arkansas;
ex- Congressman Bryan, of Nebraska,
crossed swords with Senator Hill, Of
New York; Senator Villas, Of Wiscon.
sin, and Ex-Governor Russell, Of Mas.
sachusetts.
the state of Calhoun (Tillman), with
his eye blazing defiance which mani.
tested Its unfriendlinesss by storm Of
misses, opened the debate with wildly
passionate speech, in which he affirmed
that the battle for the restoration of
silver was a war for the emancipation
of the white slaves, as the war Of 1850
had been for the emancipation of the
black slaves. Disruption of the
Democracy had brought one, and he in
vited another disruption If it would re-
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He went to the extreme Of glorying
in the suggestion presented, that the
issue was sectional one, declaration
which aroused the resentment Of Sena.
tor Jones, and he repudiated it in q
brief speech which aroused the first
demonstration of the day. Even the
gold delegates joined heartily in this
demonstration against sectionalism.
Senator Villas bitterly denounced
what he termed an attempt to launch
the party in q career 80 wild that the
world stood aghast. With a wave of
his arm, that was full of impressive
portens, he sounded his warning.
Ex-Governor Russell, the keen Mas
sachusetts statesman, who has thrice
carried the standard of Democracy to
victory in the Old Bay state, pleaded
for word Of concession, Of concilia.
ton, and concluded with solemn
warning that the country, if not the
convention, would listen.
Demonstrations followed at frequent
intervals throughout the speeches, but
it was Senator Hill who aroused the
gold forces to their widest enthusiasm,
and Bryan, the "boy orator Of the
Platte" who set the silevr men aflame.
The demonstration for Hill, who
with close logic and trenchant blade
sought the very heart Of the conven.
tion as he bitterly assailed as undemo-
cratic the new creed which the ma
jority was to proclaim, lasted about
1s minutes. Although more pro-
tracted than that which greeted
Bryan, it was Of different nature.
The latter was the spontaneous out
burst Of an enthusiasm kindled by the
touch Of magnetic eloquenoe. The
star of the brilliant young orator from
the plains of Nebraska has burned
brightly on the horizon of the oonven-
tion for two days. There were several
demonstrations in his behalf the day
before, but this was the first oppor-
tunity he had to show himself. The
audience had been warmed up, and
was full of pent-up enthusiasm. The
powder magazine needed but the spark,
and Bryan applied it with the skill Of
genius. His very appearance captured
the audience. Dressed like a plain
Westerner, in black suit Of alpaca,
he stood with smile playing over his
handsome, mobile. clear-cut face,
while with uplifted hand he invited
the waiting thousands.
He has a face whose lines might
have been chiseled from alabaster by
some master sculptor. His mouth II