The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-19

of lynching enlisted the enthusiasm and
approval of the colored delegates.
The reading Of the platform as a
whole was listened TO with marked at
tention and at its close 1t was greeted
with great cheering. Mr.. Foraker
moved the adoption of the report as the
Republican national platform for 1896.
MIR TELLER RECOGNIZED.
Then the chair, amid the breathless
attention Of the convention, recognized
Senator Teller, who sent to the secre-
tary's desk and had read the following
minority report:
I'VE, the undersigned members Of the
committee on resolutions being unable
to agree with that portion of the ma
jority report which treats of the sub
jects of coinage and finance, respect
fully submit the following paragraph as
a substitute therefor:
1.-THE Republican party favors the use
of both gold and silver as, equal stand
ard money and pledges its power to
secure the free, unrestricted and inde-
pendent coinage of gold and silver at
our mints at the ratio Of l6 parts Of
silver to one of gold"
Mr.. Teller then advanced to the front
and In earnest tones addressed the con-
vention in explanation of his course. He
disclaimed that advocacy of free silver
was in any. manner controlled by the
fact that he represented q state which
produced silver. He contended for 1t
because he believed that no country
could prosper without 1t and because
he believed that II was the great weight
which was not welghting the country.
Processing tolerance for those who
differed from him, he said his decision
had been arrived at after many years
of deliberate thought. The great con-
test whether there should be one flag
or two In this country was not more i'm
portant than this. Confronted for the
first time in the history of this glorious
party of ours with the danger of a fin
ancial system which in our judgment
would be destructive to the country,
they were called upon to decide whether
to adhere to 1t or to reject it. He asked
the convention to pardon him If he
closed with personal illusions. He had
| formed his conclusion on this subject to
such an extent that this became bind
Ing on his conscience. He believed the
morality, the civilization--nay, the very
religion-of this country were at stake
In this contest. Men IN distress were
neither patriotic nor brave. This was
what made him Republican, because
he believed It's principles were calculat-
| ed to build UP and sustain the unfor-
| tunate and distressed. He did not be-
lieve this could be done on the gold
standard. With this solemn conviction
upon him he must sever his connection
with this political organization with
which he had been so long associated.
(Cheers). AS he subsequently repeated
his declaration of an intention to sever
his connection with the party cries Of
mo, no." were raised In different parts
Of the hall.
He recognized the jibes and sneers
that would follow him, but he was used
to that. Before the Republican party
was organized he stood for the doctrine
of free silver, free homes and equal
rights. (Cheers.) There were few men
in the party who had been more sim
cerely attached to its principles than
|
out heart-burning and regret. IF go
out Of the Republican party" he said,
II care not what the consequences may
be. Whether 1t takes me out of politi-
cal life or not, go out with feeling at
least that I maintain my consistency
and manhood approves the sacrifice.
Retiring from you as l do, perhaps
never again to have the opportunity of
addressing Republican convention, |
cannot go out without saying that I
cherish down In my heart a hope-nay
belief, that better counsels will pre-
vail and that at some future day on q
true Republican platform, sustaining
Republican principles may have the
inestimable privilege Of again address.
ing you."
RESOLUTION TABLED.
Mr.. Foraker, chairman of the com.
mittee on resolutions, moved to lay Tel.
ler's substitute on the table.
Senator Lodge, Of Massachusetts,
seconded the motion.
Then yeas and nays were demanded
by the states of Colorado. Montana and
| IL.
The result of the roll call was an.
nounced: Ayes, S1Sh; nays, 1861. Sc
the motion to lay Senator Tellers sub.
stitute free silver plank on the table
was carried. Mr.. Foraker was recog.
nized to move the previous question oil
! the passage of the resolutions.
Senator Dubois, of Idaho, rising II
the body Of the hail. asked that sepa
rate vote be taken on the financia
plank.
Cries of mo"
The previous question was then or
dered with only few feeble noes.
Mr. Dubois demanded roll call O
states on the passage of the financia
J plank and Colorado and Montana sec
onded the call.
The chairman said the question to b,
J voted on was, Shall the financial planl
: be adopted as the sense Of this conven
tion?"
l On this the roll of states was called.
The roll call proceeded amid so mucl
{ confusion that the chairman had to sus
l pend until order had been restored.
Meantime the two secretaries wer
puzzling over the result of the vote q
. announced on the previous motion
, which footed up apparently more dele
|, gates than there were in the conven
= ton.
, The result Of the roll call on the ques
tion Of the adoption of the flnancia
q plank was annonced: Ayes S12Is, nay
y 110h, and the financial plank Is adopt
, ed, added the chairman, amid cheers.
SENATOR CANNON'S STATEMENT
q The rest Of the platform was adopte
: with ringing chorus Of ayes, there be
q ing but one solitary mo-" The chai
announced that It was requested as
Z question Of personal privilege that
|, statament prana red nv cerfa In ynennhe