The morning times., 1896-10-04

st. Louis, Oct. 3.-The quadricnniaI ses-
, sion OF the national convention of the
Democratic clubs ended Tonight. The con-
vention has been disappointing in num-
bers, but rervid in enthusiasm.
President Black and Secretary Mexican
report continued accessions TO the CLUB
roll, which now numbers over o 900 allied
clubs. The routine work OF the conven-
tion was performed perfunctorily, Eeing
J oNershadowed Dy tthe presence ut the Fresi-
, dental Gu ndidate.
OnelmporLantstep wasle egislation ma king
the clubs and the national association per
manent. All the proceedings were mar
mUnIous and delegates ueparG wiGh
their Democratic IaItn strengthened
AT The conclusion OF PfesIueul biack's
opening address, Vice President Steven.
son was introduced and spoke as follows
VlCE-fkEslDENT"S Address.
| L fully appreciate the honor of having
been selecie,, ny your coniIniuuee To presiuc
over the opet!ing Session this ounvei,-
tlOu or Dei.ocrauc CLUBS, For the great
work you have acconip!isseu, and are Yet
10 accomplish, III bringing victory 10 our
stauuaru, you VIII have lDe gratitude oI
| Democrats everywhere
| Inc gravity VI IGe issues involved III
the peuuinS poliucat struggle CaIlnoJ
| be oNerestiualeu. Their supreme Impor-
tance 10 the masses OF our people cannot
he measured by words. l MAKE no Question
| a TO the honest convictions of those EI.o
give their support 10 the ulckeU nominated
at the Indianapolis convention. The Tuct
| remains, however, tnat the contest Ior tie
tresiieucy rests solely between Bryan and
Mckinley.
| Al cannot be claime il that any other candi-
date has senblance OF u chance for sue
cess. or even that he will receive a single
electoral vote. 1t will avail uotbing To
close our eyes to the fact that the gentle
men have named are the real candidates
| before the people.
| IL must lie remembered that during the
thirty-two years Immediately preceding
the administration of President Cl.ve-
land, ,un March /, 1893, there WAS no single
moment I hatth lie Democratic party controlled
the Presidency and both houses OF Congress
never 4 moment that 1t could place a single
law OH the statute books. For all of The
legislation during that period, Which has
brought in its train fina ncial disaster.
mon'ro!ies and trusts the Republican party
Is alone responsible. ...a '.a.
| puring the period | have indicated the
monetary policy OF the founders OF our gov
ernihent was abandoned and silver deu.un-
etiZed. The sad results to II kinds of husi-
ness, 10 all conditions of men, that have
followed 'aS the nirnt tie Gay the dem on
etiZation act Of 1873 have never hcen.
VIII never be, adequately told.
EVILS OF REPUBLICANISM
| Something uI tfc cSlIs IH;.u i;s,ye fol-
low eu in It's tram can lie found i'll The en-
lurccd idIcnrSs OF those VINO vaIIny seek EN-
|
once prosperous IN business ana in the de-
pigrd.!ie conuiuon OF the finances OF Lne
nation.
But we are told that the real issue
that upon which tnis electIun Is 10 turn
Is not the monetary, but the tanlf ques-
uon. Our Opponents place This i'll Tn very
IoTeTrOnt oil The struggle Meetlnls them
iur moment upon LlIrIr chosen STounu,
Judging iIom their past nistoTy-wnat are
Their promises, what their intentions, In
the event OF success?
| The nomination u st. Louis OF the dis
tinsnished author OF the last Republican
tauIr la W, empha sizes the determination
| OF our opponents, when III the full tide OF
power, To reinacu the Mckinley law and
| restore to our statute books the most uD-
Just, the most odlous tanff chedules
know TO any period OF our history. With.
out going into details as to the increased
cost in the articles OF daily consumption
| you will remember how, under the Nc
kinely law year by year, there was a de-
| crease in the revenues of the Eovernuent.
| The Repu blicanS came into power on thc
4th of March, 1859, heir To all that had
been achie we'd by four years OF successful
| Democratic administration. The treasury
was overrluwing; the question was, Mhat
snail be done with the surplus?'' -Four
| Years later The heritage OF the Incoming
| Democratic administration from lts Rc-
publican predecessor was a depicteo .Leas-
| ury; business was paralyzed, WORKSHOPS
| closed wage earners in enforced idicness
and poverty, and want the common lot.
MAKING GOOD ITS PROMISES.
Under these conditions have named the
Democratic Congress, addressed to the
| task OF ma king good its promise made in
the campaign OF s92, to reform the tarirr
| and reduce to the people the cost OF the
| pecessaries of life. The Mckinley law
was repealed and the Wilson bill placed
upon tie statute books. II should never
| he forgotten that this tariff bill-the first
for fifty years, enacted In the interest OF
the peUple-was passed AFTER desperate
S,,ee the repeal of the corn laws in
England the world has witnessed no such
parliamentary struggle AGAINST nionoloiS
and privilege II was literally struggle
or the people against the monopoly. and
geed fostered and made po werful by more
than thirty years OF Republican legisls-
ton The combinations and trusts. now
the curse of the American people, have
been made possible only by Tire bad finan-
cal legislation and the high protective
tariffs, which have enriched the rev at
the expense OF the many.
The return of the Republican party to
power means the repeal of the Wilson tar
| iff law. 1t means the re-enactment OF the
Mckinley law or one even yet more odious
in its provisions.
The financial question, however, over
shadows all others in the present contest.
Believing as | co. that gold and silver
find equal recognition in the Constitution
of the United States: that by their Joint
use in effccting exchanges and performing
the OtLer functions OF money We have
prospered in the past; and believing that
the evil days now befallcn us are iu no
etization of silver, l have no hesitation
in maintaining my party allegiance and
casting my vote for Bryan and Sewall. the
nominees of the democratic convention.
REGRETS THE SEPARATION.
] deeply regret that many OF those with
whom l have been associated in former
| contests, now oppose the election OF the
I candidates nominated in accordance with
the TIM. -honored methods and usages of the
Democratic party. Without questioning
their sincerity, the inquiry is Significant;
Democratic party upon the monetary ques
ton to justify the abandonment by those
who have long shared in It's counsels and
who have been the recipients OF its re-
wards and its honors?"
AS the parting of the ways" has been
reached, it is well to inquire, is they
path, or is ours the true one? Are We
recreant TO Democratic faith and traditions
in standing by the historic organization
or are they in aiding directly or Indirect
ly in the triumph of its great antagonist?
By the Constitution OF the United States
the Congress is vested with sole power To
coin money, regulate the value thereof
OF weights and measures and it is fur
ther provided that no state shall coin
money or make anything but gold and sill
yer coin tender IN pa yment of dehts.''-
| The system of bimetallism is here es-
tablished. Gold and silver coin find equal
recognition. AS Democrats. we believe in
/ honest nioney-the money of the ConStitu-
ton. We attach deep Importance to the
! words OF Thomas Jefferson: II concur
with YOU that the unit must stand on both
nletals.''
II was during tha administration of
Washington that the great Secretary of the
| Treasury, Alexander Hamilton said: ..To
l q n a thnr S,P fI,f.t tr.-,N