The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-06-18

organized as Confederate states has been
presented by either of the great national
parties for the office of president or vice
president Now is the time for the great
Republican party to make its first serious
effort to build itself up and put itself in
Il position of impregnable strength among
the people of the south. The solid south
is reliably solid for the Democratic
party no longer. Kentucky, Tennessee
Maryland, Delaware Virginia, Missouri
and North Carolina have each given un-
mstakable indications of drifting away
and with proper encouragement and suita.
BILE recognition they may safely be placed
in the Republican column, not only when
the result of the election in November is
announced but in future contests as they
periodically occur.
Tennessee, the battle field of the Civil
war, the state which voted against seces-
sion when the question was submitted to
its people by II large majority; the last
state to join itself to the Confederate
states and the first state to return to its
loyalty to the Union, now presents you one
of its distinguished citizens for the second
place on its ticket. 1t is true, he is not
native born, but he is mOre-he is n cltl-
zen by choice, and he comes from the por-
ton of q state whose people have always
been loyal to the Union and the constltu-
ton, and who furnished more soldiers Tor
the army of the Union in proportion than
any other territory in the United States.
He was born in Pennsylvania; he was
raised in the great state OF Wisconsin.
In every position he has discharged ms
duties honestly and faithfully ana to the
satisfaction of the people.
1.-THE people of Tennessee nominated
him for governor, and the people ut the
November election of 1894 gave him ma
iority of several hundred votes over his
opponent, as shown by the returns made
by the officers holding the election. After
the election Il Democratic legislature en-
acted Il law for the purpose OF contestlhS
il. 1t is not too much to say that the law
was designed to deprive him of the Once
to which the people had elected MN; ana
the same men who. rs Legislature, pass
ed the law, assumed under the law TO pass
upon his right to the office. y pretend
ed judicial inquiry was instituted. AS a
matter of fact it was neither judicial nor
fair. The issues were false and the test.
mony was garblrd. The decision changed
the face of the returns. Enough votes
were taken from what he had received to
give his opponent Il majority and change
his election into defeat.
"Thc ground of the rejection OF the vote
was not that they had not been east, nor
that the voters were not legal voters, nor
been satisfied of their right to vote. MI
of these facts were admitted; but the de-
cision was put on the grounds that though
the voters had paid their poll tax and llaa
receipts showing the payment ms requlrcu
by law, such receipts had not been pro-
duccd before the officers holding the cleo
tons, as those officers, for that reason. had
no right to report their votes, ana man
never elected is now holding ONCE III the
state of Tennessee. The people oil len
nessee feel that great wrong has been
done them, and they want an opportunity
of expressing their public condemnation
of the act. They want an opportunity OIL
showing the confidence they have III the
citizens who have thus been defrauded out
of office to which they elected him. lhey
believe he is worthy of any Office wlthih
the gift of American people. represent
ing them, nominate for vice president OF
the United States Henry Clay Evans.
At the conclusion of Judge Randolph's
speech. Rev. :. Il. Smith, colorcd, of
Kentucky, arose and came upon the plat
form to second the nomination. lie was
greeted with applause.
Mr.. Bailey of Virginia was then intro
duced and addressed the conventions;
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen OF the
onvention-Whcn we came to make
presidents and vice presidents there
seems to be line that divides us as Il
people. As Il representative of the south,
as II representative of the COntederates
of the south | am here today to voice
the sentiments of the southern people ana
demand ut the hands of this convention
that that dead line be forever oblitcrated.
The southern people are rs loyal to the
Union. as loyal to the nations flag to-
lay us they were to the flag of the Con
federacy. (Applause) With Virginia,
West Virginia, North Carolina, Tonnes
see and Kentucky we propose to forever
break up the solid south and to bring
these great states into the Republican
party.
He nominated James a. Walker of
West Virginia.
Mr.. White of Virginia seconded the
nomination of Mr.. Hobart.
The roll was then called and the result
announced as follows:
Hobart. 533 II: Evans go ID Bull
kelly, 80; Lippctt. :; Grant, >; Dcpew, );
Morton, |: ThurSton, >.
The nomination of Hobart was made |
unanimous.
Mr.. Bushnell of Ohio offered n rcsolu- !
ton which was adopted, making the per- |
mancnt chairman the chairman of the |
committee to notify Hon. William Me !
Kinley of his nomination and the chair |
man of the committee to notify Mr.. Ho- |
bart. All the officers were thanked for |
faithful performance of duty and the |
people of St Louis for fulfilling every |
promise relative to the convention The |
committees to notify the nominees !
man then declared the convention adj
inurnnI Siun lin