The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-07-23
SPEECHES AT ST. LOUIS
GOVERNOR STONE DELIVERS TIE
 ADDRESS OF IgELCOME.

N"NSouihss oI thc Day'S SeSsioh-
 Committee on Credentials Includes
 Robert Pine of This State-Notes.
 St. Louis July 22.--At l2:4O Chairman Taubeneck called the convention to or der, and introduced Governor William J. Stone of Missouri, who delivered the address of welcome.
 He said: T come to extend genuine and hearty welcome to the hospitaiities of the state to which I have the honor to be executive officer. Freedom of opinion on religious, political and social and all other subjects; freedom of ac- ton so long as the exercise of that freedom does not disturb public order or trench on the just rights of others, are cardinal principles of our great governmental system. (Applause) In this state we seek to give to that basic idea its best possible expression. We differ as to methods and we differ often as to politics, but 1t is to be devoutly hoped that all of us are actuated by love of country and by motives of the greatest patriotism. (Applause.)
 You are met in a crucial period, not only of party history, but of national history. It would be unbecoming of me to make any suggestion as to the duty of this convention. can, how ever, without impropriety, say that I hope that every gentleman occupying seat in this great body will perform the important and responsible duty impos- ed upon him. with an eye single to the public good, to the development of our country and to the promotion of the felicity of our people and the glory of the republic"
 Hon. IgnatiuS Donnelly responded to Governor Stones address of welcome. The selection of the center of this great valley for the convention was particu- larly appropriate, because this move ment was an outgrowth from the agri- cultural and laboring people of this country. It began at a million firesidas where the farmers in the silence of their homes studied out for themselves the causes of the aff1ictions they en- dured and united to find remedy. Our city friends, he continued, for a time
 
 themselves. They never could be fur ther from the truth.
 It is at last dawning even upon the minds of our far eastern citizens that in assenting to the evil conditions that TOW surround us they have destroyed their own prosperity While reaching out for foreign markets where they must encounter the hostility of the whole world they have permitted their own natural market, of which they had the monopoly, to fall into poverty and wretchedness, and they are to-day ,n sack-cloth and ashes, feeling the result of that mistaken policy. Loud cheers.)
 MT Donnelly closed by making an eloquent appeal for unity. T stood" he coia ..at the cradle of the old green back party. ICheers.) I stood at the cradle Of the peoples party God for bid I should be here to-day to attend it's funeral. Stand together. Lift up your hearts to the majesty and the dig mites of the duty laid upon your shoul- ders The men of Valley Forge had no more sublime and tremendous duty than we have to-day. No man, how ever great. is worth scintilla against the interests of this great party"
 The chairman asked members of the executive committe to step up to the platform. Among those who thus ad- vanced were Mrs. Mary Ellen Lease, who was warmly cheered.
 Chairman Taubeneck introduced as temporary chairman Senator Marion Butler of North Carolina, who was re- ceived with three cheers which he char acterized as a cyclone of patriotism ? History showed he said that there al- ways came crises in the affairs of men, when humanity was raised to a higher level. Two political parties, he said had held national conventions this year, had adopted platforms and had put forward their leaders, and now another great political party young, but growing giant in strength, had assembled to speak to the American people in this critical and important hour. (Cheers)
 The populists were here because there was need of them to be here The par ties that had had charge of the govern ment since the war had succeeded in bringing the nation to the verge of bankruptcy and ruin and had necessi- tated the existence of the populist or ganization. The two parties had ved with each other in "straddling," and now "straddling" was thing of the past He went on the speak of the transportation questions Standing side by side with the money question and declaring that both these great ques- tions would have to be solved before the country got back to prosperity"
 The Standard Oil trust he declared would not exist to-day if it was not for it's copartnership with transportation companies. If the peoples party were to go out of existence tomorrow the next democratic convention would re- port a platform on which Bryan would not stand (Cheers.) The peoples party had raised an issue so universal, so great, so important, that it had split both the old parties in two. Naughter and applause). Now this convention had met to save that issue or allow it to go down in defeat.
 He had faith that this convention would not turn itself into democratic annex, but in a true and right way. What should we do, asked the senator, and he was answered by Alfred Dag gett of California: Nominate a straight populist candidate on a popu- list platform without reference to what the democratic convention has done" (Cheers.)