The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-10-08
DEMOCRATIC CLUBS MEETING
THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS SWARM
ING WITH BRYAN
DEMOCRATS.
IN ADDRESS BY ADLA| STEVENSON.
He Does Not Question the Honesty of
Those Supporting the indianapolis
Ticket, but Makes Strong
Plea Against McKinleyism.

st. Louis, Oct. 3.-This rather conserv-
ative city fairly boiled over with demo-
cratic enthusiasm today. 1t was visible
at every corner and scores of banners
which had been hung across the streets
proclaimed it to the world. And if one
were to judge by the badges and buttons
worn by citizens one might easily have
been constrained to believe that democra-
/ cy had overwhelmed st. Louis from the
river to its western limits.
This was the opening day of the Quad
rennial Association of National Demo
cratic clubs. The delegates began to ar
rive yesterday and have been pouring in
on every road that comes to the city since
that time.
1t was about 1870 in the forenoon when
the delegates and visitors began to as
semble at the auditorium, where the con-
vention was held, and it was almost an
hour later when President Black called
the meeting to order. Three thousand
delegates were present, and the vast hall
was well filed with visitors. When the
blessing was offered and the Deity had
been invoked, the Jefferson Glee club of
several hundred voices sang the national
anthem, America IN which the audi
sence joined When the applause follow
\ ing the singing of the anthem had been fin
ished President Black delivered his quad
rennial address.
Vice President Stevenson said, in part:
i '"The gravity of the issues involved in
the pending political struggles can not be
over-estimated. The supreme importance
to the masses of our people can not be
measured by words. This is not a mere
contest as to men. The real issue can not
be obscured. In an hour so fraught with
deep concern to all of the people, appeal
should be had to the judgment, not to
passion. make no question as to the
honest convictions of those who give their
support to the ticket nominated at Indian
apolis. The fact remains, however, that
the contest for the presidency rests sole
ly between Bryan and Mckinley. 1t can
not be claimed that any other candidate
has a semblance of chance for success,
or even that he will receive single elec
toral vote. For what then does the pres
idency stand? Will the success of the
country best be subserved by the demo-
cratic party or its antagonist. 1t must
be remembered that during the twenty
three years Immediately preceding the in
auguratiOn of President Cleveland March
IA, 1888, there was no single moment that
the democratic party controlled the pres
idency and both houses of congress: never
a moment that it could place Il single law
upon the statute books. For all the legis-
lation during that period, which has
brought in its train financial disaster.
monopolies and trusts, the republican par
ty is alone responsible.
During this period the monetary poll
Icy of the founders of our government was
abandoned and silver demonetized. The
sad results to all kinds of business, to all
conditions of men have followed The de-
mOnetiZation act of 1873 has never been
adequately told. Something of the evils
that have followed in it's train can be
found in the enforced idleness of those
who vainly seek employment, in the
wrecked fortunes of men once prosperous
in business, and in the deplorable condi-
tiOn of the finances of the nation. We
are told that the real issue-that upon
which this election is to ttlrn-is not the
monetary, but the tariff question. The
nomination at st. Louis off that
distinguished author of the last
tariff law emphasizes the determination
of our opponents when in the full tide
of power to re-enact the Mckinley law
and restore to our statute books the most
unjust, the most Odious tariff schedule
known to any period of our history. The
present tariff law is of untold value to
the people. The election of a republican
president and congress portends the re-
newal of the tariff agitation, not in the
interest of the consumer, but in the in
terest of monopoly and greed. The in
come tax provided for by the Wilson tar
|iff bill has been declared unconstitutional.