The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-10
A Big Demonstration Is Sprung
For Bland.
GIRL MAKES A Juror.
Miss Murray Of Iowa ROuses
the Convention.
David Overmyer Seconds the
Nomination of Bland.

last night furnished all the preliminary
incidents of the most dramatic act of
the convention. It was by long odds
the most spectacular, for as the hands
of the clock were creeping on toward
the appointed hour of 8, when the presi-
dent making was to begin, the great
banks of seats filed with the biggest
crowd which has yet secured admission
for the first time filling the galleries
and attaining the Chicago standard of
bigness.
Rumors of deals and combinations
were being badgered everywhere throw
ing panic into the camps of favorite
sons.
The news spread quickly that the
New York delegation had decided to
hold aloof from the voting, because
they would take no action based on the
platform which had been adopted. This
move threw into chaos some of the com
binations and estimates.
Many rumors clustered about young
Bryan Of Nebraska, whose wonderful
afternoon speech had carried him into
a formidab BILE position in the field and
won for him partisans who seemed to
be doing active work. It was 1892 be
fore the acting chairman, Mr.. Richard
son. raped long and loud and appealed
to the crowd to respect the gavel It
took five minutes to secure a semblance
of order.
Senator Jones of Arkansas, gained
recognition and moved that the con-
vention proceed to the nomination of a
candidate for president of the United
States. 1t was carried with a roar, the
galleries adding a round of applause in
recognition of the actual opening of the
contest. Chairman Richardson an
nOunced that by agreement the roll of
Gfafas would he called for the uPeSarlt2-
ton of candidates.
Alabama was first to be called and
the chairman announced that the state
would be passed for the present. Ar
kansas came next. Arkansas yields
to Senator Vest of Missouri" shouted
Mr.. Jones.
Senator Vests first mention of the
name of Bland brought out a short
demonstrat ton. Mr.. Vest said:
SPEECH OF SENATOR VEST
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the
Convention: Revolutions do not begin
with the rich and prosperous They
represent the protest of those who are
suffering from present conditions and
whose demands for relief are denounced
by the beneficiarieS of unjust an OPP
pressiVe legislation
when a profound sense of wrong,
evolved from years of distress, fastens
upon the public mind in a free coun-
try, and the people are determined to
have redress, a leader is always found
who is a platform in himself and to
whom they instinctively turn as the
logical exponent of their hopes
THE people are not iconOclasts, nor
false to their convictions.
They followed Jefferson when he as
sailed the centralizing and monarchial
doctrines of the old Federalists and
was denounced as communist and
IeveIer by the wealth and culture Of
New England and New York.
They followed Jackson when he
took the United States bank by the
throat and was proclaimed a tyrant
and ruffian by the usurers and money
kings.
''They followed Lincoln when he at
tackled the slave power and declared
that this country could not exist half
slave and half free
1.-THE great movement for bimetal-
lism-the free and unlimited coinage of
gold and silver at the ratio of 10 to I
and the restoration of silver to its con-
stitutiOnaI status is
" No sapling chance sOwn by the foun-
Blooming at Beltane in winter to fade
ut has come to stay.
1T is protest against the wrong
and outrage of 1873, when, without de-
bate, and with the knowledge of only
a few men in congress, the silver dol
lar was stricken from the coinage, and
the red despOt of gold made supreme
as to all values.
TT is a declaration by the freemen
of America that the United States must
withdraw from the conspiracy which
was formed to destroy one-half the me-
tallic money of the world, in order to
establish the slavery of greed and usury,
more degrading than the tyranny OF
armed force.
1T is the stern demand from unre-
Quilted toll, bankrupt enterprise and
ruined homes for change in the
money system which for years has
brought disaster and desOlation.
In this crisis of our country and
party we must take no step backward
in platform nor candidate. We want
no uncertain nor doubtful leader No
laggaFd in peace, or bastard in war
No latter day silver saint. but a grfz-
zled and SCARED veteran, who has borne
the heat and burthen of the day, and
whose breast is marked from edge of
sword and point of lance on hundred
fields.
Twenty years ago the battle for sill
yer was begun in the halls Of congress
by q modest, unpretending, brave man,
not an irfdescent or meteOric states
man. but of the people and from the
y people. who have never faltered for an
instant in the great struggle. Others
doubted and Wavered. Some yielded to
Establishment and patronage and are
now holding Office under the gold
power; others misrepresented their con-
stituents and have been provided for
IN the national infirmary of the present
administration. but Richard Parks
Bland stands now where he stood then.
the living, breathing embodiment Of
the silver cause.
'iHe struck with steel point the golden
shield of the money mOnopolists. as did
IvanhOe that of the proud Templar in
the lists at Ashby, and has neither
asked nor given quarter
Nor is he a narrow, One-idead man.
For twenty-five years in congress he
fought in the front ranks for Demo-
cratic principles and policies, as taught
by jefferson
He stood by the side of Randall and
rislted health and life to defeat the first
a al al nd a