The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-07-09
Blackburn Set the Convention Wild.


porarily while the crowd cried for Hill,
Bryan, Blackburn, Altgeld and others.
Delegate Money of Mississippi moved
that Senator Blackburn be requested to
| address the convention and the crowd
! yelled itself hoarse in approval With
pround step the gallant Ken
| tuckian mounted the stage. His
| appearance set the convention
wild. He is one of the silver
ilOIs and it was apparent as soon as his
:ervid oratory was launched that he had
pit and gallery with him. The Demo
cratic party, he said, was in convention
TO correct Its grievances and right it,
wrongs. The campaign had been opened
in splen lid style. State after state hsd
:allen III line, and the convention was
instructed overwhelmingly by major
ity Of the party and the people. There
was no doubt where the duty of the
convention lay. The Kentuckian's
speech was like fierce cavalry charge.
1t swept along with volley after volley
of silver shot and its periods were fol.
lowed by volley after volley of wild
shrieks of approval that were as fierce
as the shots
The first terrific yell went up when
he said Let US construct a platform
that neither human or devilish inger.
uity can submit to but one cOnstruc-
ton"
The second was when he exhorted the
convention to tell the country "that we
mean to put silver back where it was
in 1S13,' another when he denounced
1.-the issue of bonds in times of profound
peace" and another wilder than all
when he shouted: "Christ with the
lash drove from the temple better set
of men than those who for 20 years
have shaped the financial policy of this
country.
"Be temperate, be conservative" said
he, ''but do not forget to gather the
splendid fruits of the victory you have
so splendidly won."
i They Wanted AItgeld.
/ When Blackburn had concluded, the
cries for Altgeld become SO vociferous
that at last with evident reluctance the
: Illinois governor was urged forward to
J the stage. Great curiosity existed among
thousands who had never heard and
some who had never before seen this
great power in this part of the country.
, Some of the delegates crowded to the
foot of the stage, not because his voice
, was weak, as his voice reached out to
. the furthermost limits of the hall, but
. to get closer view of the man.
| UIs$l hn DvnyaI
q with the statement that he had not
. come here to make a speech, but tc
assist in the nomination of the next
president of the United States, and the
formulation of declaration of ,prin
ciples that would again offer hope tt
the party of the people. This opening
sentiment warmed up the audience anC
soon the pale, almost haggard face OF
q the Illinois governor grew flushed. Hi!
8 gestures became quick and vehement
and before he had proceeded far thu
Z convention was swayed as by Cyclone
q by his oratory.
When he declared that hungry mel
and children were looking to this con
vention for relief there was grea
demonstration. Adroitly he worked OF
: to his climax. He described the toll ant
= blood and sweat Of the millions which
was being doubled by the shrinkin,
standard of values. Then he paused
: and flinging his arms out before him
|. asked: will you let them continu
" it?"
mo, never" came in thunderin
chorus from 10000 throats. Later, re
ferring to the great struggle agains
;. slavery, he pointed to an American
- flag at his back and secuted the idea o
compromise. Ibid the men," he asked
3 "who gave up their lives to preserv
e that flag talk Of compromise? Their
% could be none. There can be none."
As he finished he descended from tn
'o platform and he was accorded anothe
10 demonstration. The Illinois delegatio
~ mounted their chairs and franticall
- waved their banners. Delegates fru
~ other delegations crowded the aisles t
: wiring his hand while the gallerie
yelled and shouted.
70 New Englands Inning.
ir After the interlude by the band Ne,
TO England had her inning when Georg
)" Fred Williams, the stalwart, fashion
ably attired, blonde moustachet
scholarly looking young ex-congres'
N man from Massachusetts,, whose col
90 version to free silver was recently al
NJ nounced, was called to the platfor1
:. amid great enthusiasm. He spoke in
new vein, for the free silver men ,
N New England and his speech w,
ye by far the most striking incident {
" the day. He made an impassione
ne plea against sectionalism, and made
IL in such forcible, clear cut ringing sci
I'd tences that every one shot to the MAJ
To like bullet. His first sentence, 9TH
st is not a sectional convention brougl
III the silver men to their feet like reg
al ment answering to the word of con
" mand, and when he declared that 18th
RI is battle for the restoration Of Il
ke union Of tho states" the shout MAJ
ri the roof rattle.
h ssThis is no transfer Of the seat