Evening star., 1896-06-24
AT.GELD'S WALKOVER
Forced to Take q Nomination Against
His Will.
The Democrats of Illinois Are Clear
Voiced ON the Issue of
Silver.

The Illinois democratic convention reas-
sembled at pm. yesterday. Charles K.
Ladd Of Henry county was chosen perma-
| nent chairman and r. I. Hunt of Ma
coupin, secretary. Great enthusiasm was
manifested when Mr.. Ladd declared that
| the St. Louis platform was q declaration
| OF tyranny.
Governor Altgeld appeared upon the plat
form and was called upon for a speech.
The Governors Speech.
Governor Altgeld said, in part: -Four
years ago we swept the country by such a
| majority that fidelity to the democratic
principles would have insured supremacy
for quarter Of a century. But before the
| inaugural festivities had ceased at Wash
| irgton the head Of the new administration
sought strange gods and espoused alien
principles. The interests of money were
placed above those of humanity. Organized
greed was fed with golden spoons, while
the cry of the husbandman was not heed
ed, and the sweat Of the toiler brought him
no bread. AS the months rolled by every
principle that is vital to republican insti-
tutions was violated, and every precept of
Jefferson, every doctrine fundamental to
democracy. was trampled into the earth.
Since then defeat has been followed by dis
honor until we have lost what we formerly
mad. But the spirit of democracy is i'm
r.ortal Today the democratic hosts are
again mastering on the plain. The first
thing necessary for us to do is to stand for
something definite. Stand for those princi-
pies upon which the hope of humanity de-
pGndS.
A Tariff Prediction.
THE question Of protective tariff has
long been an issue in this country. For the
| first time we took an unequivocal position
on 1t four years ago and We won. The tar
III has been revised, and the probabilities
are that neither political party will make
any radical changes In it. 1t is no longer
worth while to discuss the theories of the
tarin. We must maintain a reasonable
tariff, which will not be SO high as to stop
all importations, and will, therefore, supply
the treasury with revenue. But we must
| look elsewhere for the cause Of the pa
ralysis which Is destroying our country"
The governor then took up and dwelt
upon the demonetization of silver in this
country and in Europe, declaring that II
doubled the value of gold. and with it
doubled debts, interest, taxes and other
fixed charges. He declared that conditions
are growing worse daily, and that there
can be no great prosperity in Europe or
| this country until the wrong that produc-
ed this distress has been righted.''
Bitter Struggle.
The governor continued: LAS the demo-
| cratic party represents the great toiling
| and producing masses, it must take the
lead In undoing this wrong. 1t will be a
/
men. who by corruption and trickery fast
| ened this system on the world, will resort
| r ay are already resorting, to the most des-
| perate means to hold their advantage"
| The governor then argued in favor of
| free silver coinage at the ratio of 16 to 1.
| He called the recent ST. Louis convention
| Mark Hanna's trust,'' and declared that
| Railroad attorneys corporation agents,
| lobbyists and those who have made mil
lions out of the government and are look
| irNcv foN how Ixr .o1
aid, were not only in control, but filled
| every place from chairman to page
Continuing, the governor said: IF the
| democratic party will be true to it's mis-
sion If 1t will not weaken itself with COM
promises or destroy its strength by adopt
| ing neutral course, then the ticket placed
| in nomination at ST. Louis will be dead
| long before the frests OF November come
IF the democratic party will declare for
| an American policy, II it will boldly de-
| clare that We must be true to ourselves
| and look after American interests first, We
will sweep the country"
His denomination Forced,
At frequent intervals during his speech
the governor was Interrupted by demon
| strations of approval. He spoke with great
earnestness. and the six thousand people
listened with the closest attention
When he reached that portion of his ad-
dress where he said that he was in no con-
d1tion to make another campaign there
| were loud cries of disapproval. mo, no.
| was the cry. You must accept We will
have no one else" and the like, until finally
two-thirds Of the audience was on it's feet
demanding that he head the state ticket
After applause accompanying the gov
ernor's speech had ceased. Congressman
Champ Clark of Missouri, who came here
with a delegation in behalf Of Richard P.
BANDS presidential candidacy, was called
| for. He paid a high tribute to Governor
Altgeld and said that If the democrats of
| the country will display as much enthus-
| tasm next fall as the representative demo-
Gratis Of Illinois were showing the repub-
| lfcans would be buried out Of sight
The State Ticket.
After the denomination Of Governor Alt
| geld the convention adjourned at 7:15. At
| the evening session the state ticket was
completed, as follows: Lieutenant governor,
| Monroe c. Crawford of Union county, Sec
retary Of state. Finnis E. Downing o9 Cass
| county; auditor. w. F. Beck of Richland
county; treasurer, Edward c. Pace of Coles
| county; attorney general, George A. Trude
| Of Chicago; university trustees, Julia
| Holmes Smith, R. B. Morgan, NJ. w. Ora
ham; delegates-at-large, John P. Altgeid, S.
| P. Mcconnell, w. H. HinrichSen, George
w. Fithian; national committeeman, Thom-
| Gahan of Chicago The platform de-
clares unequivocally for free silver coinage
at ratio of 16 to l.