The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-28
THE PERMdNENr CHAIRMay.
Capt. James Bumgardner's Strong Appeal
to Reason and Sound Sense.
Captain Bumgardner sad.

Captain Bumgardner said:
Gentlemen of the Convention:
II will not try. TO express my feelings
upon being called to preside over the
deliberations OF this splendid body Of
true and untcrrihcd Democrats.
who are the trusted and wor-
thy representatives, Of all who are
I'm this. our Israel. still stand firm and
steadfast I'm the principles and practices
Of JcffCrsOnian Democracy. applause
| cannot give You. the benefit OF much
experience in presiding over the delib-
eratiOns Of representative bodies. nor
can ] give yOu the benefit OF an extern
sive knowledge of parliamentary rules
and practice. but ! can promise and
pledge TO you my best efforts TO act in
the chair. with fairness and impair
TALLY, and TO aid you TO the best OF my
power IN expressing in your acts and
resolutions the desires Of this assembly.
Applause)
Fellow Democrats. the meeting Of an
assembly like this is unusual though
not unprecedented In Democratic his
tory but IL is not only justified, but
IS demanded by the emergency in which
we as Old-fashioned Democrats now nnd
ourselves placed (Applause) Some
of our brethren have strayec from the
fold they have left the beaten path
OF Democracy: and have turned their
faces in a new direction, on new path,
which leads through dreary wilder
ness. which ends in chaos. and which
is unl!t by the Democratic pillar by day
and the cloud of fire by night. Gap
plause)
FALSE SILVER IDOL.
We cannot turn our backs upon the
altar of our faith. to follow them in
not bow down before their false silver
idol. Applausc) We sorely lament
their departure. but we cannot deny
the faith: we cannot change our faith,
and we will not falsely say that We
have changed our faith. (Applause.l
4 sound and stable currency IS essen
tial 10 the welfare OF the country. SO
declared the founder Of the Democratic
party: 50 declares every legislative act
which has been enacted under Demo
cratic authority; so declares an IN
broken line OF the councils or our party
and so we firmly believe. (Applause)
The free and unlimited coinage Of silver
al the ratio Of lG 10 I will destroy the
principle Of a sound and stable cur
rency. (Applause) To debase the
currency Is like polluting the air we
breathe. the advocacy Of such meas
ure Involves danger and disaster 70 oil
business. and every interest or ne
country. We could sacrifice party prin-
ciple for the good OF the country but
We cannot betrav our party faith TO IN
volye the country In confusion ana rum
They say the country Is SUFFERING.
Gran, I. They ask VS. what Is your
remedy? Now. we can only reply:
First. TO prevent you from administer
ing to the body polite a deadly poison:
and then. God helping US. we will find
the remedy prolonged applause
WHO ARE THE BOLTERS?
They call rs "boters." Who The ad-
vocates OF that Chicago platform which
I'm thirteen Of its seventeen planks Is
stupendous bolt from the theory ana
mactice and the conditions and history
Of the Democratic party. Call rs bolt
ers' Who2 They who have spiked the
Democratic guns: who have abandoned
I'M Democratic standards. Who have
fratern,zed with the deadly foes OF Dem
ocratic principles: and have surrendered
the very ark of our DemOcatic covenant
into the hands Of the heathenl CAP
Now. what are we rs Democrats going
TO do? IL Is for that you ore here TO
deliberate one thing we VIII not do
we will not say, evil. be thou our
good F" ((Appiause) We will close up
The f.a,s NAT have been effected by our
erring and wandering brothers. the sem
tirrlS shall stnl keep guard on the
watnh-,owers OF our faith. Applause
And tho old Democratic banner with
,ts old Inscription shall still hang from
ths outer battlements and We will stand
M our most. and do our duty as Demo
Gratis In the mwavering hope and trust
that Democratic principle. strong In the
strength OF eternal truth VIII In fuhnesS