Evening star., 1896-06-18
sacrifice of innumerable heroic and patriotic

sacrifice Of innumerable heroic and patriotic
lives.
Il come to you from a state that has al
ways followed, in victory or defeat, the
standard Of the party; that ever since the
party was born of it's aspirations for free
dom has cast its vote for its candidates.;
that will cast its vote for the nominee of
this convention. whoever he may be; and
l bring to you candidate who. by his
twenty years of battle for the party in the
House of RepreSentativ has demonStrat-
ed his possession of those qualific ations in
pre-emlnent degree. He mas rendered
conspicuous and enduring service to the
party and the nation; service that was not
within the power or ability of any other to
render. He trampled under foot immemor-
ial precedent in order that the party that
had been intrusted by the country with
the transaction Of its business might dis
charge its duties and see that the business
of the country was done. The universal
practice of the republican and democratic
parties had been such as to justify the
statement of Mills, in speaking for the
democracy, that we propose to exercise
control OF The House just as much as
though were still in the majority, be-
cause We know our minority is still strong
enough to make the virtual rulers, re-
suiting in a government of the minority
and rot of the majority, complete sub
version of the fundamental principle of
representative government.
with this condition he was confronted at
the assembling of the Fifty-first Congress.
He found the House of Representatives
body of obstruction. He made it a delib-
crate legislative, business body. He found
it kissing and d byword. He made it
the instrument of the peoples will. and one
of the glories of the republic. A deter
mined minority stood like lion in its path
to thwart and defeat, but he made it possi-
BILE for the republican party to fulfill its
pledges to the people. But for his over
mastering courage and infieXibe determ.n-
alton the Mckinley bill would have been
nothing but legislative dream The most
VitllDpratlyp
abuse known to partisan hatred was poured
upon him by a defeated. baff1ed. cxasperated
minority. He became the center of whirl-
wind Of denunciation and calumny the
country over. His political future was
staked upon the issue. He never hesitated
to count the cost Conscious of the recti-
tude and patriotism of his purpose, calm.
serene. self-reliant, undismayed indomit-
able, massive. heroic a great speaker, tow
cred above 1t all. immovable bulwark,
against which the gates Of hell itself could
not prevail He lived to emerge. unscath-
ed, from the avalanche of partisan detrac-
ton and viIification. and see his position
sustained by the greatest legal tribunal of
the civilized world. and he had the proud
satisfaction of witnessing the humiliation
of his detractors and calumniators when
they were compelled to adopt his rules.
LAS true as the needle to the pole has
been, his devotion to the principles of hon
esty and sound finance, his record for sound
money, Is without break. He believes in
sound finance and in sound finance with
a definition. He is willing that his defini-
ton should be known of all men, and his
definition Is that until we can have BIZ
metallism by international agreement, the
present gold standard should be main
tained He believes that any other princi-
pie means disaster and a loss Of the con-
fidence of the great business interest of
the country. He knows that The govern
nent mint is not an alembic that can trans
mute fifty cents worth of silver metal into
a coin of the realm of the value of one
lpDublican
leadership, was held up in the United
States Senate and commanded to stand or
deliver a dollar in coin for fifty cents OF
value. They could bring the party to d
stand, but under his leadership could not
make 1t deliver. Intrusted by his party
with an Office, second only in power to that
of the presidency, having at his disposal
the highest objects Of congressional am
bition. the control of great interests, he
has scorned to use his power for his own
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Dignified, unseifish. dis
passionate, independent, untrameled, sin
cere. conscientious. unmindful Of his per
Sonal advancement, he has disc harged the
duties of his high Office.
Amid the exigencies of an intense can
vass for this great office, his devotion for
the welfare of the whole party has been
pure and steadfast. without 'varlabeness,
neither shadow of turning. His energies
have been exerted to make it possible to
elect the nominee of this convention, not
to secure for himself the position of its
standard-barer. He has no friends that he
will be compelled to reward, no enemies
that it will be necessary to punish. He
knows boss. He was never dominated
nor controlled by clique oaoai. He has
never bowed, and never will bow, the knee
to Baal If nominated by this convention
he, and none other. Will be the President
of the republic. We. therefore present 10
you the great Speaker. the leader of lead
ers, pre-eminent in fitness by his eminent
public service and abilities Towering above
his fellows like son of Anak, the wisest.
strongest. ablest, noblest Of American
statesmen. Mr.. Thomas b. Reed, the lion
hearted. If nominated he will lead this
land permanently back to the paths Of
prosperity and fame, and we shall take
back with US our ancient glory undimmed
by adversely. our ancient honor unsulied
by defeat"