The Saint Paul globe., 1896-07-24

luton that heads for anarchy. 1t casts as
persions upon and assails, the greatest Demo-
crat of our generation (great cheering), be-
cause patriot cally, firmly, inteilgently, ne
has maintained the honor of our peop4e, the
credit of our money, and the integrity OF our
institutions. 1t is instrument at WHICH
every man should shudder. Because OF these
things l. in common, l take it, with the rest
of the gentlemen assembled here, refuse TO
support this platform.
The principal candidate that was placed up
on this platform by the Chicago convention Is
an appropriate person TO stand upon such
pedestal. Against his personal morality or ln-
tegrity | am happy to say that l know noth-
ing and believe that nothing can be sad; but
his views are VIGOROUSLY radical, and his
disposition seems to be so unbalanced, that /,
for one, cannot feel that were he to be elect
ed president the country would be secure, the
coinage question aside, of a Democratic, con-
servatiVe or even safe, adm .nistration OF It's
affairs. Certainly, in view of the questionable
character of his devotion TO the party IN the
recent past we, as Democrats, owe him no al
legiance. 1t is then, as it seems to me, our
duty not only to refuse to support this plat
form to follow this candidate but to do all
that lies in our power to defeat both, even
though the result of our endeavors is to elect
that almost wholly obnoxious candidate Of
the Republican party, Gov. Mckinley.
We know the worst of which Republican
ism is capable; we know it is the mother of
trusts and monOpolies; we know, too, it is
the embodiment of extravaganza; Vender or
private advantage in return for political pow
public place; but we know also that 1t moves
about its pernicious business slowly and eau
tiously; that it would not actually throttle
commerce and industry, for it is upon these
that it levies its tribute, and of their lives 1t
IS jealous; we know, too, that the great body
of the party is composed of honest, patriotic,
intelligent men, who may be relied upon to
place limit upon the rapacity of their lead
ers. Although l have regarded the Repub-
Ican party until now the greatest menace
to the perpetuity of Republican institutions:
l believe this menace is now overshadowed
by a greater and feeling thus, l am willing.
choosing as | must, between two great evils,
to see Gov. Mckinley succeed, ana TO ala, IN
my own way and by my own methods In
that success.
But sir. l. for one. cannot-at least as
feel today-reconcile myself with the thought
of voting the Republican ticket. during
practically my whole reasoning existence
have been in the habit of thinking OF Re
publicanism as fundamentally opposed to
every principle that should guide the admin
istration of government. l regard the Repuo-
lican candidate for president as the hlgnest
exponent of all that is vicious and perllous
in Republican policy. 1 am not willing to
give 10 him or to the distinctive policies he
represents the sanction of my own vote, nor
am willing that those of US who feel as
do should be absorbed into the RepuDlcan
party, the policies of which we sun aphor.
But more than thisi To permit ourselves
to be absorbed for even one campaign Dy the
Republican party would be to destroy forever
the old, real true Democratic party. TO TINS
will never willingly consent. AS l nane nave
already intimated, l have believed, ana stlll
believe the Democratic party, as we nave
known it, to be the chief source OF hope 1or
the safety and perpetuity OF republican gov
ernment upon this continent. II slaIius III
the opportunity and freedom of the individual
be+ween the autoeratic socialism OF RepuD-
lfcanism and the anarchist1c communism 9I
Populism. 1t seems to me, sir, OF as mucn
moment to the republic that the ola Deloc
70
this abominable heresy of free coinage should
be crushed or cured. l believe, then;
that ticket should be placed
in the field to represent the senC,
ments of the sound money Democracy anu
to perpetuate the original Democratic party
nroyided only this can be done in the iace
of the emergency that confronts us, Will WIFI
out. in our judgment, assisting 10 eject MI
can. then. Mr. Bryan be defeated and the
Democracy that we love be perpetuateo at tne
same time? l believe that the two tnlngs
are possible together, ana perhaps PoSsiore aI'e
only together 1t seems to me- ana am
sure that today l know the sentiment or the
Democracy of this state as well as does any
man that q sound-money Democratlc IlcheC
would in Minnesota, draw two, yes, tnree,
votes from Mr. Bryan where 1t would draw
one from Mr. Mckinley. During the past
week I have seen and read more than three
hundred letters from all quarters OF tnIs
state and l will venture to say that at least
Mr. LawIer with whom l have co-operateo,
can correct me if l overstate the facts
(AIr. Lawler-Four-fifths at least four
hfths.)
ent but absolutely demand its nomination. it
is true that there are many Democrats IN THIS
state who believe in sound money and, IN
consequence, will vote for GOV. Mckinney put
there are. more far more, that believe in
sound money, but, rather than vote for the
arch-apostle of protection, will vote for Mr..
Bryan. If this be true, do not our duty,
our inclination our desire to promote the
welfare of the future, all concur to incite us
to promote the nomination Of real DEM
ocratic ticket?
But gentlemen, the considerations that bear
upon this question are not even now eX-
hausted. 1t would be idle to disguise the
fact that the strength of the party of dis
content is even Unexpectedly great I'm
sound theories of finance resentment against
political conditions that may almost be called
those of political servitude, the vague unrest
and acute sense of injustice always bred by
the visible contrast between the very rich
and the very poor, the dishonest wish to re-
pudiate just obligations the old ties of party
associations. the sentiment of loyalty to
name. even when that name has been per-
yerted. the cowardice that would purchase
political life, even at the sacrifice of per-
sonal honor; all these things combine to
strengthen the hands Of the silver party.
The situation is one of great and unex-
pected peril.
osition of a second ticket is the question,
would the nomination of such ticket assist
retard the success of Mr.. Bryan? The
situation is too serious for any body of the
size of this body and possessing only the
information possessed by it, to say the last
word concerning 1t. It can be solved, and
properly solved, only by a body that shall
represent all the information, astuteness and
patriotism possessed by those most intimately
concerned in the event. and responsible for
its attainment. OuE course can be decided
only by such body. and after the fullest,
freeSt, sobereSt. most deliberate debate. By
such body. I am convinced, that decision
will be reached which is all things con-
sidered best for the republic. BY its de-
cision I. for one. am willing to abide, but
am not willing to abide by the decision of
any tribunal of lesser dignity.
I trust the decision of such a conference
rs | hope may be called will result in breath
ing new life into that fine, honorable. gal
liant gentleman of the old school, the ''True
Democrat" | trust that it may assure new
life to our party of fortitude and liberty, the
zeal Democracy. But if, gentlemen it should
be found necessary to scuttle and sink the
old Democratic ship or to pail down it's
flag then. heart-brealdng it will be- l.
for myself prefer that she shall be scuttled
and sink beneath the waves with the flag
of true Democracy still flying at the head
rather than that those colors should be
struck to any pirate shin.
This speech was given an ovation
when the gentleman had concluded.
= A DISTAS DECLARATION
c. ]. Buell. was given the floor, and
said that for eighteen years he had
been consistent opponent of the doc
trine of free coinage of silver. But
there are some things worse than the
free coinage of silver,'
No. no" shouted many delegates.
Mr.. Buell. repeated his assertion, and
said he had always been in the habit of
doing his own thinking. The doctrine
of extreme protection represented by
the Republican candidate. he insisted