Birmingham state herald., 1896-07-18

That was a grand meeting held in Cap itol park last night to ratify the demo- cratic nominees for president and vice president and the democratic platform promulgated at the Chicago convention.
 Forty-five guns were fired as nation al salute and twenty-one guns as a sa- lute to Hon. W. J. Bryan, the next presi- dent of these United States.
 People of all classes. professions and trades were there. The men and the wo- men were there; the doctors and the law yers were there; the merchants and me- chanics were there; the machinists and miners were there; the goldbuss and sil- verites were there; the democrats and re- pubicans were there and hundreds of children scampered over the lovely park to the airs of patriotic music and patriot ic speeches that filled the air and thrill ed the souls of over 5000 people.
 The meeting was called to order at the park by Col. w. c. Garrett, who had been selected, at o'clock sharp. MT. w. K. Terry stated that about 1000 names had been registered as members of the Bryan club and made a motion that the chair appoint committee on perRanent or ganization.
 In compliance with MT. Terrys mo- tion the chair appointed the following committee: w. K. Terry, Dr. J. s. Gill lespie and J. A. Mitchell.
 The committee reported that the club should be known as the Bryan club and recommended the election of the follow ing officers:
 President, John W. Tomlinson.
 First vice president, w. c. Garrett.
 Second vice president, J. H. Miller.
 Secretary and treasurer, R. F. Wet more.
 The officers were unanimously elected.
 At the conclusion of the business ses- sion Col w. c. Garrett, who had been selected to preside over the ratification meeting, came forward and spoke as fol- lows:
 Speech of Hon. w. O. Garrett.
 Fellow Citizens: To me has been as- signed the pleasing service of presenting to you the gentlemen who on this occa- sion will address an audience of uncon- Querable, resistless and militant demo- crats who, even now, scent victory in the air, and such other liberty loving cit- izens as believe in the living and ever- lasting principles of true democracy and wish to aid in their ultimate establish ment by supporting them at the polls in August and November. But before doing so, promising to detain you but briefly, desire to say few words that l trust may not be inappropriate.
  ings that in every section of the union north, east, south and west-the beacon lights and signal fires of democracy have been raised and kindled and are blazing bright from our southern gulf to the great northern lakes from the pine clad hills of Maine to the majestic sweep of the Rio Grande, from the orange groves of Florida to the great harvest fields of Washington, Dakota and Ne braska, and are reflected back across the continent from the golden gates of Cali fornia to the shrines of Mount Vernon, Monticello and the Hermitage, where re- pose the ashes of Washington, Jefferson and the hero of New Orleans, and there gathering renewed power and greater lu- minance, spread into glorious sunburst of American patriotism and courage that Eliminates every mountain top and floods every plain and valley from sun rise on the shores of the Atlantic to sunset on the Pa cific coast and then crystaillzes into a bow of hope and promise that sheds it's glory and gladdens the heart of every true American from Mount Olym- pus to Cedar Keys, from Plymouth Rock to the halls of the Montezumas; and by these signs we know that tonight, throughout the broad expanse of this great republic, thousands and multiplied thousands of patriotic men are engaged as we are, in indorsing and ratifying the work of the greatest and most repre- sentative political convention that ever assembled on either hemisphere.
 It has often been wondered at, and asked, "Why this great uprising of the people, as ominous as the tornado's roar, as potential as old oceans tides?" In re- sponse I can tell you and do tell you, my countrymen, that 1t Is because the demo- cratic party is co-existent with this gov ernment, because it stands for no sec tion, nor class, nor creed. but for all sections, classes and creeds, because it's founder was the author of the Declara- tion of Independence-the Magma Charta liberty-and into It's doctrines he poured a great and passionate love for mankind; because though
 Revolutions sweep over the earth
 Like troubled visions OCT the breast of
 dreaming sorrow,
 Mountains rear to Heaven their bald and
 blackened cliffs
 And empires rise, gathering the strength of
 hoary centuries,
 And rush down like an Alpine avalanche, Startling the nations
 the vital principles of democracy the greatest good to the greatest number equal rights to all, special privileges to rone--a government of the people, by the people, for the people-are the crys- utilization of all living political truth and constitute the epitome of perfect human government, and so long as brave men love freedom and will die for liberty. the democratic party will survive and tri- unph. It may sustain occasional defeat and meet disaster, as ft has in the past, STruth crushed to earth will rise again, The eternal years of God are here,"