The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-10

believe in the gold standard would form
platform and nominate ana elect canoi-
1ate, and they had good reason Tor the
assertion Because there is scarcely a
State here to-day asking for gold stan
dard that is not within the absolute con-
troll of the Republican party Mr.. Nc
Kinley was nominated at st. Louis on
platform which declares for the malnte-
nance of the gold standard until it shall
be changed into bimetallism by interna-
tional agreement. Mr.. Mckinley was the
most popular man among the Repub-
licans. and three months ago everybody
in the Republican party prophesied his
election.
''How is it to-day? That man who used
to boast that he looks like Napoleon
Tlaughter1 shudders to-day when he thinks
that he was nominated on the anniver-
sary of the battle of Waterloo. [Cheers. |
He can fancy that he hears in the distance
the sound of the waves as they beat on the
lonely shores of st. Helena. Cheers. I
Why this change? All, my friends, the
change is evident to any one who looks at
the matter. 1t is because no private char
acter, however pure, no personal popular
iiy, however great, can protect from the
avenging wrath of an indignant people.
The man who would declare that he is in
favor of foisting the gold standard on this
people or who is willing to surrender the
right OF self-government and to place
Legislative control in the hands of foreign
potentates and powers cannot hope for an
election to the Presidency of the United
States.
1--WE go forth, said the orator, conf
dent that we shall win. Why? Because
there is not spot of ground upon which
the advocates OF the gold standard can
meet us. You tell us the great cities are
in favor OF the gold standard. Burn down
your cities and leave our farms and your
cities will grow up again. But destroy
our farms and the grass will grow in every
city OF the Union. [Great cheering.l
my friends" he continued, "we shall
declare that this Nation is able to legislate
for its people upon every question without
waiting for the consent of any other ma
ton on earth, and upon that issue we
expect TO carry every State in this conn
try. [Great cheers. 1t is the issue of
1776 over again. Our ancestors, when only
100000 in number, declared their indie
pendence of every nation on earth. Shall
we, when grown to 100000, have less
courage? If they say we cannot have BIZ
metallism until some other nation assists,
we reply. We will restore bimetallism and
let England adopt it because the United
States has led the way. [Cheers. We
shall answer their demand for the gold
standard by saying to them: You shall
not press down upon the brow of labor
this crown of thorns. You shall not
cruelty mankind upon a cross of gold
Tremendous cheering.l
Then ensued perhaps the most extraor-
binary scene OF this extraordinary conven-
ton. As if by the magic touch OF wand,
delegation after delegation rose in solid
phalanx and gave vent to the most enthu-
siastic demonstration in honor of the Ne
braska orator. Everybody stood up, even
the Eastern men, who at first were dis
posed to remain in their seats. Western
ers shouted, waved handkerchiefs, hats,
flags, canes, umbrellas and anything else
conspicuous and portable. Deafening
cheers rent the air and articles of every de-
scription were thrown high above the
surglng sea OF humanity. The stats bear
ing the names of the States were held aloft
with flags and other things on top and
waved to and fro. When that pastime be-
came too tame, led by Delegate Gatewood
of Texas, nearly all of the silver States and
Territories and some gold States joined in
a procession. bearing the State poles, and
marched in triumph around the floor.
Some of the Eastern States kept their
81 nstaffs in their places and confined their
expressions to standing up and giving a
mild cheer as individuals.
This furore continued for a quarter OF
an hour, and no efforts were made by the
chairman or sergeant-at-arms to check its
tempestuous progress. Away to the west
and north and the south of the platform
in the multitude of spectators the demon
stration of the delegates was repeated.
Hundreds of umbrellas were opened by
apparently crazed people. Harmless mis-
siles of paper and other things were
hurled through the air on delegates heads.
The remarkable feature of this wild out
break was that its spontaneity was appar-
ent, and it was so much personal tribute
to Bryan that Eastern delegates who diff
fered from him caught the infection and
joined in moderately. Nebraska's delega-
ton was the cynosure of observation, and
the smooth-faced silver champion who
mad electrIIed the convention sat I'M
moved in his seat at the edge of the aisle
opposite his opponent from New York,
Senator Hill.
When some degree of quiet was restore d
the previous question was ordered on the
platform and all amendments. Mr. Hill
requested a call of States on his proposed
financial plank, and at 3:15 the voting be-
gan upon Mr.. Hills proposed substitut
for the free-coinage plank. 1t resulted !: