The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-07-15
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
"A GOOD BEGINNING MARRIED
BY A.BAD ENDING.
Mastery Speeches by Bryan and
Tillnan.


sunshine. The usual delay was experienced
in getting the proceedings under way. AT
five minutes before II Senator White, Of
California, the permanent president of the
convention, called the assembly to order
and stated that the days proceedings
would be opened with prayer by the Rev.
Thomas E. Green. Of the Episcopal church
Of Cedar Rapids. the same clergyman who
offered prayer yesterday. In his prayer
he asked that the convention should be
true to its responsibilities and brave for
its duties
Representative Richardson, Of Tennes-
see, was called to the chair.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas. chairman Of
the committee on resolutions, read the
platform as finally adopted by the COM
mittee. The applause called out by the
opening passages was Of q very perfume
tory character, being thrown in whenever
the speaker paused, without much regard
to the sentiment expressed. The dincul-
ties of hearing in the vast hall were made
plainly apparent and MIR. Jones voice was
in very bad condition. At the mention Of
free coinage there was cneer, not very
loud or long, however. A delegate In the
rear asked that this plank be read over
again, and Mr.. Jones compiled.
The Bailey amendment as to national
banks was substituted for the plank pre-
viously published. (See another column)
AS the reading proceeded it was appar-
emit by comparison with the platform as
yesterday published that some one had
gone over and amended the grammatical
- e. >sxu
places. Even the denunciation Of govern
e ment by injunction" supposed to be Pc
culiarly Of Chicago issue, failed to raise q
response from the galleries, probably for
the reason that Senator Jones' voice had
become DO indistinct that the allusion may
not have been heard.
When the Cuban plank was reached
some one in the front aisle unfurled Gu
ban flag and waved 1t, but this effort at
theatrical effect was promptly suppressed
& by the chairman, who raped sharply and
commanded the representations to
haul down that flag.
AS he finished the reading Of the plat
form Senator Jones stated that at the
request Of minority Of the committee on
resolutions he would now present certain
amendments that were proposed by the
minority; also two amendments that would
be proposed by Senator Hill, of New York.
All Of them would now be read, after
which by agreement two hours and 40
minutes would be allowed for debate, one
hour and 20 minutes on each side He hop
ed that the convention would listen pa
tiently to what was to be read and said
After the platform was reported senator
Hill Of New York, representing the mintv.
ity gold men, submitted the following,
which contains strong plank favorable to
the existing standard. The use of the
word gold" in the plank As conspicuous.
The text Of the minority report with the
signatures attached thereto follows:
ITO the Democratic National conven-
ton: Sixteen delegates, constituting the
minority of the committee on resolutions,
find many declarations in the report of
the majority to which they cannot
give their assent Some, of these are wholly
unnecessary. Some are ill-considered and
ambiguously. phrased. while others are
extreme and revolutionary of the well
recognized principles Of the party. The
minority content themselves with this gem
eral expression of dissent without going
into q specific statement of these Objec-
tionable features Of the report Of the ma
jority, but upon the financial question
which engages at this time the chief
share Of public attention the views Of the
majority differ so fundamentally from
what the minority regard as vital Demo-
cratic doctrine as to demand q distinct
statement Of what they hold to as the only
just and true expression of Democratic
y,
which is offered a. q subtitute for the
financial plank:
1--WE declare our belief that the expert
ment on the part Of the United States
alone of free silver coinage and change
Of the existing standard Of value inde-
pendently Of the action OF other great ma
lions would not only imperil our finances
but would retard or entirely prevent the
establishment Of International bimetallism
to which the efforts Of the government
should be steadily directed. It would place
this country at once upon silver basis,
impair contracts, disturb business. d.
minish the purchasing power Of the wages
Of labor and inflict irreparable evils upon
our nations commerce and industry.
Until international cooperation among
leading nations for the coinage Of silver
can be secured, we favor the rigid main
tenance Of the existing gold standard as
essential to the preservation Of our public
pledges and the keeping inviolate OF coun-
try's honor We insist that all our paper
and silver currency shall be kept abb
solutely on parity with gold. The Demo-
cratic party Is the party Of hard money.
and Is opposed to legal tender paper money
as part Of our permanent financial sys-
tenn and we therefore favor the gradual
retirement and cancellation Of all United
States notes and treasury notes under
such legislative provisions as will prevent
undue contraction. We demand that the
national credit shall be resolutely main
tanned at all times and under all circum-
stances.
1.-THE minority also feel that the report
Of the majority Is defective in failing to
make any recognition OF the honesty,
economy, courage and fidelity Of the pres
emit Democratic administration and they
therefore offer the following as an amend
ment to the majority report:
I'VE command the honesty, economy,
COURAGE and fidelity Of the uroaeuf Dem
ocratic National administration.
David b. Hill New York.
WILLIAM +. @rtlas Wisconsin,
George Gray, Delaware,
John Prentiss Poe, Maryland,
II. w. Drew. New Hampshire,
hi &C. O. Holman, Maine,
"P. J. Farrell. Vermont.
"Linde Harrison, Connecticut,
4 "David 8. Baker, Rhode Island,
',Thos. A. G. Weadock, Michigan
i "James e. O'Brien, Minnesota.
"John E. Russell. Massachusetts,
ar. E. Wright, Pennsylvania,
william r. Steele, South Oak.
"Allen McDermott. New Jersey.
An amendment endorsing the adinifie-
tzation of Cleveland was read and cheefed.
Mr.. Whitney rose with the New York dele
CATION and Joined In the cheering, but Mr..
Hill remained in his seat.
The amendments proposed to be offered
by Senator Hill were then read ~ fol-
lows:
First Amendment--Bu It should be
carefully provided by law ct the same
time that any change In the monetary
standard should not apply to existing con-
tracts.
Second Amendment-Our advocacy oil
the Independent free coinage Of silver, be-
viii eject and maintain q parity between
gold and silver at the ratio of 16 to l. we