Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1896-08-20

casion. While l greatly appreciate
this compliment conferred by this
designation, can not but deplore the
enforced absence of the distinguish
ed Senator from California, and am
requested by him to express his deep
regret at his inability to be present
and participate in the interesting
ceremonies of this hour.
"Mr. Chairman, the convention
hich assembled at Chicago on the
7th day of July last, was convened in
the usual way, under call issued in
due form, by the National Democratic
Committee. There was nothing out
of the ordinary in the manner of its
assembling, and nothing in the action
of the committee under which author
ity it was convoked to distinguish it
from its predecessors. 1t was in all
respects a regular National Conven-
tion of the Democratic party. Every
State and Territory in the Union,
from Maine to Alaska, was represent
ed by full quota of delegates, land
may add with perfect truth that a
more intelligent and thoroughly rep
resentative body of Democrats never
assembled on the American continent.
PEOPLES WILL EXPRESSED AT CHI
CAGo.
"The Convention was called for two
purposes: First, to formulate plat
form declaratory of party principles
and, secondly, to nominate candidates
for President and Vice President oi
the United States. Both these pur'
poses were fully accomplished, ant
accomplished according to the usua
usages that have been recognized ant
the methods of procedure which have
obtained for fifty years. The acts o
| the convention, therefore, we're the
acts of the Democratic party. tt
work was done under the sovereign
authority of the national organiza
ton; and that work was the direc
outgrowth of the calm, well natures
| Judgment of the people themselves
deliberately expressed through theil
representatives chosen from amonI
the wisest, most trusted and patrioti
of their fellow citizens in all tn
States.
"Although all have said is literall.
true, yet the fact remains, of whicl
every one is conscious, that ther
were extraneous circumstances lead
ing up to the convention which attract
ed unusual attention to its delibera
tions and which invested them wit
unusual Importance. To such an ex
tent was this true, that l may So
without exaggeration that no othe
political convention has been as
ssmbled in this country since the civ
war upon which public attention wa
!, riveted with such intensity, or in th
outcome to whose deliberations nc
only the American people, but th
nations of the earth, felt such dee
concern. We are all familiar wit
these circumstances to which / refe
The national administration wa
created by the Democratic party.
| is the result of the great victory wo
in 1892. The campaign OF that yea
was fought almost wholly on the tart
issue. It was war waged against tf
excessive, monopolistic. trust -breet
: ing schedule of the Mckinley lay
The Democratic party was united a
most as one man against that La,
and thousands of those who beliey
} in the policy of protection consery
! atively administered for the publ
good, and not for private enrichmen
protested against this monstrous o.
! tortion for individual and corpora
emolument. Opposition to the Nj
Kinley law was the dominant issue