The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-09-08

lQnOm1ry r6tQof tQaQ confess error. tOlQ
democrats were powerlees to contend
against spirit OF intolerance emanating |
from the lashlngs OF silent self criticism.
1t was q convention wrlthing with con-
ylction but each member suppressing his |
thought and deceIving the others by pre- !
tended delight in the act OF Substitution
ton. It was the supreme hour for q
leader who could inspire confidence IN
his purpose, and who would not claim as
victory the successful accomplishment
OF duty. The leader appeared in the
person of T. 81. Kearney of Racine.
1t WIS no slight task to which he Rd-
dressed himself as 1t was practically set
ting aside those portions of the platform,
already adopted, which made fusion not
only feasible but logical consequence.
There we're delegates present whose de-
votion to silver oversh8do wed everything
| else. There we're others whose devotion
| to the platform had It's source IN resent
ment toward former associates which pre-
cluded unprejudlced consideration of the
| subject until that feeling of irritation
| was removed. And there were those
whom discipline held, though conviction
| Was at variance with the position they
| assumed. And guiding all was the self
| ish, Interior motive OF few who wished
to impress local feature upon the pro
ceedinRs Of the convention.
| But though not pronounced, there was
a feeling Of dissatisfaction With the con-
ditlons and tendencies; a suppressed con-
vlctlOn that all was not we'll. Just such
/ q feeling az q man has WHO has done
something that lacked the approval OF
| his Judgment and who is asked to tres
pass still further. There was feeling
of disgust for the growing spirit of barter
| the hawking of office for outside support
| and the increased demands of the popu-
lists as compensation for their aid.
ine referendum, though harmless and
under suitable conditions commendable,
had smack of populIsm which was dis
tasteful. When It wRs demanded that
the office OF state superintendent be made
q subject Of barter, the price which the
populists would accept in exchange fol
their political integrity, the inner protest
sought expression.
Mr.. Kearney proved powerful advo-
cate. he was persuasive and intensely
earnest, courageous and cautious, elo-
quent and argumeDtatiye. His appea
was not studied effort but it had the
force of earnestness and the elegance Of
deep feeling. His words sank deep into
the hearts OF his hearers and brought
them to 6 realization of the position. HI
was followed by Kirkland, Martin, Hay 81
and Graves who ably reinforced the posi-
ton taken. One could trace the sweeI
of conviction over the convention. 1
WAS not necessary that the members bt
convinced. 1t was essential that thel
real opinion be relieved OF the superim
, posed mass Of fallacy which kept 1t from
public expression. The applause which
was feeble at the beginning, grew 10 vol
ume, 1t became contagious, as but few
, we're immune from infection. Conviction
burst through the shell of regularity ane
asserted itself by smashing the false idol
for which the true faith was abandoned
: There was general happiness over th,
3 demolition and feeling of Satisfaction
q rupt termination.
1t was fortunate that matters had 81
D shaped themselves that repeated vote
+ enabled the antl-fusionists to demon
t strate their growing strength. Each &C
Z cesslon was promise of further gain
t The result of the contest upon the ap.
t pointment OF conference committee
D was surprise to those who had arrang
l. ed the program for fusion, and who hat
3 fixed the platform SO as to conform t,
g the outcome which they confidently ex
y pected. They won, but the victory wal
t not such as to warrant hope in contin
ued success unless the demands were 8,
t exceedingly moderate as to allsy suspi
: cion. A second vote on fusion on tn,
: question to lay the resolution on tn,
r table granting the populists the privilege
j of selecting candidates tor secretary o
9 state and superintendent Of public In
Y structlon, came SO near being a defea
Z for the fusloulsts that they took tn.
q | s!arm. The motion to table was defeat
: ed only because discussion WAS desired
, The fusionists sought to regain los
1 ground by moving to strike out tn,
} words superintendent of public Instruc-
] ton" and to add subject to the approx
? al OF this convention" The concession
t came too late. The convection had be-
4 come democratic and was determined Il
repudlate everything of populistic ma
! ture. The conscience of the delegates haC
been aroused and they brushed aside ap-
] peals for expectancy with determination
) not to be mistaken. The amendment car
ried; the amended motion was beaten anc
: had the platform then been submitted j:
3 would have been changed to suit the
temper OF the convention.
The convention made its own platform
, in nullifying the purpose of the platform
adopted peri unctorlly while the conven-
/ ton was in state OF intellectual som-