The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-07-25
CHAMP QARK'@ 5 LETTER
Democratic Party Firmly
Reunited.
KANSAS CITY CONVENTION.
Splendid Assembly of American
Freemen.

THE PLATFORM AN INSPIRATION.
Every Lover Of Human Liberty Can
Stand Upon It-Webster Davis De-
votion to Principle-Wi1l Stump the
Country For Democracy-Patriot
Leave the Party of Imperialism.
Co1ored Voters Also Q1it-TroubIe
Over Hanna's Platform.
Especial Washington Lst:er.l
A reunited Democracy is what came
out Of the Kansas City convention. The
lines will be closed up everywhere
from Marthas Vineyard to the Golden
Gate and from the great lakes 10 the
gulf of Mexico. Enthusiasm is more
contagious than the measles, the small
pox or the black plague Enthusiasm
was on tap from the moment that the
Hon. James &. Jones raped the con-
vention to order until the gayel OF the
Hon. James D. Richardson, permanent
chairman, fell for the last time, when
he declared the great convention ad-
journed sine die. Everything that hap
pened was heartily cneered. including
the chaplain's prayer. The first men
ton of Bryan's name set the conven-
ton in q turmoil of enthusiasm that
lasted over half an hour The reading
of the Declaration was interrupted
time and time again with roarS Of ap-
plause.
Greatest Convention Ever Held.
The reading of the platform need not
have consumed more than 20 minutes.
save for the applause, which made the
reading consume an hour. The great
factional fight so widely advertised by
Republican papers and which originat-
ed in their imagination never came off.
i was the greatest convention ever
held on the face of the earth. It was
not composed Of lot Of official pap
suckers and tax eaters, but by q
splendid array of American freemen,
who think with their own brains and
follow the dictates Of their own con
sciences. and the result of their delib-
erations was the best possible for the
Democratic party, which is the same
as saying that it is the best possible for
the country. The platform is one upon
which every Democrat-indeed, every
lover of human freedom-can stand,
and the ticket nominated is the stron-
gest presented for the suffrages of the
American people within a generation.
1t would be work Of supererosation
to speak in detail OF either William J.
Bryan or Adlai f.. Stevenson. The lat
ter served with distinction in the high
position in which he will serve four
years more. and there is not ore man
in America with TWO ideas above a
Hotteatot who doubts the qualidca-
tons of William J. Bryan for the high
Office OF president.
Webster D.vis' Grafton.
One of the most remarkable oratorical
performances ever witnessed was the
speech of Hon Webster Davis of Mis-
souri, and South Africa before the con-
yention at Kansas Ci:v. It Was just aft
er the reading Of the platform. the Boer
plank OF which reminded some Of the
great fight Davis had been making for
the .AfrikanderS. that delegates and
spectators began tocry for Davis. Chair
al, I'd x,1~n ~
sat just back Of the speakers stand.
urging him to come to the platform. Al
most bodily he was lifted on to the dais
and stood for several moments before
he could make his voice heard above
the myriad voices Of approval and en-
thusiasm greeting him. Each clear
sentence Of his wonderful voice. reach
ing the LttermoSt corners Of the vast
hall. called forth cheer upon cheer. and
when he reached particularly thrill
ing lire the tumult became uncontrolla-
BILE. For five minutes the shouting rose
and Swclled. Finally he resumed and
concluded. only to be borne to a seat
among the Missouri delegates. claSped
IL ItH. aIUlS Ol uoLSu p1l ~ AecuS1S
al. escorted by banner waving
throus. Il was Z scene to be remen-
berc.l Davis, magnificent. honest,
splendid in his manhood and his devo
ton 10 the principles of liberty. had
been the one clean thing left in the Re-
publican party in Missouri. Now he is
gone from the corrupt organization for
ever and has turned his great talents,
backed by the energy of youth and the
FIRE of conviction to the work of bring
ing the country back to the principles
Of the Declaration Of Independence.
Forlorn indeed are the Missouri Re
publicans in his loss. which is not
merely the loss Of one vote and one
voice. for there are thousands of young
men in the rank and file Of the old par
ty who Will follow where Davis leads.
Davis to stump For Bryan.
It is already known that Davis will
stump the republic this fall from ocean
to ocean. as he did in 1898 at Mckin-
ley'S beheSt for the purpose. as stated
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