The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-06
Reading the Platform.

Presently the Committee on Resolutions
| headed by Senator Jones and Senator TIL
man. could be seen ascending the steps Of
the stage. Senator Jones announced that
the Committee on Resolutions had made 4
, unanimous report, and he handed the plat
form to Senator Tillman to read.
Mr.. Tillman strobe TO the front OF the
stage. black coated black cravattea and
sirdied at the waist with a leather belt
As his tall figure. and powerful. Indian
like face was seen. there was thunder
clap Of greeting.
The supreme moment OF the convention
had arrived. The Senators voice rang high
and clear and he gestured and threw his
head hack and filled his tones with irony.
sarcasm or eNuitatiOn as each phrase de-
manGed it. He crouched and stamped his
foot and parted his lips and Missed the
words between his teeth at times. He
| looked like some great actor playing out
the central part in some drama.
He heard the first plank. which was de-
voted 10 a -esffirmation Of the Declaration
of Independence, and the GeuunciaJion II
imperialism. His voice thrilled the grea;
host. Again and again he was interrupt d
by the shouting OF the convention. At
every sentence the cheering was renewed.
Cuba. Porto Rico and the Philippines al
touched the heart of the convention. l. is
impossible to describe Mr.. Tillman' $
extraordinary defamation. Probably 40
, able of the same stirring oratory. \ bea'0
Of sunlight shone full upon him as he roll j
out the decree OF the Democratic parry
against colonies or subjects under The
American flag, and he looked like some
caunt prophet. his single eye cleaning
hercely unGer hts splendid brow.
Glorious Flag Demonstration.
And when. finally. he read the sentence
,-;.,Nsa h..
mount issue OF this campaign. the multi
tude leapeJ 10 its feet The climax had
come.
Democracy was on fire, heart, soul. brain,
hand foot, voice. There came from that
mighty audience such a shout, such pro-
longed shout. as comes only from human
nature touched by the fame of some great
cause.
Instantly the great hall was converted in
to a swimming. swirling dashing whirlpool
OF color ana roaring voices. Every man.
woman and child there waved an American
flag. on which were printed the words. THE
Constitution and the flag, one and insep-
bic now and forever-Uf an empire.
never,'
There were lSc0o flags waving at once and
1880 voices blended in that thunderous tu-
mutt. The Massachusetts delegation raised
great silk flag on pole and waved ii
wildly about. The band played The Star
Spangled Banner" and as the strains Of the
music swelled through the building a coIus-
sal American flag was lowered from the
roof to the stage. II was flag that would
cover the floor of an ordinary theater.
Across its white stripes were inscribed the
words printed on the smaller flags
Slowly Ii descended until its folds brushed
against the marble face OF Bryan on the
platform. The roaring OF the audience
ascended note by note in intesi.y until the
Of Niagaras. Every State and every Ter
ritoTy Joined In the demonstration. RiIlows
OF red. white and blue seemed to surge and
mass across the floor and around the stand
ing tiers Of the great amphithcater. wash
ing against the walls and bilowing back
again to the center. Flash light photo
were taken and the smoke of the powder
fioated across the hail over the swirling sea
Of flags and faces. Banners broke out In
every direction. Here was a black banner
inscribed. what would Christ 10 i'm the
Philippines" There was banner bearing
the words, Lincoln abolished slavery under
the flag and Mckinley restored it,
Banners of blue and banners of white
banners of gold. of scarlet. OF silver. of
purple, tossing. whiriing, colored plum.s Of
pampas grass. II was a cataclysm. a NOV
Ing cataclysm Of sunsets and sunrises-
gorgeous, glittertng. swimming before tire
eyes and piercing the ears.
The audience sang the Red. White and
Blue" Then the delegates piuckef the
standards Of their States and Territories I'D
and marched around the hall. with the grea.
flag OF the South African Republic borne
before the beautiful Hawaiian banner Of
blue and white, after which came the strik-
Ing banner of California Around and
around went the dancing procession Of poles.
Around and around went the waves of red.
white and blue. Five times the standards
were grouped in front OF the stage The
band played Dixie and the audience
sang it.
No one who saw that almost unparalleled
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS for intensi v
as well as for its beautiful scenic and IRA
matte effect-could doubt the discriminate
Of the American people never to abandon
the Republic for an Empire.
After eighteen minutes Of tumut the
chairman. assisted by the entire body OF
guards and sergeants-at-arms. succeeded in
restoring comparative order. Senator TILL
man raised his hand and shook the white
pages OF the platform above his head.
IF Mark Hanna were here" he shouted.
he would think HI had broke loose IN
Missouri
There was another prolonged cry of APP
prevail when the Chicago platform was re-
affirmed and the free silver issue was re-
stated The demonstration lasted for seven
minutes. The ioudest voice in the whole
hall. and the most enthusiastic at this
time, was that of Doctor John III. GirGner
OF New York, the old-ume friend and sup
porter of Mr.. Bryan
But the lack of real enthusiasm for FREQ