The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-06

mer and with the artisan. When Hill de-
clared, with dramatic emphasis, that the
candidate would have the support of his
party-a united party-there was tremen-
dous applause at the suggestion of Demo-
cratic unity. Aside from the brilliant eulogy
of Bryan, the speech of the New York lead
er was chiefly significant and attractive i'm
its strong plea for unity. 1T is time for
unity. not for division" he exclaimed, 10
the rapturous approval OF the great multi
tude facing him.
The eloquent Daniel, of Virginia. added
his glowing tribute to the candidate, while
former Governor Pattison, of Pennsylvania
spoke for his State and for the East Gov
ernor McMillin. of Tennessee. voiced the
wishes of State which had furnished
three Presidents Hawaii. through its ma
tive delegate. John II. Wise. made its first
seconding speech in Democratic national
convention and finally a sweet-voiced and
pieasant-faced woman alternate from
Utah seconded the nomination of Mr.. Bry-
an in behalf of the State of Utah. Then
came the voting, State after State re-
corded its vote in behalf of the Nebraska
candidate and giving him the unanimous
vote of all the States and Territories. The
convention managers had already agreed
that this was sufficient work for the day
and the vice presidential nomination was
allowed to go over until tomorrow.
THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE.
Next TO the demonstration for the party
candidate, that greeting the announcement
that Imperialism was to be the paramount
issue of this campaign was the most spon-
taneous and significant of the day. Senator
Tillman read the platform and. with meas
ured force, brought out the fact that i'm
perialism was now given the first and SUI
preme place among the issues of the party.
That the delegates were in complete SYM
pathy with this expression was shown by
the long and sustained applause lasting
over twenty-five minutes and exceeding the
ovations usually accorded the favorites of
the party.
Following this, the announcement that
the 16-to-1 idea was retained in the plat
FORM received only faint and illy-sustained
recognition. the applause being limited to
few minutes. 1t was regarded as a signifi-
cant showing of the sentiment of the dele
gates quite as convincing as the terms of
the platform they had put forward.
Another stirring event of the day was
the appearance of Webster Davis. assistant
secretary of the interior under McKinley's
administration. in a speech severely ar
raigning the Republican party for its lack
of sympathy for the Beers and formally
| announcing his allegiance to the Democratic
party.
But the great battle of the convention
has not been fought under the eyes of
cheering thousands. but in the privacy of
the closely-guarded quarters of the COM
mittee on platform. Here was waged
throughout last night and again this morn
| ing one of the most remarkable struggles
| that has ever racked this historic party.
| On the one hand was the influence of Bryan
and the absolute unity of devotion felt to-
| ward him and the cause of silver with his
| name inseparably linked. On the other
hand were many of the patriarchs Of the
party, men like Daniel, of Virginia, insist
| ing that the very life of the organization
| was endangered by changing its old issues.
and that the duty Of the hour called for
new issues, based on new and vital events.
| This contest was at last narrowed down
| to the one issue specifically reaffirming the
party's adherence to a 16-to-1 standard, as
| desired by Mr.. Bryan, or Of reaffirming the
| silver plank in most gentle terms. And on
| this issue the brains, the sagacity, the per-
| suasive eloauence and the best ability of
/ the convention has for the last thirty-six
| hours been engaged in battle for suprem-
| acy. And out of this fierce strife the ad-
| herents of Bryan emerged, SCARED, but
victorious. They have written the platform
| in their own way, with 16 to !. but it was a
victory by scratch, for a single vote would
| have turned the scale. And it has not been a
victory without concession, for In the final
| draft silver is no longer paramount" 1t
| is far down in the platform, while in the
very forefront is the declaration that i'm
perialism is the paramount issue of this
campaign
| There remains only the choice of a cam
didate for Vice President and the work of
| the convention is over. There is every
| evidence that this choice will be quickly
| made tomorrow morning. although there
/ is still doubt as to whom the nominee
| will be.