West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-07-19
RENOUNCED
REPUBLICANS
Hon. Webster Davis Thrilled the
National Democratic conven-
ton At Kansas City.
lie Was Assistant Secretary or the
Interior In Mckinley's Cabinet.

|
Hon. Webster Davis was the most
remarkable incident of this histori-
cal and wonderful day of days.
Mr.. Davis began speaking with
out much preliminary. He went at
1t with an earnestness that carried
immediate conviction and at every
period the audience applauded and
the chairman raped for order
The longer Mr.. Davis spoke the
greater became the enthusiasm.
He told of his efforts to get the
Mckinley administration to aid the
Beers in their struggle against En-
glish brutality, of his trip to the
Transvaal, which he made in order
to satisfy himself of the justice of
the Boer cause. He spoke of the
English influences which controlled
President Mckinley and all of the
present administration, and called
upon Democrats to resent the En-
glish control He said that En-
gland dictated our policy toward
the Beers and was debating our
policy in relation to other things.
Toward the end of his speech Mr..
Davis recited an appropriate verse
1
the last lines of which were :
GAS he died to make men hol,
Let us die to make men free"
The words were delivered with
almost superhuman force. Mr..
Davis was in earnest. He leaned
forward as he delivered the last
line, and with his hands held aloft.
pronounced the words in a voice of
thunder.
I The effect was electrical. 1t was
almost magical. Judge Van Wyck,
OF New York, and Governor
Thomas, of Colorado, both of
whom sat just back of the speaker,
Jumped to their feet along with the
rest. Judge Van Wyck was a parti-
cularly conspicuous figure on the
stage. The delegates and the visit
ors in the great hall followed his
example and in far less time than
it takes to tell it the hall contained
a tangled mass of men gone mad
with enthusiasm. Old men shouted
and young men yelled. A yellow
haired girl on the platform fell into
the aisle in her excitement and
policeman picked her up and threw
her back without desisting in his
cheering. 1t was probably 10
minutes before the demonstration
stopped. But another greater one
followed
Mr.. Davis complimented the
Democrats for the Boer plank in
their platform, and then said 81
stand upon this platform and pledge
to you my earnest, heartfelt support
to William Jennings Byran."
No sooner had he said this than
every delegate was on his feet.
Richard Croker, the New York
leader, who sat near the stage, was
one of the first to climb into a chair
and shout. AS a rule Mr.. Croker
is not demonstrative man. But
the enthusiasm and storm of the
moment carried him away as it did
everyone else. The flags, which
almost every man on the floor of
the hall carried, were unfurled in
flash, and in moment after Mr..
Davis had closed his speech they
were being waved like mad. The
Missouri delegation started out into
the main aisle with one of the dele
gates holding the State banner aloft
and shouting until il. looked as
though he'd die of apoplexy. The
HISTORIANS marched down past the
stage and some one in the crowd
shouted for bryan and Davis. -
The cry caught on, as Il were, and
was taken up until the hall rang
with it.
But the climax hadn't been
reached yet. The band leader had
an inspiration, evidently, and the
musicians started up "'My Country.
'Tis Of Thee" The band only
played one bar of the National
hymn and then stopped. But the
frenzied audience took it up and
sang it with a fcrvor that made
ones heart beat faster. It was
thrilling. The bandmaster was
forced 10 fall into line vocally and
the musicians fell in before the first
verse was finished. Il is doubtful
If america" we're ever sung by so
large number Of people before.
IL is doubtful if it we're ever sung !
so fervcntly. Il is certain that it !
was never sung on more appro-
ate occasion.
"Sweet land Of liberty" rang out
from $4,000 voices and the signif- !
cancc Of The continent cnnlainod ir