The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-31

WHO SEdli bt tAiUhti 10 watch lUt
count of the ballots. The members of
the Central Committee who oppose in
structions TO delegates 10 be allowed
the same privileges IL they SO desire.
The resolution was adopted with a great
shout but a single negative vote being
heard after the roar of ayes had subsided.
The chairman. IN declaring the resolution
adopted smilingly stated that because of
the one voice TO the contrary. he would
have to declare il carried almost unani-
mousIy
The chairman then appointed f. E.
Mitchell. T. P. O'Dea. and ". L. Dewart As
committee 10 present the resolutions to
the District Central Committee.
Representative Cocbrnn's speech.
Hon. Charles r Cochran. of Missouri
was then introduced, and spoke for nearly
an hour making an eloquent pea for the
cause of Democracy and its leader. He
said. in part:
In country like ours political parties
are inevitable. There are constantly oc-
curing grave questions of public impor
tance involving vital issues among the
citizens Thus factions are formed, the
one favoring and the other opposing a
public proposition of Importance, and it is
this which makes political parties inevita-
BILE This rule obtains with all forms OF
government everywhere and under all sys-
TENS.
Such factions divide naturally into two
great groups the one pointing to abso-
lutism and the exercise of power among
few. involving as a necessary consequence
the servitude of the many. This party con-
tends. in effect. that the mass of the peo-
pie is incapable of self government. and
hence that power must be centred in domi
Dant class. The other party resolves itself
into a championship of the masses and
against the authority which seeks to cen
iralize government at the expense of the
full consideration TO which the rights Of
the people at large are entitled.
Such are the respective aims of the Re
publican and Democratic parties. 1t may
be argued that the leaders of a party do not
always represent the best interests of that
party. To this l reply that no party can be
better than its leadership. That party
whose leaders demonstrate openly. with
scarcely the pretence of concealrlent, that
they have sought office exclusively for the
means which it offers them for enriching
themselves and ministering TO the interests
of the wealthy classes all at the cost Of
the people. unquestionably belongs to that
group which ! have named as seeking to
centralize power that the few may ride
over the many.
In my Judgment Mr. Clevelands last
Administration was the worst that the
country has ever had. l have n further
opinion upon the subject that the accom-
plishment of the objects of the Demo-
cratic party lie with the people of this
country at this present time more than
they ever did before and that the time
for a general house-cleaning has arrived
The Democratic party has the opportunity,
people of this country. and that it Will
declare against the monopoly Of capital,
against trusts and corporations. and
against that policy which has rendered tie
Republican party odious even to many
of those who have hitherto been its stanch
upholders. / believe the time is at hard
when the greatness of the masses will be
revealed and, by the eternal God, | be-
lieve that we. who represent the interests
of the masses, will rule the Democratic
party.
1T has been argued by certain gentle
men in the Democratic party that there
is no need for our instructing delegates
to the convention. but | do not believe
that good Bryan man will object to being
instructed. If any but Bryan men were
to be nominated in the delegation of six
which We will send to that convention,
then. perhaps. We would not make the at
tempt nut q bryan uidu IS uON bN HcugA
nous with good Democrat. and a good
Democrat is always willing to be in
structed as to the wishes of the people.
Every delegate 10 the convention goes
as the representative Of an expressed
trust acting in the interests of his party
and of the people. and he should be in
structed as to the wishes of those whom
he represents. l do not look at the ap-
preaching convention as many do. They
say We will capture the House of Repre-
sentatiyes and put the Democratic party
on its feet again. | feel confident that
we are going to elect the next President
of the United States and that his name
will be William Jennings Bryan.
Who shall be the antagonist of our
champion which the Republican party can
put into the field? We ask them in the
presence Of the people here present and
of their press to name their knight who
shall meet William jennings Bryan, the
man who bears with him the hopes of the
Democratic party and the political saliva
tion of his country. Gifted with the wis
dom of an Alcibiades or a Plato. the elo-
quence of DemostheneSe or Cicero with
the bold genius of a Napoleon without
his vices. the diplomacy OF a Talleyrand
without his duplicity. and the rugged hon
esty of Andrew jackson without his OBJ
stinacy he is the noblest representative
of the noblest cause that ever entered the
political arena.
Mr.. Rhea's Address
Hon John S. Rhea of Kentucky was then
introduced and in a speech which lasted
demonstrations of applause gave praise to
the Democrats and recited the weaknesses
and errors of the Republicans. He spoke
in part as follows:
The highest privilege of citizens is the
right OF pesceable assembly. so that they
may discuss all those great questions
touching government and affecting the
rights Of even the humblest citizen under
the Government. If my presence here to-
night was as an advocate of any faction
or TO interfere in the mere local dissensions
of either or any portion oil the District of
Columbia Democrats. then indeed | would
be proper subject for criticism, but / am
an American Democrat, and as such / am
as much interested in what the delegates
selected by The District Of Columbia shall
DO as I am concerning those in my own
great Commonwealth of Kentucky, and /
want it distinctly understood that my po-
litical affiliations are forever identified
with those of William Jennings Bryan
With the question as 10 what rivalry IL
any. exists between resident Democrats of
this District as 20 which and what side
shall be chosen TO represent the Democracy
at the National Convention have no con-
cern. But with the question Of the candi-
date they go there TO nominate have the
greatest concern. That delegate who re-
fuses to take his instructions from the peo-
pie whom he represents is no man for such
a position. and | am against the appoint
ment OF such a man
Speaking for myself. ! tell you, as |
stand here and as God is my judge.