The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-07-25
Democratic Party Firmly
Reunited.
KANSAS CITY CONVENTION.
Splendid Assembly Of American
Freemen.


bvery Lever Of Human Liberty Can
stand Upea rt-wehster Davis De-
vetion 60 Priaciple-wil stump the
Ceustry For Democracy-Patriot
Leave the Party Of imperialism.
Celored Voters Also ouit-Trouble
Over Hanns's Platform.
Especial Washington Lstter.l
A reunited Democracy Is what came
cut Of the Kansas City convention. The
Hines will be closed up everywhere
from Marthas Vineyard to the Golden
Gate and from the great lakes to the
gulf Of Mexico. Enthusiasm In more
contagious than the measles, the small
pox or the black plague. Enthusiasm
WAS on tap from the moment that the
Hon. James Il. Jones raped the con.
vention to order until the gavel of the
Hon. James ID. Richardson, permanent
chairman, fell for the last time, when
he declared the great convention ad-
3Ourned sine die. Everything that hap
pened was heartily cheered, including
ton Of Bryan's name set the conven-
tion 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.
I, Grestest Convention Ever Held.
The reading Of the platform need not
have consumed more than 20 minutes,
ave 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 of.
IL was the greatest convention ever
held on the face Of the earth. 1t was
not composed Of q lot Of official pan
suckers and tax eaters, hut 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
- saying that II is the best possible for
The country. The platform Ia 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.
II would be a work OF supererogation
10 speak in detail OF either William ].
Bryan or Adlai T., Stevenson. The lat
ter served with distinction in the high
position in which he will serve four
years more. and there Is not one man
I'm America with two ideas above n
Hottentot who doubts the qualifica-
lions OF William j. Bryan for the high
Office OF president.
Webster Davis Oration.
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-
vention at Kansas City. IL 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 to cry for Davis. Chair
man Richardson turned to " here Davis
eat 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 uttermost corners Of the vast
hall. called forth cheer upon cheer, and
when he reached n particularly thrill
ing line the tumult became uncontrolla-
Die. For five minutes the shouting rose
and swelled. Finally he resumed and
concluded. only to he borne to a seat
among the Missouri delegates. clasped
In the arms Of dozen party leaders
nr.c escorted by banner waving
thronE. IL was scene % be remem-
bercd. Davis, magnificent. honest,
splendid In his manhood and his devo-
ton To the principles Of liberty, had
been the one clean thing left In the Re.
publican party I'm Missouri. Now he Ia
gone from the corrupt organization for
ever and has turned his great talents,
backed by the energy of youth and the
nre Of conviction. to the work Of bring.
tnS 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.
~ who will follow where Davis leads.
Davis tn stump For bryan.
IL 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
to him by the president. OF elccting a
Republican congress. The election over.
Mckinley congratulated him on the
fact that every congressional district In
which he had spoken had returned n