The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-07-05
SPEECH OF. THOMAS
Temporary Chairman of the Demo
cratic National Convention.
THE PARTY OF THE PEOPLE.
Expatiates on the "Grand and Glori-
Gus Principles Of tho Party Of
Jetfrson - Industrial Dsspotis1n
as Against the Liberty of the Cit

!. 'n. JeITSou - luUuSlIlol 1e5pUtiSTl
as Against the Liberty of the Cit.
izcn.
4 KANSAS CITY, Mo-, July 4.-The
Democratic national convention met at
noon to day Senator James X. Jones',
of Arkansas, chairman of the national
COMMITTEE. called the convention to or
der. The hall was packed. After Chair
man Jones raped for order the Dec
lhration Of Independence was reud amid
cheers. Then Mayor Rose made an
address OF welcome and Chairman
. Jones introduced Governor Charles s.
! Thomas, OF Colorado, as temporary
chairman. Governor Thomas said in
part:
I'VE meet under most suspicious in
iluences. On the nations birthday, In
a great central city OF the republic. at
the close and opening of n century,s'we
come together to rcailirm our alle-
glance to the principles of Thomas
Jefferson and our loyalty to their great
est living exponent. We have been Sc
lected by the, farmer and the artisan.
the miner and the mechanic, the pro-
ducers OF wealth in every state and
territory of thissmighty nation, to reg
lister n decree they have already deter
mined, to proclaim q candidate they
have already chosen. We come not
with the pomp and circumstances OF
consolidated wealth. but as the dele
gates OF the plain people who believe
that all men were created equal and
that oil governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the gov
erned. We are not here rs the repre-
sentativcs OF the vast interests which
dominate every Industrial life but as
. the champions of the individual citizen
who stands helpless In their presence.
We speak not for those who would piv-
OF the finances of the world upon a sin
gle metal, experimenting its made
Quacy by n paper currency Issued by n
private monopoly at the expense of the
people, but for, tbs, millions who believe
In the money of the constitution and in
the ability Of the countrymen to legis-
late for themselves without the pre-.
vious permission of foreign parliaments,
potentates or princes,
Portv of +he Peon1e
I'VE are in very truth the party OF
the people. Our declaration of faith
and purpose given to the world four
years ago has strengthened by the
passage of years and is cnshrincd to-
day in our hearts and hopes. 1t mark
ed an epoch in political history and
syInbQiizes. the. regeneration of the
party whose birth was coevei with the
birth of the nation whose death that
union cannot long survive. 1t crystal
lied into an undyins creed the pre-
cepts of our founders-reatIlrmed the
objects of democratic organization and
proclaimed Democracy to be no longer
name, but "a great, great spirit and n
living heart
Face to Face With Great Conditions.
,."rhe close of President Harrlson's
administration found the country face
to face with conditions of the greatest
moment. a deficiency in the public rev.
enues through the reckless legislation
and prohlsate extravaganza OF the
Fifty-frst Congress had become .appar-
ent in the preceding October. ~ bond
issue. prepared In February,iwas post
poned rs a legacy to the incoming adj
minIstration. Trade and Industry, long
stimulated by unequal tariff laws, were
staggering toward crisis. Monetary
conditions disturbed and uncertain
threatened early disaster. The storm
came in June. when the clements long
prnt up and long accommodating, burst
in fury upon the continent.
Overwhelmed Branches of Industry.
1T shook the foundation Of our COM
merciaI fabric, overwhelmed every
branch OF trade and industry and
spread bankruptcy and d2solation rife.
It's subsldence was the work of years.
The misery and ruin 1t inflicted was
fresh In the minds and hearts OF the
people. The country slowly emerged
from the receding flood. the stricken
nation struggled to It's feet and pain
fully began the work of economic re-
construction, while statesmen discussed
the causes of our calamity, In the
agony OF our suffering they clearly
perceived and freely. acknowledged Its
primal source. vicious and indetensi-
bic monstary systcm. Men differed rs
TO the method Of the reformation not
us, to the necessity for n change, TREY
were nngled over the merits nf stand
ards, but united in condcmning mn
. unsound and artificial financial system
the logical outcome Of whose operation
was inevitable disaster,
Political Lines Became Defined.
"Thc line ,of division between polite
nj forces became therefore, sharply de-
fined In 1896 upon what was called the
money question. Tint question Involv-
ed. as We then asserted and as We now
know. every other economic problem. It
embraced Within its Wide limitations
u