The St. Louis Republic., 1900-07-06

a tremendous outburSt of enthusiasm.
The convention's first session was devoted
to speechmaking, while waiting ror rhe
Committee Resolutions to bring In the
platform
Former Governor HoSg of Texas. A. II.
Docksry of Missouri. and Governor Beck
ham OF Kentucky were among the speakers.
Each was received warmly 10y tho dele
yates as honored representatives, OF three
great Democratic States.
Governor Beckhan. accepted the outburst
as A compliment 10 the outraged Democracy
Of Kentucky. and pledged his State 10 tho
Democracy
Oldham NominatcS nryan.
More than a hundred years ago the
, Continental Congress of America adopted
Z declaration which had been drafted by
:. the Joyous tones of the old Liberty Bel
I which greeted the act. announced TO
!. waiting world that nation had been
with hearts unchllled by the selfish
sentimsnts Of cold commercialsmr you have
{ responded patriotically to each sentiment
contained in Democ -acy's first platform as
II was read TO you a. the opening of this
, convention; and in view of the radical de-
parture which the party IN power had made
. from the principles set forth In that his
foT,s doc9ment + is eet tina; aid ~tTHe sb;;ld
when choosing field and forming our lines
for the bloodiess battle of ballots now in
pending. say IN the Language OF one OF li,e
loved patriots of long ago: Read this
, declaration at the head of the army, and
every sword shall be drawn from its scab-
bard and a solemn vow taken to maintain
Il or to perish on the field OF honor.
Much of the history Of this Republic
shall be either made or marred by the ac-
I. tattves of the only party which is CO.
existent with the nation Itself: the only
SUFFICIENT constructive craftsmanship TO
create a nation in which each citizen be-
comes a SOVEREIGN. have. true to the tradi-
lions you bear. in your platform set out
1r simple language, with a decided AEeri-
can accent. plan for, the peoples re-
demption from each sacriiege and schisrn
taught by the Republican party. The plan
contains nothing but the approved prscepts
of the elders and doctors Of your faith. If,
on a platform, you place candidate whose
\evorej and unbiemished life shalt stand
as a pledge to the plain people that he. in
covenants made therein. then the hour of
our ultimate triumph is at hand.
There is no greater honor reserved for
become the standard-eearer of the Dem
ocratic party; 1t az once enrolis his naaie
not born to die and encircles him with 4
halo of the glory of all the tllust-iau3
achievements which that unccnquered and
unconquerable organization has ernblazoned
every page or our nations history. II
entrusts 10 his keeping the fame CT that
long line Of statesmen and PATRIOTS who
have llnelt for blessing at Democracy $
shrine.
oh bright are the names OF those heroes and
That shine like stars through the dinness Of
Whose deeds are Inscribed on the RACES Of story.
Icreyer 10 Live in the sunlight CT -sorJ-
The Leader Needed.
This high distinction must not be In
Torthtly bestowed. IL must follow as
reward for noble actions brdvely done. fer
unrequited. tireless toll. for sacriiices made
anj strength displayed: for trusts dis
charged ard pledges kept, We must eek
a leader whose public and private life most
nearly eNempiiiies his partys highest
ideals: who stands unqualifeily pledged
TO every issue We declare; who vii, carry
the standard We place in his hands, even
as the Black Douglas carried the sacred
casket that enclosed the heart Of Bruce.
He must Eot declare for free irade with |
Porto Rico. and then at the persuasive sug-
gestion Of the sugar and tobacco trust, sisl
bill for a tariff on the products OF that
island.
He must not denounce a policy one
of criminal aggression and then at the
demand of power behind the throne, pur-
sue the policy he has so denounced
lie must not, while protesting opposition
10 combines and conspiracies against trade.
castles to beg, like Lazarus. al Dives's
gates, for subscriptions to his campaign,
lie must no; lend the moral support of his |
administration to a monarchy ia It's efforts
to destroy republic. Bat he must .ver
sympathize with a people struggling Tor
the right Of self government.
INSTEAD of the Republican policy Of
rlono@netalism. he must offer the free and
OF the Constitution. the gold. that polished
tho winged sandals of Hernes ana the
silver that glitters in the bow of Diana.
''Instead. of panic-breedins credit cur
rency. controlled by the bank trust. he
must offer Government paper controlled by
the people.
Expansion and imperialism.
He must be able TO distinguish between
Democratic expansion and Republican i'm
periallsm The first is q natural growth by |
the addition of contiguous American ter
s,,sa ~rf.ar
the Constitution. the flag and the dcca- |
logue, and over the shoulders Of every in
a purple robe of sovereign citizenship. II
is a growth that has added eighteen stars
TO the field of blue in the Banner OF the
Free to symbolic the States that have
been carved from territory. annexed TO the
domain Of this nation. oy the wisdom and |
ststesnlanship OF the pemocr3tic parry;
Hhe north by the Constitution of the Uni |
Nd States. on the east by the Monroe Doc
trine. on the south by the Declaration OF
Independence and on the west by the Ten
Commandments.
How different this from the bandit, pol
fey of the Republican Imperialism, with lis
standing army and bayonet rule OF con-
guered Provinces; its government og sui!en
subjects against their Will, by force and
fraud: its denial 10 them OF the protec-
tion of either the Constitution or the COM
mand. which says: Thou shalt nos steal
ii policy that would send our Uncle ) m
of his American range with a cowboy haj.
n rope and a branding iron. to rustic and
brand over All the loose lSldIuS tle
Orient. while hyrocritcally chanting the
long-meter Doxology.
Democrats skies are tinged with rosi-
er hue to-day than when met In con-
vention four years ago. Then Il financial |
cataciysm ha6 spread over the country. and
although its every inducing cans. was cas-
fly traced To the errors and foilies OF the
Republican party, yet were In power
when ii came, and were wrongly held re-
subjects against their will, by force and
tunes, which followed In its wake. Torn
asuuder by 0issensicns within. and dtsas-
ters without, our party faced gloomy and
foreboding future which seemed to augUr
its dissolution. The problem then was To-
select standard-bear,r hold enough 10
cover the rear Of a retreat. and save the
party from destruction. If not from de-
feat
Democracys Champion.
while discord with her flaming torch
confused the counsels there. from out the
Sunset Realm a champion came and bade
kdefance to the oncoming host With the
Fetrength of youth. and the wisdom Of age,
with knightly mien and matchiess speech.
he lowered above his peers, and ali who
saw him then. with one accord. did hail
him Chief. and gave our party's banner
TO his hand Slowly despair gave way TO
dmorous fear had been: the broken. shat
tered columns formed again. and behind |
him. singing, came six million five hundred
thousand valiant men to that unequal fight. |
"And the story OF how well he fought. !
how fearlessly he fell and how dearly the |
enemys victory was bought. has all gone |
oct into history now. |
Back from his 'Firs: Battle he came. a |
baffied but unconquered hero of the rights |
t@