Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1900-07-20
De MOCRATIC CONTENTION
How the Delegates at Kansas City Re-
CoiYod the Platform,

Presently the Committee on
Resolutions, headed by Senator
Jones and Senator Tillman, could
be seen ascending the steps Of the
stage. Senator Jones announced
that the Committee on Resolutions
had made a unanimous report, and
he handed the platform to Senator
Tillman to read.
The supreme moment of the
convention had arrived. The
senator's voice rang loud and
clear and he gestured and threw
his head back and filled his tones
with irony, sarcasm or exultation
as each phrase demanded it. He
crouchtd and stamped his foot and
parted his lips and Kissed the
words between his teeth at times.
He looked like some great actor
playing out the central part in
some drama.
He read the first plank, which
was devoted to a reafiirmation Of
the Declaration of Independence,
aud the denunciation of imperial
ism. His voice thrilled the great
host. Again and again he was
interrupted by the shouting of the
convention. At every sentence
the cheering was renewed. Cuba,
Porto Rico and the PHILIPPINES all
touched the heart of the conven-
ton 1t is impossible to describe
Mr.. Tillman's extraordinary
defamation. Probably no other
orator in the United States is
capable of the same stirring
oratory. A beam Of sunlight
shone full upon him as he rolled
out the decree Of the democratic
party against colonies or subjects
under the American flag, and he
looked like some gaunt prophet,
his single eye cleaning fiercely
under his splendid brow.
GLORIOUS FLAG DMoNsT RATION.
And when, finally he read the
sentence that declared imperialism
to be the paramount issue Of this
campaign, the multitude leaped to
it's feet. The climax had come.
Democracy was on fire, heart,
soul, brain, hand, foot, voice.
There came from that mighty
multitude such a shout, such q pro-
longed shout, as comes only from
human nature touched by the
fame of some great cause,
Instantly the great hall was
converted into swimming, swirl
ing dashing whirlpool of color and
roaring voices. Every man,
woman and child there waved an
American flag on which were
printed the words, "The constitu-
ton and the flag, one and insep-
arabic, now and forever-of an
empire, never!
There were $4,000 flags waving
at once and Is, 900 voices blended
in that thunderous tumult. The
Massachusetts delegation raised a
great silk flag on u pole and waved
it wildly about. The band played
"The Star Spangled Banner" and
as the strains Of the music swelled
through the building a colossal
American flag was lowered from
the roof to the stage. 1t was a
flag that would cover the floor OF
an ordinary theater. Across its
white stripes were inscribed the
words printed on the smaller
flags.
Slowly it descended, until It's
folds brushed against the marble
face Of Bryan on the platform.
The roaring Of the audianct
assembled note by note in intensity
until the sound became deafening
1t was like a war of Niagaras
Every state and territory joined il
the demonstration. Billows O
red, white and blue seemed t.
surge and mass across the floor an(
around the standing tiers of thu
great ampitheater, washing agains
the walls and billowing back agair
to the center. Flash light photo
graphs were taken and the smoke
Of the powder floated across tn,
hall over the swirling sea of flag
and faces. Banners broke out il
every direction. Here was /,
black banner inscribed, "Wha
would Christ do in the Philip
pines?" There was a banne
bearing the words, "Lincoln abol
ished slavery under the flag ant
Mckinley restored it,"
Banners of blue and banners O
white, banners of gold, of scarlet
of silver, OF purple, tossing, whirl
ing, colored plumes Of pampas
grass. 1t was cataclysn, a NOV
ing cataclysm of sunsets ant
sunrises-gorgeous, glittering
swimming before the eyes AM
piercing the ears.
The audience sang the "Red
White aud Blue" Then tn
delegates plucked the standards o
their states and territories up ant
marched around the hall, with til
great flag of the South African
Republic borne before the beauti
full Hawaiian banner of blue an,
white, after which came tn
striking banner of California
Around and around went tn