The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-06-12

w. Daniel, Of Virginia, as thorough believ-
or In the free coinage OF silver as any man In
his party, and one OF the grandest characters
In the United States Senate, worked like q
beaver day and night to try TO con vince these
Western delegates that their policy was suici-
dal. Governor Smith, OF Maryland, told
Them I that The Democrats could carry Mary.
land without that plank and could not carry
Maryland with II. Gen. ST. Clair, OF West
Virginia, worked until O'Clock In the morn.
to his delegation, saying, "Boys. we are ruin
ed." Tom Toggart, Of Indiana, himself q
silver man, worked like beaver to keep that
plank from being inserted and served notice
upon his party that the Democrats OF his
Slate were not in sympathy with II, and
would not vote for the candidate II nominal.
ed upon such platform. The vote was TAX
en- and only fifteen States voted in favor OF
l6 to /. The Western delegates weakened on
the night Of July and so apprised Mr..
Bryan. By telephone message TO his leader,
MIR. Metcalf, OF Nebraska, he Informed the
Convention that he would not accept the
nomination If the reiteration of IL 10 | was
not In the platform. 1t was then too late 10
select another candidate, although meetings
were in progress by at least twenty State
10 far desert the Democratic principle that
the majority shall rule, as to refuse to accept
a nomination upon Democratic platform
that did not contain this new principle OF
Democracy, 1t was too late TO concentrate
upon another candidate and Mr.. Bryan was
| nom mated. The remark was general among
the Democrats on the trains as they went to
their homes that they had been compelled TO
surrender and there was no hope of Bryan 3
election. The Eastern leaders were not sur.
pris sed when Bryan was defeated by greater
ma jority of popular and electoral votes than
In the election OF 1896
When such men AZ Senator Vest. David B.
Hill. Grover Cleveland and Don NJ. Dickinson
discussed the reorgani nization, MIR. Bryan re-
piled In an editorial In the Commoner, the
| plain purport of which was that he consider.
Ell himself the Democratic party and de-
clined to be reorganiZed. He has on various
occasions In the Commoner read out Of the
party all men who were not willing TO sacri-
| flee all Democratic principles TO the interests
| OF the silver question. He attempted TO de-
| feat Carter Harrison in Chicago and the regu-
lar Democratic nominee for mayor IN the city
of St. Louis because they were Democrats
| first, and did not believe that the Democratic
| party should sink into oblivion by reason of
an issue which has been gallantly fought for,
but irretl ievably lost.
The old line Democrats declined TO be driv-
| en- from their party by man who, during
ten years OF political life, has been Il Demo
crat, a Populist and Socialist. The only
Office which William j. Bryan ever held he
| was elected to by The Populists, 1t being I'M
| possible for the Democrats TO secure an elect
ion in that district. He acted with the
| Democrats In Congress, but distinctly stated
| that he was not bound by a Democratic plat
| form.
| AZ a side partner of Mr.. Bryan, and shar n e
| with him In the nomination OF the Populsts
| in 1900, Is another brilliant orator from the
State OF Minnesota. l refer to Charles A.
Towne. MIR. Towne, like Mr.. Bryan, became
famous In day by reason of his oratory and
has remained famous as political lightning
| change artist. His autobiography, published
| In the Congressional Directory of the 54th
| Congress, reads as follows: