The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-24
THE SPIRIT THAT
RULEDAT ST.LOU|S
ENEgals -
John Sharpe Williams
Writes TO the Point.
CONSERVATIVE WORK
How the Extremists on Both Sides oil
the Great Party Were Gently
But Firmly Held in and
Dominated by Cool
er Heads.
er Heads.
BY John Sharp Williams.

er Heads.
BY John Sharp Williams.
Temporary Chairman of the Demo-
cratic National Convention and
Member of the Committee
on Resolutions.
(Republished by Permission of Col
ler's Weekly, Copyright, 1904O
The spirit which ruled the hour was
in one sentence mutual consideration,
in seeking concord of action by an
nouncing strongly and affirmatively
the opinion of a reunited Democracy
on live issues pressing for settlement,
and by ignoring differences of opinions
on dead or sleeping questions no long
er constituting issues. The name of
every man who had ever eminently
served the party was when mentioned
cheered. The temporary chairman
having accidentally mentioned the
name of Grover Cleveland, and attri-
buted to his dogged persistency and
indomitable will the credit or dis
credit, whichever it might appear to
his listeners to be, of the establish
ment of the gold standard in 1893, by
the repeal of the purchasing clause Of
the Sherman act, the convention broke
forth in a roar of applause which
lasted so long that the speaker had
twice to take his seat before 1T sub
sided. Some of this was, as all could
see, the work of Tammany, prearrang-
ed for the possible event Tammany,
however, with all its resources and
noise-making power, could not have
produced half of it nor prolonged 1t
one-half so long, unaSSisted by the
hearty goodwill and participation OF
many others.
This spirit was especially indicated
again by the manner in which the
convention treated Mr.. Bryan. He
never appeared without receiving
loud and prolonged applause 1t
was tribute by Democrats to their
belief in his rectitude of character and
honesty of purpose.
on the other hand, however, he
never made a motion in the convention
which was not voted down. He made
none of any serious importance in the
committee that bore upon the salient
positions in his career as Democrailc
leader which was not likewise voted
down.
A Sentiment Against Silver.
This was especially true of his posi-
ton to indorse the Kansas City plat
form carrying with it, of course, q
reafiirmation of the proposition that
the Democratic party would still con-
tend for the free and unlimited coin
age OF silver at the ratio of 16 to L.
This was voted down in committee, If
my memory serves me right, but
kl~- y. nVi-
Gus proposition offered by anybody,
and so overwhelmingly was the aenti-
ment against it that neither he nor
anybody else afterward indicated the
slightest desire to bring the PROPOSE
ton before the convention, although
perhaps two thirds of the delegates
had in two previous Presidential elec-
tions voted for it, and although six
and half millions of American voters
in 1S96-constituting a majority of
the white voters of the United States
and "a large majority of its native
born white voters-had Joined them in
that vote The South held the bal
ance of power both in the applause
and voting, and illustrated once more
IFS traditional warmness of heart ana
soundneSs of head; the first, as SHOWN
i'm it's applause in it's personal devotion
to the leader of a lost cause; and the
q,
uuiet acceptance of an accomplished
fact The strategic strength of the
delegates was shown in this; that they
franklv refused to hold positions
found untenable, but concentrated the
batteries of the convention upon posi-
tions of the enemy believed to be un-
tanable. 1t refused to fight either a
losing or defensive battle In this
there was no sacrifice of principle-at
most a confession of defeat and OF the
useIessness of further struggle. NO
GOOD general will sacrifice battle to
3 mad desire to hold an escarpment,
when he finds changed condltlons
,.e,der further holding the escarpment
,,ealess and unwise for the advance
ment of a great cause. The conven-
tion called on the Democracy to attack
o@Strayagance, dishonesty imperialism,
absolutism in government, exploitation
of so-caIled colonies for commercial
greed. combinations of capital seeking
monopoly and !. with monopoly the
mower to raise prices of their finished
products to the point of extortion,
thereby robbing the consumer; power
TO bear down the price of the raw
material. thereby robbing the pro-
ducer. and power to regulate and con-
troll the price of wages thereby rob-
bing the laborer, whether by reducing
the individual wage-rate, or by reduc-
ing 5he number of individuals en-
ployed as wage -earnerS. 1t called upon
them to attack the extortions and in
justices rendered possible by present
tariff schedules, and also the discrimi-
.snations and rebates on the part OF
amon carriers. made possible by the
ent impotence of the law and the
greater impotence of the tribuna