Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-07-06

NeOIdSkd ucleSdtiOh ouu was WIN ~
ceived.
Prayer was offered by Rev. John F.
Cannon, Of the Grand Avenue Presby-
terrain Church.
At 1920 the call for the convention
was read.
The California delegation entered
shouting battle cry:
Boom, boom, boom,
Crack, crack, crack,
California, California,
Hearst, Hearst, Hearst.
Prayer being concluded Chairman
Jones announced the selection of John
Sharp Williams as temporary chairman.
The convention cheered and unanimously
ratified the choice.
National Committeeman Tarpey, of
California, and Mr.. Gutfey, Of Pennsyl-
vania, were appointed a committee to
escort Mr. Williams to the chair.
Mr.. Williams was warmly greeted
when he finally faced his big audience
and began speaking.
Hon. John Sharp Williams, temporary
chairman, in his speech, referred to the na-
tional republican convention as a cut-and-
dried affair in which everything had been
fixed beforehand. The speaker, among other
things, said the republican party now in both
of its legislative branches is party of pas
syity, of nOn-action, Of obstruction TO reform
and progress-in word of party whose only
sacred precept is the shibboeth which max
eth them known, one of them TO the other
shibboleth drawn from the gamblers table:
STAND pat, precept born Of cowardlee and
fear 10 move. Referring to President Roose-
welt, Mr.. Williams said in reference to en-
coniums often heard of the latter: How
humorous to praise so highly our fellow citi-
zen in the White House. who, in the long
line of great men who have filled the seat he
now occupies has himself found only about
three i'm his opinion worthy of anything like
unstinted praise?-George Washington, Abra-
ham Lincoln and himself. Verify the other
humorsts will have TO retire from business.
Mr.. Williams then made a rapid sketch OF
the republican party's course during the past
forty years going back to the credit mobiller
scandal, the whisky ring. the reconstruction
policy, and the thousand and one stigmas
brought upon the nation by the misrule Of
this organization. Much Of what he said was
in answer to Mr.. Roots speech at Chicago,
and he excoriated the ex-secretary unmerci-
fdlly. Chairman Williams then turned to
the republican platform, declaring it to be
chiefly a boast that the republican party is
responsible for everything good which has
happened" This, he denied, referring to
"its present obstruetveneSs, and its evasion
of the live issues which lie IN its pathway to
success Mr. Williams subsequently pic
tured the panic which began in 1873 under
republican rule, and referred to the fact that
the democratic administration demanded
and secured the passage of the act repeating
the purchasing clause Of the Sherman act,
thereby for the first time, practically estab-
fishing the gold standard in the United
States. This accomplished fact of the gold
basis was accomplished then not by the re-
publican party but by the logged persistency
and indomitaDle viii of Grover Cleveland
Now the republican party would steal his
thunder and this republican platform boasts
that it was the republican party which estab
ished the gold basis. Moreover, they would
now tell us that the panic was brought about
by a tariff act, which was not passed until
more than year after, to-wit in
1894. when the panic was virtually over
Some men preach the doctrine with the hope
that during periods of prosperity the average
man will let even an extravagant and dis
honest and unjust government, in which he
is interested continue uninterrupted. This
is the chief, if not the sole hope of the repub-
lican party today. The relation of the re-
publican platform towards the trusts was next
exposed by the speaker, who said "A more
ridiculous piece Of official impOtency thanthe
Interstate Commission Commission at present
does not exist" Mr.. Williams asked his
hearers ANY sane man supposed for a mo.
ment that the republicans had any serious in
tention of interfering with present tariff laws,
which he analysed as he did the entire Chi
cage platform. Concluding the speaker said:
LET not the business interest of the country
deceive itself; let those controlling it prepare
if Roosevelt is elected on this platform for
another period of uncertainty, unrest, busi-
ness disturbances and race war in the south
ern States, instead Of that peace and prosper
ity which both races now enjoy, and which
has been rendered possible only by home
rule and by white supremacy. But enough
about the other party. Some things about
ourselves: one thing the country can rely
upon, the democracy Will nominate for Presl-
a man trained in the ways Of the constitution,
who will not usurp legislative or judicial func
tions; who will not recklessly violate interna.
tional psages; who will not keep people guess
ing about what he is goingto do or say next;
il will nominate him upon 2 platform ignor-
ing dead issues and dealing with every pre-
ent livessue in tones certain andunmlstakaOlej
foreign economy of administration or enforce
ment of honesty in the publ service, wie
and business.like revision. and reduction OF
the tariff BIZ the friends Of the masses and OF
the commonwealth and not by tariff benefi-
Charles and their representatives alone, re-
duction which shall aim at equality of bur-
dens and equality of opportunities, and
whose ultimate object shall be to raise reye-
nue. by taxation 10 support the federal
government in virility, put m simplicity.
A democratic administration will lind IN our
treatment TO Cuba an example of Americ n
courage. Justice and magnanimity. TO be
initiated as soon as it can be wisely and safely
done in the Philippines ultimately, leaving
them and giving them the promise now thus
TO leave them free and independent The
democracy, when entrusted with power will
construct the Panama canal honestly and
economically. Above all, and in conclusion,
good democratic administration will ponder
and practice the simple precepts Of Jeaerson's
first inaugural address. 1t is the political
Sermon on the Mount for democratic repub-
licans."
When Williams announced that the
republicans had stolen Cleveland's thun-
der the convention went wild. Many
delegates got on their chairs and waved
their coats while they cheered at the
top of their voices. Shouts Of "Groyer,
Grover" were intermingled in some
places with Kisses.
This statement is made by a Parker
leader on the floor Of the convention
"There is we'll defined plan to nominate
Grover Cleveland. That can be seen"
Williams finished after talking an hour
and AZ minutes. The band started "The