Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1895 — GREAT SILVER RALLY [ARTICLE]

GREAT SILVER RALLY

ENTHUSIASTIC FREE COINAGE MEN AT MEMPHIS. Fifteen Hundred Delegates from All Sections of the West aud South in Attendance-Senator Turpie, of Indiana, in the Chair. Meet Was a Success. Friends of silver representing twenty States of the South and West held a two days’ convention in Memphis. Fifteen hundred delegates, comprising Democrats, Republicans and Populists, but with "honest money,” thereby meaning gold and silver, as the slogan of all, filled the lower floor and a large portion of the balconies at the Auditorium when the gathering was called to order. On the stage, besides the officers of the Central Bimetallic League of Memphis, under whose auspices the gathering was held, were many of the leading advocates of the free coinage of silver in the United States. They included Senators Bate aud Harris of Tennessee, Jones aud Berry of Arkansas, George and Walthull of Mississippi, Marion Butler of North Carolina, Tillman of South Carolina. ex-Gov. Prince of New Mexico, Senator Turpie of Indiana, Gov. John G. Evans of South Carolina, ex-Gov. Eagle of Arkansas, ex-Congross-man William J. Bryau of Nebraska, Gen. A. J. Warner of Ohio, C. S. Thomas and Alva Adams of Colorado. Alexander Delmar of California nd Congressmen aud bankers from Tennessee and adjoining States by the dozen. A permanent organization was effected the first day, with Senator Turpie of Indiana as chairman, and addresses were delivered by that gentleman and Alexander Delmar of California in the afternoon, and by Congressman Sibley of Pennsylvania, C. S. Thomas of Denver nnd Aaron Wilcott of Indiana in the evening.

At 2:15 o’clock President W. N. Brown of the Central Bimetallic League of Memphis called the convention to order and introduced Judge L. E Estes of Memphis, who offered prayer. President Brown then called for nominations for permanent chairman and Senator Ishaui G. Harris, the ante-bellum governor of Tennessee, was given an enthusiastic reception when he arose to present the name of Senator David Turpie of Indiana. Mr. Harris said he had no idea of making a speech; that he only wished to state in a word the purpose nnd objects of the convention. It was called by the Central Bimetallic League of Shelby County, a strictly non-partisnn organization composted of Democrats, Republicans and Poimlists. Its doors were thrown open to every American citizen who honestly believed in the propriety, the advisability and the necessity of the rehabilitation of silver. Their doctrine is bimetallism, and by bimetallism they mean the free and unlimited coinage of all the gold and all the silver produced in this country. “We ere here,” continued the Senator, “ns a band of freemen to consider this all-absorbing question which now confronts the American people. We are here to consider the coinage question, and thnt question only.” The Senator from Indiana wa?s' v warnily received. After he had beeu elected by acclamation he assumed the chair and addressed the convention. At the evening session Senator William M. Stewart of Nevada presided, and introduced Congressman Joseph C. Sibley of Pennsylvania. Mr. Sibley was greeted with thunders of applause, and ill a two hours’ speech aroused his audience to a high pitch of enthusiasm. Ho made an earnest appeal for independent political action in 1896. His auditors were evidently with him, for every attack upon Secretary Carlisle, the President or Senator Sherman was greeted with .a noisy demonstration. The second day’s session was devoted to speeches by some of the most distinguished of the visitors, and the consideration of the report of the committee on resolutions.