Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 June 1892 — CLEVELAND & STEVENSON [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CLEVELAND & STEVENSON

Is the Democratic Ticket Nominated at Chicago. , ' Twenty Thousand People Participate la the Proceedings—Cleveland Nominated * On the First Ballot—His Banning Mate Also Selected Wlthoat Mach Contest — The Platform and Proceedings. The Democratic National Convention assembled in a hall especially erected for it on the lake front, Chicago, Ju.-e 21. The building wherein it was held, holds 20,C00 people, and was filled. As the various lenders filed in each was glven a welcome by cheers or applause. Chairman Calvin !*. Brice, of the National Committee, called the convention to order, and Rev. John Rouse offered prayer. Secretary Sheerin announced the temperary organization: Temporary Chairman—William C.Owens of Kentucky. Secretary—S. P. Sheerin. Principal Reading Clerk—Nicholas M Bell, of Missouri. Sergednt-at-Arms—Richard J. Bright, of Indiana. •

)‘y Upon taking the chair, Mr. Owen det livered a brief speech,— At the close of Mr. Owens’s speech, upon motion of delegate White, of California, tho roll was called for the constitution of the committee on credentials, on rules and order of business, on permanent orgrnization and on resolutions, each State to name one member of each committee. All resolutions and communications to tho convention were ordered referred to the resolutions committee. A resolution was offered and enthusias tically cheered, expressing the deep sympathy of the Convention for Hon Jame 3 G. Blaine in the affliction which had befallen him in the death of his son. Wednesday’s proceedings. The convention reassembled at 11:30 a. m., Wednesday. Prayer was offered by Rev. A, N. Hervy, of Chicago. While waiting so& committees to reporta brief Bpccch"wa? madia by Senator Palmer, df Illinois. The imports of the committees —on-credentials-and permanent organlzation wore then made. Hon. W. L. Wilson. West Virginia, was conducted to the mat form and introduced -as permanent chairman. lie dwelt particularly upon the Buh.iect of tariff, taxation and reciprocity. In the course of ills remarks he said: For every self-governing people there can be no more momentous question than the question of taxation. It is the question, as Mr. Burke truly said, around which all the great battles of freedom have been fought. It. is tho.questiou out of .which grow all the Issues of government. Until we settle this question wisely, permanently, justly, wo build all other reforms on a foundation of land. We and tho great party we represent, are to-day for tariff reform because it is tho only L gateway to genuine Democratic, government. The distinguished leader wlio presided over the Republican convention boosted that he does not know what tariff is. Whoever said th&t he did, let us hope, with that charity that endureth all things and believeth all things, that he is truly as as no believes himself to be. Unfortunately, the people aro not so-ignorant of the meaning of protection—at least of tho protection which is dealt out to them in the bill that bears his name. ..They see that meaaittg, “writ large” to-day in a prostrated agriculture, in a shackled commerce, in the i stricken industries, in the compulsory idleness of labor, in law made wealth in tbe discontent of the workingmen and the despair of tho farmed. They know by hard experience that protection as a system of taxation is but" the old i crafty scheme by which the rich compcil

the poor topay the expenses of the Government. They know by hard experience that protection as a system oi tribute is but the old, crafty scheme by which the power of taxation of the people is made the private property of a few of the people. Tariff reform means to readjust this system of taxation and to purge away this system of tribute. It means that we have not reached the goal of perfect free so long K as any citizen is forced by law topay .tribute to any other citizeu, and until our taxes are proportioned to the ability and duty of that tax payer rather than to his ' ignorance, his weakness and his patience. Governor McKinley further charges that the Democratic party believes in taxing ourselves. lam afraid, ffentiemen.we must admit this charge. What right or excuse have we for. taxing anybody else? *With a continent for a country, with freedom and Intelligence as the instruments for its development, we stand disgraced In the eyes of mankind, if we can. not, and if we do not, support our own Government? W* can throw that support on other people only by beggary or by force. If ■we use the one we are a pauper Nation; If we use the other we are a pirate Nation. The Democratic party does not intend that we should be either. No more does it intend that they shall falsely call it taxing other people to transfer our taxes from the possessions of those who own the property of the country to the bellies j and backs of those who do the work of the country It believes that frugality Is the virtue efifree government. It bejlleyu that taxes should be limited to the public needs and be leyied br the plain

rale of Justice and economy. But, gentlemen, we are confronted with a new cry in this campaign. The Republican party, says Governor McKinley, now stands for protection and reciprocity. He was for protection alone when he framed nis bill in the House, or rather permitted his beneficiaries to frame it for him, and firmly resisted all efforts of the statesman from Maine to annex reciprocity to it. No wonder that he favors the reciprocity added by the'Senate. Yon may explore the pages of burlesque literature for anything more supremely ludicrous than the so-called reciprocity of the McKinley bill. It is not reciprocity all. It is retaliation, and, worst of all, retaliation on our own peoyle. It punishes American citizens for the nesessities or the follies of other people. It says to a few small countries south of it, “if you are forced by your necessities, or led by your follies to make bread higher and scarcer to your, people, we will make shoes and sugar higher and scarcer to our peoplo,” < » ArnTnow we are told that reciprocity is., to be their battle cry. Already we are regaled with pictures of. Benjamin Harrison clad in armor and going forth to battle for reciprocity on a plumed steed. Simple Simon fishing for a whale in his mother’s rain barrel and in great triumph capturing an occasional wiggle-waggle is the only true, realistic picture of the reciprocity of the McKinley bill. We are for the protection that protects and for the reciprocity that reciprocates. We are in favor of protecting every man in the enjoyment of the fruit of his labor, diminished only by his proper contribution to the support of the Government, and we are for that real reciprocity, not through dickering diplomacy and presidential proclamations, but by laws of Congress, tht3 removes all unnecessary obstacles between the American producer and the markets he is obliged to seek for his products.” His remarks were vociferously cheered ■at several pointsand at their dose wore greeted with great applause. The report Of the committee on rules was adopted. Delegate Phelps of Missouri, then presented, in behalf of the mineis of Missouri, a gavel of zinc, a protest against the tariff on that metal. As shining hammer* was held aloft by the chairman a great shout went up and a hearty clapping of hands. Brief remarks were made by ex-Gov. Campbell and a recess till 5 p. m. was taaen. The convention reassembled at 5:15, but did not get down tp business until 6:25, when the platform was reported. Mr. Vilas began to read the platform. The mention of Cleveland’s name in the preamble called out the enthusiasm of the delegates. The Syracuse men led the cheering as the Cleveland delegates, and the Cleveland men in the galleries sprang to their feet, waving hats, handkerchiefs and fans. The noise grew and grew until a Michigan delegate rushed into the hall, holding aloft the white and gold banner of his State, with a picture of Cleveland pinned across its face. Don M. Dickinson climbed on a chair, and all the Michigan men followed him, while delegates and spectators shriekgd and yelled. Then down the aisle came lowa’s banner-bearer holding aloft the picture of Boies. The cheering was renewed. It rose and fell in •quivering, ear-splitting yells. Don Dickinson got down from his chair, and took the Michigan banner in his hands. Climbing back on his chair, he raised it aloft, and the cheering swelled again. Michigan rallied around the banner. Two or three delegates took it from Dickin--sou’s hand, and swung it defiantly in the face of Now York's “72.” Then they passed it on to the Minnesota men. and it was twenty minutes before Vilas could resume. When the silver plank was reaehed there was a stronger outbreak of approval than any portion of the platform. The familiar phrase, “pub-

lie office Is a public trust,” which followed, was promptly recognized, and broughtout another outburst for Cleveland, The civil service piUnk called out more hisses than cheers. The galleries applauded the condemnation of the Republican Officeholders convention. Mr. Neal, of Ohio, upon the conclusion of the majority report, took the floor and presented a minority report. The debate and contest which followed was intensely warm and long continued. A roll of the States was called and the minority report (as given in the platform beneath) was adopted by ayes 564, nays 348. The platforms differed in that the majority report juggled with the tariff question. Next came the second attack on the platform—the opposition to the silver plank. Mr. Patterson, of Colorado, said there was a point of difference in the committee on resolutions. It related to the coinage plank and was embraced in the use of one single word and the substitute that some of the members from the South and West offered consisted of the word “free” before coinage, o The proposed amendment to the platform was lost. The platform as amended was then adapted. THE PLATFORM. Section 1. The representatives of the Democratic party of the United States, in National Convention assembled, do reaffirm their allegiance to the principles of the party as formulated by Jefferson and exemplified by a long and illustrious line of his successors in Democratic leadership from Madison to Cleveland; we believe the publio welfare demands that these principles he applied to the conduct of the federal Government through the accession to power of the party that advocates them; and we solemnly declare that the need es a return to these fundamental principles of a free popular government, based on home rule and individual liberty, was never more urgent than now, when the tendency to centralize ail power at the federal capital has become a menace of the reserved rights of the States that strikes at the very roots of our government under the constitution as framed by the fathers of the Republic. Sec. S. We warn the people of our common oountry, jealous for the preservation of their free Institutions, that the policy of federal control of elections, to which the Republican party ha,s committed itself, is fraught with the gravest dangers, scarcely less momentous than r « v °lution practically establishing monarchyon the ruins of the RepubUo. It strikes at the North as well as the South, and injures the colored citizen even more than the white, it means a horde of deputy ®‘ r8ll » l8 «T«y Polling plaoe armed with federal power, returning boards appointed and controlled by a federal anthorityT the outrage of the electlonal rights of tha people in the several States; the subjugation of the colored people to the controßof the party in power, and the reviving of race antagonism, now happily abated, of the utmost peril to the safety and happiness of all; a measure rtelfb erately and justly described by a leading Ro> publican Senator as “the most Infamous bill that ever crossed the threshold of the Senate." Such policy, If sanctioned by law, would mean the dominance of a self-perpetuating oligarchy of office holders, and the party first entrusted with iu machinery could be dislodged frorfi power only by an appeal to the reserved right of the people to resist oppression, which is inherent in all self-governing communities. Two years ago this revolutionary policy was emphatloally condemned by the people at the polls; but In contempt of that verdict the Republican party has defiantly declared In its last authoritative utterance that Its success in the coming elections will mean the enactment of the force bill and the usurpation of despotic iiilriiiirtii-

j control ever election* In all the States. Believing that the preservation of republican ; government in the United States is dependent ■ on the defeat of the policy of legalized force and fraud, we invite the support of all citizens who desire to see the Constitution maintained In its integrity, with the laws pursuant thereto which have given our country a hundred years as unexampled prosperity: and we pledge the Democratic party, if it be entrusted with power, not only to the defeat of thfe force bill, but also to relentless opposition to .the Republican policy of profligate expenditure, which, in the ihort space of two years, has squandered an enormous surplus and emptied an overflowing treasury, after piling new burdens of taxation upon the already overtaxed labor of the country. bee. 3. We reiterate the oft-repeated doctrines of the Democratic party that the necessity of the government is the only excuse for taxation, and whenever a tax Is unnecessary It is unjustifiable; that when custom house taxation is levied upon articles of any kind produced in this country the difference between cost of labor here and labor abroad, where such a difference exists, fully measures any possible benefits to - labor, and the enormous additional impositions of the existing tariff fall with crushing force upon our farmers and workingmen and for the mere advantage of the few whom it enriches, exacting from labors grossly unjust share or the expenses of the government; and we demand such revision of the tariff laws as will remove their iniquitous inequalities, lighten their oppressions and put them on a constitutional and equitable basis. But in making a reduction in-taxes it is not intended to injure any domestic industries, but rather to promote their healthy growth. From the foundation of this government taxes collected at the custom house have been the chief source of federal revenue. Such they must continue to be. Moreover, marry industries havecome to rely upon legislation for successful cqatinuance, so that any change of law

must he at every step regardful of the labor and capital thus involved. The process of reform must be subjected in the execution to this plain dictate of justice. We denounce the McKinley tarlfflawreTlSCtea by the Fifty first Congress, as the culminating atrocity of class legislation; we indorse the efforts made by the Democrats of the present Congress to modify Its most oppressive features in the direction of free raw materials and cheaper manufactured goods that enter into general. consumption; and we promise its repeal as one of the , beneficent results that will follow the action of the people in intrusting power to the •Democratic party. Since the McKinley tariff went into operation there have been ten reductions of the wages of laboring men to one increase. We deny that there has been any increase of prosperity tp the country since that tariff went Into operation, and we point to the dullness and distress, with wage reductions and strikes in the iron trade, as the best possible evidence that no such prosperity has resulted from the McKinley act We denounce Republican protection as a fraud, a robbery of the great majority of the great American people for tho benefit of the few. We declare It to be a fundamental principle of the DemoOratlc party that the federal Government has no constitutional power to enforce jind collect tariff duties exoept for the .purpose of revenue only, and we demand that the collection of such taxes shall be limited to the necessities of the Government jionestly and economically administered. Seo. 4. Trade interchange on the basis of Reciprocal advantages to the countries participating is a time-hollered doctrine of the Demporstic faith, but we denounce the sham reciprocity which juggles with the people’s desire for enlarged foreign markets and freer exchange by pretending to establish’ closer trade relations for a country whose articles of export are almost exclusively agricultural products with other countries that are also agricultural while erecting a custom house barrier of prohibitive tariff taxes against the richest countries of the world that stand ready to take our entire surplus of products and to exchange therefor commodities which are necessaries and comforts of life among our own people. Sec. 5. We recognize in the trusts and com--, hiuations, dStlgneito enable capital to secure more than it* just share of the joint product of capital and labor, the natural consequence of the prohibitive taxes which prevent the free competition which is the life of honest trade. But we believe thtir worst evils can be abated by law, and we demaad the rigid enforcement of the laws made to prevent and control them, together with such further legislation in restraint of their abuses hs experience may show to be necessary. 6. The Republican party, while policy of reserving the public land for. small.. holdings hy actual settlers," Has given away the people s heritage till now u few railroads and non-resident aliens, individual and corporate, possess a larger area than all our farms between the two seas. The last Democratic administration reversed the improvident and unwise policy of tho Republican party touching the public domain and reclaimed from corporations and syndicates, alien and domestic, and restored to the people nearly 100.000,000 acres of valuable land to he sacredly held as home steads for our citizens, and we pledge ourselves to continue this policy until every acre of land so unlawfully held shall be reclaimed and restored to tho —,— Seo. 7. We denounce the Republican legislation known as the Sherman act of 1895 as a cowardly makeshift fraught with possibilities of danger in the future which should make all of its supporters, as well as its author, anxious for its speedy repeal. We Hold to the use of both gold and silver as the standard money of the country and to the coinage of both gold and silver without discriminating against either metal or charge* for mintage, hut the dollar unit of coinage of both metals must be of equal intrinsic ana unchangeable value or be adjusted through International agreement or by such safeguards of legislation as shall insure the maintenance of the parity of the two metals, and the equal power of every dollar at all times in the markets and in the payment of debts, and we demand that all paper currency shall be kept at par witb and redeemable in such coin. We insist upon this policy as especially necessary for the protection of the farmers and laboring classes, the first and most defenseless victims of unstable money and a fluctuating currency. Sec. 8. We recommend that the prohibitory 10 per cent, tax on State bank Issues be repealed. Seo. 9. Public office is a public trust. We reaffirm the declaration of the Democratic National Convention ol I*7B for the reform of the civil service and wo,call for the Honest enforce* ment of all laws regulating the 'Same. The nomination of a President, as in the recent Republican Convention, by delegations composed largely of his appointees, holding office, at his pleasure, to a scandalous satire upon free popular institutions and a startling illustration of the methods by which a President may gratify his ambition. We denounce a policy under which federal office holders usurp control of party conventions in the States, and we pledge the Democratic party to the reform of these and all other abuses which threaten individual liberty and local self-government. Sec. 10. The Democratic party Is the only party that has ever given the country a foreign policy consistent ana vigorous, oompelling respect abroad and inspiring confidence at home. While avoiding entangling alliances it has aimed to cultivate friendly relations with other nations, and especially with our neighbors on the American Continent, whose destiny la closely linked with our own, and we View with alarm the tendency to a policy of Irritation and bluster which is liable at any time to confront us with the alternative of humiliation or war. We favor the maintenance of. a navy strong enough for all purposes of national defense and to properly maintain the_hs>nei_ftlld dignity of theqountry abroad. Sec. 11. This country has always,been the refuge of tho oppressed from every land—exiles Tor conscience’ sake—and In the spirit of the founders of our government, we condemn the oppressions practiced by the Russian government upon lta Lutheran and Jewish sub jects, aud we call upon our national govern* ment in the interest of justice and humanity, by all proper means toti9e-its prompt and best efforts to bring about a cessation of these efu el persecutions in the dominions of the Czar, and to stiuuro to the oppressed equal rights. Wc tender our profound and earnest sympathy to those lovers of freedom Who are struggling for home rule and ths grest cause of self-govern-ment in Ireland. See. ML We heartllj approve all legltimat-

effort* to prevent the United State* from being used as the dumping ground ter the known crimihala and prdfessf&nal paupers Of Europe, and we demandjtae rigid enforcement of the | laws against Chinese Immigration or the importation of foreign workmen under contract to degrade American labor and lessen its wages, but we condemn and denounce any and all attempts to restrict the immigration of the industrious and worthy of foreign lands. Sec. 13. This convention" hereby renew* its expression of appreciation of the patriotism of the soldiers and sailors of the Union in the war for its preservation. We favor just and liberal pensions for all disabled Union soldiers, their widows and dependents: but we demand, that -the work of the pension office shall be done Industriously, impartially and honestly. We denounce the present administration of that office as incompetent, corrupt and dishonest. Sec. 14. The federal Government should care for and improve the Mississippi river and other great waterways of the Republic, so as to secure for the interior States easy and cheap transportation to the tide water. When any water way of the Republic is of sufficient importance to demand the aid ©f the Government, that such aid should be extended a definite plan of continuous work until permanent improvement is aecureP Sec.'.lo. For the purposes of National defense and tli’a promotion of commerce betweed the States we recognize the early construction of the Nicaraugua canal and its protection against foreign control as of great importance to the United States. Sec, It. Recognizing tb* World’* Columbian Exposition an a National undertaking of va*t importance in which the general gov# nment has invited the cooperation of all the powers of the world, and appreciatinjCtheacceptance by many of such powers of the invitation extended and the broadest liberal efforts being made by them to contribute to the grandeur of the undertaking, waaro of tb# bpiDlonfthat Congrese should make such necessary financial provision as shall he required for the maintenance of the Rational honor and public faith, Sec. 17. Popular education being the only safe basis es popular suffrage we recommend to the several State* most liberal appropriation* f*r th* public s hores Free common schools are the nureery of good government, und they hare always received the fostering care of the Democratic party, a hich savers every means of increasing intelligence. Freedom of education being an essential of civil and religious liberty as well as a necessity for the development of intelligence, must not be interfered with under any pretext whatever. We are opposed to state In terference -with-parental Tights and right* of conscitncein the education es children, a* an infringement of the fundamental Democratic doctrine that the largest individual liberty consistent with the rights of others insures the highest type of American citizenship and the best government. hoc. IS. We approve the action of the House of Representatives in passing bills for admission into tho Union as State* of the territories of New Mexico snd Arizona, and we favor the admission es all tho territories having the necessary population and resource* to entitle them to statehood, and while they remain territories we hold that the officials appointed to administer the government of any territory, together with the District of Columbia amd Alaska, should be bona fide residents of tho territory or district in which their duties are to he performed. The Democratic party believes in home rule and the control of their own affairs by the people of the vicinage. Sec. 19. We favor legislation by Congress and State legislation to protect the live* and limbs of railway employe* and those of other hazardous transportation companies, and denounce the inactivity of the Republican party, and particularly Republican Senate, for causing the defeat of measures beneficial and protactive to this class of wage workers. Sec. 20. We are in favor of the enactment by the States of laws for abolishing thanotorious sweating system, for abolishing contract convict labor, and for prohibiting the employment in manufactories of children under fifteen years of age. Sec. 21. We are opposed to all sumptuary laws and interference with the individual rights of ths citizen. Sec. 22. Upon *his statement of principles and policies the Democratic party.asks the intelligent Judgment of the American people. It asks aechangs of administration and a change of party, in order that there may be a change of sysetem and s change of methods, thus securing the maintenance unimpaired of the institutions under which tho r«ipublic has grown great und powerful. Nominations were then in order. Leon Abbott, for New Jersey, and through the jourtesy of Arkansas, presented the name of Grover €leveiand. A demonstration lasting mauy minutes followed. When order had been restored, W. C. DeWitt, of Brooklyn, placed David B. Hill in nomination, and this was followed by a demonstration by the Hillitps'■Jiisting sev»ral miuutos. J. P. Dunepnb presented tho name of Horace Boies, and this was also received with much noise, to which the New YorkJjetegation were conspicuous contributes. Several speeches seconding the respective nominations were also made. A ballot was then taken, and the scone that followed its announcement beggars description. % At 3:30 Thursday morning, after a continuous session of ten and one-half hours, Grover Cleveland was nominated as the Democratic candidate for President, lie having received 616>£ votes on the first ballot, or 18>4 more than the two-third majority, required to nominate. The vote was as follows: For Cleveland—Alabama 14, Arkansas 16,'California 18, Connecticut 12, Delaware 6, Florida 5, Georgian, Illinois 48. Indiana 30, Kansas 10, Kentucky 18, Louisiana 3, Maine 1), Maryiandti. Massaetnisetts 24, Michigan 18, Minnesota 18, Mississippi 8, Missouri 11, Nebraska 15, New Hampshire 8. New Jersey 20, iXorth Carolina 2X, North Dakoto 6, Ohio 16, Oregon 8, Pennsylvania >4, Rhode Island 8, South Carolina 1, South Dakota 7, Tennessoe 24, Texas 23, Vermont 8, Virginia 12, Washington 8, I West Virginia 7, Wisconsin 24, Wyoming !3, Alaska 2, Arizona 5, District of Columbia 2, New Mexico 4, Oklahoma )}, Utah 2, Indian Territory 2. Total 616%. For Hill—Alubama 2, Colorado 3, Georgie 5, Louisiana 1, Maine 1, Massachusetts 5, Mississippi 3, New York 72, Ohio 6, South Carolina 2, Texas 1, Virginia 12, New Mexico 1. Total 112. For Gorman—Georgia 4, Louisiana 1, Maine 1, Missouri 4, Nebraska 1. Nevada 2, Ohio 5, Wyoming 3, Arizona 1. Total 33>£. For Boie3—Alabama 1, Colorado 5, Idaho 6, lowa 26, Ken tucky 2, Louisiana 11, Massachusetts 1, Mississippi 4. Montana 6, Nevada 4. North Carolina 1, Ohio 16, South Carolina 15 South Dakota 1, Texas 6, New Mexico 1. Total 103. For Carlisle—Florida 3. Kentucky 6, Ohio 5. Totalis. For Morrison Alabama 4. North Carolina 2%. Total 6%. F6r Campbell—Alabama 2. Total 2. For Whitney—Maine 1. Total 1. For Steven sou—North Carolina 16%. Total. 10%. Immediately following the announcement, of the vote the convention adjourned until 2:30 p. m.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

R. L. WILSON.

ISAAC P. GRAY.

GOV. BOIES.