The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, July 15, 1896, Image 1
THC SUMTER WATCHMAN, Established April, IS50.
"Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's."
THE TKUE SOUTHRON, Established Jone,1366
Consolidated Aug. 2,1881.
SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 1896.
New Series-Vol. XV. No 50
Published Every Wednesday,
I>3\ Gr. Osteen,
SUMTER, S. C.
T?RJfS I
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The Convention.
Platform Adopted. Free Sil?
ver Coinage at 16 to 1 In?
dependent of all Oth?
er Nations.
CHICAGO Jaly 9-The committee on
resolutions completed tbe platform and
as lo its final form was adopted by a
vote of 33 to 15.
Io committee Senator Hill, after the
adoption of the motion to adopt the
platform, moved to adopt a paragraph
commending the intelligence, integrity
and faithfulness of the administration
of President Cleveland, bat half a doz?
en members moved to* lay it on the
table, and it was so ordered-29
to 17 So the plalform carries no
reference to the National Adminis?
tration.
The following is the platform, as
finally agreed apon by the committee
on resolutions, to be submitted to the
convention wheo the report is called
for:
We, the Democrats of the United
States in national convention assembled,
do reaffirm oar allegiance to these great
essential principles of justice and lib?
erty apon which oar institutions are
founded, and which the Democratic
party has advocated from Jefferson's
time to our own-freedom of speech,
freedom of the press, freedom of con?
science, the preservation of personal
rights, the equality of all citizens be?
fore the law and the faithful observance
of constitutional liberties. Daring all
these years the Democratic party has
resisted the tendency of selfish inter?
ests to the centralization of government
power and steadfastly maintainted the
integrity of the dual scheme of govern?
ment established by the founders of
this republic of republics. Under its
guidance and teachiogs the great prin?
ciple of looa! self-government ha? found
its best expression io the maintenance
of the rights of the States and in its as?
sertion of the necessity of coufining the
general government to the exercise of
the powers granted by the Constitution
of the United States.
Recognizing that the money quotion
is paramount to ail others at this time,
we invite attention to the fact that the
Federal Constitution names silver and
gold together as the money metals of
the United States, and that the first
coinage law passed by congress under
the Constitution made the silver doliar
the monetary unit and admitted gold to
free coinage at a ratio based upon the
silver dellar unit. We declare that the
act of 1873 demonetizing silver with?
out the knowledge or approval of thc
American people, has resulted io the
appreciatioon of gold aod a correspond?
ing fall in the prices of commodities
produced by the people ; a Heavy in?
crease in the burden of taxation and of
all debts, public and private ; the enrich?
ment of the money lending class at
home and abroad ; the prostration of
industry and impoverishment of the
people.
We are unalterably opposed to mono?
metallism, which has locked fast the
prosperity of an industrial people in the
paralysis of hard times. Gold mono?
metallism is a British policy, and its
adoption has brought other nations into
financial servitude to London. It is
not only un-American, but anti-Amer?
ican, and it can be fastened on the
United States only by the stifliog of
that spirit and love of liberty which
proclaimed our political independence
in 1776 and won it in the war of the
Revolution.
We demand the free and unlimited
coinage of both gold and silver at the
present legal ratio of 16 to 1 without
waiting for the aid or consent of any
other nation. We demand that the
standard silver dollar shall be a full
legal tender equally with all gold for
all debts, public and private, and we
favor such legislation as will prevent for
the future the demonetization of any
kind of legal tender money by private
contract.
We are opposed to the policy and
practice of surrendering to the holders
of the obligations of the United States
the option reserved by law to the gov?
ernment of redeeming such obligations
ic either silver coin or gold coin.
We are opposed to the issuing of
interest-bearing bonds of the United
States in time of peace, and condemn
the trafficing with banking syndicates,
which, io exchaoge tor bonds and at an j
enormous profit ro themselves, supply ;
the Federal treasury wirb gold to main? j
tain the policy of geld monometallism.
Congress alono bas the power to coin
and issue money and President Jackson
declared that this power ould nor, be
delegated to corporations or individuals.
We therefore demand that the power to
issue noteb to circulate as mo?ey be
taken from the national banks and that
all paper money shall be issued by the
treasury department, and be?redeeroable
in coin and recivable for all debts, pub?
lic and private.
We hold that tariff duties should be
levied for purposes of revenue, such
duties to be so adjusted as to operate
equally throughout the country and not
discriminate between class or section
and that taxation should be limited by
the needs of the go" ernment, hone'stly
and economically administered. We
denounce as disturbing to business the
Republican threat to restore the McKin
ey law which has twice been con?
demned by the people in national elec?
tions, aiid which, enacted under the
false plea of protection to borne indus?
tries, proved a prolific breeder of trusts
and monopolies, enriched the few at
the expense of the many, restricted
trade and deprived the producers of the
g?eat American staples of access te
their natural markets. Until the
money question is settled we are opposed
to any agitation for further change* in
our tariff laws except such as are ne?
cessary 4o meet the deficit in revenue
caused by the adverse decision of the
supreme court on the income tax. But
for -his decision by the supreme court,
there would be no deficit, io the revenue
under the "law passed by a Democratic
congress in strict pursuance of the uni?
form decisions or that court for nearly
one hundred years ; that court having
in that decision sustained constitutional
objections to its enactment which had
previously been overruled by the ablest
judges who have ever sat on that bench.
We declare that it is the duty of con?
gress to ase all the constitutional power
which remains after that decision or
which may come from its reversal hy
the court as it may hereafter be con
^tituted, so that the burdens of taxa?
tion may be equally and impartially
laid to the end that wealth may bear its
due proportion of the expenses of
the government.
We hold that the most efficient way
of protecting American labor is to pre
vent the importatic of foreign pauper
labor to complete with it in the home
market, and that the value of the home
market to our American farmers and
artisans is greatly reduced by a vicious
monetary system .fhieh depresses the
price of their products below the cost
of production, and thus deprives them
of the means of purchasing the products
of our home manufacturers.
The absorption of wealth by the tew,
the consolidation of our leading rail?
road systems and the formation of trusts
and pools require a stricter control by
the Federal govermeot of these arteries
of commerce. We demand the enlarge
ment of the powers of the interstate
commerce commission and such restrict?
ions and guarantees in the control of
railroads as will protect the people from
robbery and oppression.
We denounce the profligate waste
of the money wrung from the people by
oppressive taxation and the lavish ap?
propriation of receut Republican con?
gresses, which ha7e kept taxes high
while the labor that pays them is
unemployed and the products cf the
people's toil are depressed io price tiil
they no longer repay the cost of produc?
tion.
We demand a return to that simplic?
ity and ecomomy which befits a Demo?
cratic government and a reduction io
the namber of useless oflaces, the sal?
aries of of which drain the substance of
the reople.
We denounce arbitrary interference
by Federaliauthorties in local affairs as a
violation of the Constitution of the Uni?
ted States and a crime against free iusti
atutions and we especially object to gov?
ernment by injunction as a new and
bighyl dangerous form of oppression by
whjtcb Federal judges,in coutempt of the
laws of the States and rights of citizens,
become at once legislators, judges and
executioners, and we approve the bill
peodiog in the house of representatives
relative to contempts in Federal courts
and providing trials by jury in certain
cases of oomtempt.
No discrimination should be indulged
in by the government of the Unitated
States in favor of any of its debtors. We
approve of the refusal of the fifty-third
congress to pass the Pacific railroad
funding bill, and denounce the efforts of
of the present Republican congress to
enact a similar measure.
Recognizing the just claims of de?
serving Union soldiers, we heartily en?
dorse the rule of the present commts
ioner of pensions that no names should
be arbitrarily dropped from the pension
roll; and the fact of enlistment and ser?
vice should be deemed conclujive evi?
dence against disease and disability be?
fore enlistment.
We favor the admission of the terri?
tories of New Mexico and Arizona into
the Union as States, and we favor the
early admission of all territories hav
ing the necessary population and while
they remain territories we hold that the
officials appointed to administer j
the government of any territory, j
together with the District of Columbia ?
- i
and Alaska, should be bona fide resi?
dents of the territory or district in
which the dunes are to be perf ?rmed.
The .Democratic party believes in
home rule and thar all public lands of
the United States should be aopropraited
to the establishment of free homes for
American citizens
We reccomend that the Territory of
Alaska be granted a delegate in con?
gress and the general land and timber
laws of the United States be extended to
said territory.
We extend our sympathy to the peo?
ple of Cuba in their heroic struggle for
liberty and independence.
We are opposed to lifo teoure in
the public service. We favor appoint?
ments based upon merit, fixed terms of
ofEce.and such an administration of the
civil service laws as will afford equal
opportunities to all citizens of ascer?
tained fitness.
We declare it to* be the unwritten
law of this republic, established by
castom and usage of one hundred years
and sanctioned by the examples of the
greatest and wisest of those who founded
a?d have maintained our government,
that, no man should be eligible for a
third term of the Presidential office.
The federal government should care
fo? and improve the Mississippi river
and other great waterways of the re?
public ?0 as to secure for the interior
State?* easy and cheap transportation to
tide water When any waterway of
the republic is of sufficient importance
to demand aid of the government, FUCQ
aid should be extended upon a definite
plan of continous work until permanent
improvement is secured.
Confiding io the justice of our cause
v.n? the necessity of ifs success at the
polls, we submit the foregoing declara?
tion of principles and purposes to the
considerate judgement of the American
people. We invite the support of all
citizens who approve them and who de?
sire to have them made effective through
legislation for toe releif of the people
and the restoration of the country's
prosperity.
TILLMAN TO SPEAK.
Convention Hall, Chicago, ill.,
July 8 -When the report of the
committee on resolutions is made to
the convention tomorrow, a minority
report will be also presented endors?
ing the financial policy of the Cleve?
land administration. To that Sen?
ator Tillman of South Carolina will
offer an amendment and address the
convention upon it for 50 minutes.
Senator Tillman's amendment is in
these words ;
"We denounce the administration of
President Cleveland as undemocratic
and tyrannical and as a departure from
those principles which are cherished
by all liberty-loving Americans. The
veto power has been used to thwart
the will of the people as expressed
by their representatives in congress
The appointive power has been used
to subsidize the press, to debauch
congress and to overawe and control
citizens in the free exercise of their
.constitutional rights as voters. A
plutocratic despotism is thus sought
to be established on the ruins of the
republic We repudiate the con
struction placed on the financial plank
of the last Democratic national plat?
form by President Cleveland, and
Secretary Carlisle as contrary to the
plain meaning of English words, and
as being an act of bad faith deserving
the severest censure. The issue of
bonds in time of peace with which to
buy gold to redeem coin obligations
payable in silver or gold at the option
of the government, and the use of
the proceeds to defray the ordinary
expenses of the government are both
unlawful and usurpations of authority
deserving impecchment.,,
STRUCK A SNAG.
The State board of pensions lias
struck a snag as to the construction
of the pensiou law which leaves
everything at a standstill for the pres?
ent so far as the final payment of the
pensions in concerned Nothing
further can be done until the other
members of the board, Messrs. Tomp?
kins and Barber, return, and the
attorney general's office construes the
pension act. It is a question
under the terms of the act whether
those who were members of the
First. Second, Third and Fourth
Reserve crops, South Carolina Volun?
teers are enlisted to draw pensions.
Some of these men, and many of them
have filed applications for pensions,
were called out on guard duty at
various times, but generally returned
to their homes io a few days. Others
were held in reserve, but saw no
service at all. The act says that
those who were in the service of
the State or of the Confederate States
are entitled to pensions The stum?
bling block is as to what constitutes
"service'' under the act.-The State
Chamberlain's Cough Remedy cures colds,
croup and whooping cough. It is pleasant,
safe and reliable. For sale by Dr. A. J.
China.
Bryan the Man of the
- Hour.
His Speech Yesterday Cap?
tured the Crowd and He
Becomes a Presiden?
tial Possibility.
CHICAGO, 111., July 9.-The speech
of Bryan, of Nebraska, was the event
of the day and it had a wonderful in?
fluence on the convention
Cheer after cheer "went up as
Bryan, of Nebraska, tall, smooth?
faced, youthful looking, leaped upon
the platform to close the debate. Ban?
ners waved from the free silver dele?
gations and handkerchiefs, newspa?
pers, hats,fans and canes were brougt
into play by the enthusiastic crowd.
At one time the applause became
deafening: and could not be suppress?
ed by Mr. Richardson, who was
acting temporary chairman.
When quiet was restored Mr. Bry?
an began epeakiug, clearly and de?
liberately. The belief in the honor
of a righteous cause, he said, was
stronger than the predictions of dis?
aster. He would move to lay on the
table the resolutions in condemnation
of the Administration. (Cheers.)
This was not a question that per?
mitted descent into personalities.
This had been a great contest : nev?
er before had BO great an issue been
fought out.- He sketched the growth
of the free silver idea in the Demo
catie ranks and of the zeal that had
been injected into the party contest.
The silver men had gone forth to
victory after \ictory,and were assem?
bled now, not to condemn, not to
protest, but to enter up a judgment
ordered by the people. As individ?
uals, he said, those he represented
might have been willing to compli
ment the gentleman from New York,
(Mr. Hill,) but they were unwilling
to put him in position where he
could thwart the will of the Demo
eratic party. (Cheers ) He claimed
for his people that they were the
equals of the people of Masachusetts,
(ceers.) and when tbe people of Mas?
sachusetts came to the people of Ne?
braska and and said: "You have dis?
turbed our business," the people of
Nebraska replied to the people of
Massachusetts : ' You have disturbed
our business 71 "you have too lim?
ited an application of the definition
of the words "business man.7 The
man employed for wages is as much
a business man as his emyloyer
(Applause.) The farmer who goes
out to toil in the morning is as much
a business man as the man who goes
on the board of trade to gamble1
in stocks. (Cheers.) The miner is j
as jnuch a business man as the few
financial magnates who. in a back
room corner the money of the world.
(Great cheering.)
Mr. Bryan said those he repres?
ented were tired of submitting to
the burdens which oppressed them
"We beg no longer, we petition no
more We defy them."
This denuncation, uttered in Mr
Bryan's most dramatic manner, was
followed by a scene of wild excite?
ment and cheering which lasted
several minutes.
"What we need," Mr. Bayan con?
tinued, "is an Andrew Jackson to
stand as Andrew Jackson stood
against the national banks. We are
told that our plalform is made to
catch votes We reply to them that
changed conditions make now issues.
The principles on which Democracy
rests are as everlasting as the hills,
but they must be applied to the new
conditions as they arise.
"New conditions have arisen and
we are attempting to meet them.
They tell us that the income tax
question ought not to be brought in
here ; that it is a new idea. They
find fault with us for our criticism
of the Supreme Court of the Unit
States. We have not criticised it. |
We have simply called attention to
it If you want a criticism of the
CourUin the matter of the income
tax read the dissenting opinions of
the Judges They say that we pass?
ed an unconstitutional law. I deny
it. The income tax was not uncon?
stitutional when it went before the
Supreme Court for the first time, it
did not become unconstitutional until
one Judge changed his mind. And
we cannot be expected to know when
a Judge will change his mind.
(Cheers and laughter.) The income
tax is a just law. I am in favor cf
it, (applause) and when I find a man
who is not willing to pay
his share of the burdens of the
Government which protects him,
I find a man who is unworthy to en?
joy the blessings of a Government
like ours. Loud cheers )
They say that we are opposing the na?
tional bank currency. It is true.
Thomas Benton said that in searching
history he he could find but one paral?
lel to Andrew Jackson ; that whee Cic?
ero destroyedjthe conspiracy of Cataline
and saved Rome he did what Jackson did
when he destroyed the bank conspiracy
and saved America. We say ia our
platform that the right to coin and is
t=ae money isa function of Government.
We believe that that power of sovereign?
ty can no more with safety be delegated
to a private corporation than the power
to enact penal statutes or to levy taxa?
tion. Mr. Jefferson, who was once
regarded as good Democratic authority,
seems to have a different opinion from
the Senator from New York. They
tell us that the issuance of paper money
I is the function of the banks and that the
Government ought to go out of the
banking business. I stand with Jeffer?
son and tell them, as he did, that the
issue of money is a function of Govern?
ment, and that the banks ought to go
out of the governing businss. (Cheers
and laughter.)
"The Senator from New York says
he will offer an amedment providing
the proposed change of law shall not
I affect contracts already made. Let me
remind him that that is not the inten?
tion where, under the present law,
contracts are made payable in gold.
But if he means to Bay that we cannot
chaoge our monetary system without
protecting those who have loaned mon?
ey before the change is made I want to
ask bim where, in law or io morals, be
can find authority for not protecting the
debtors when the Act of 1873 was pass?
ed The Senotor from New Y?rk also
asks about the consequence of a failure
to maintain parity. My reply is that
we cannot couple the platform with
a doubt as to our own sincerity. He
says he want this country to try secure
cure an international agreement. Why
does he not tell us what he is going to
do if they fail to secure it? (Applause.)
They have tried for twenty years to se?
cure an international agreement for
bimettallism, and those are waiting for
it most patiently who do not want it at
all. (Applause and laughter.
"If thoy ask us why it is that we
say more on the money question than
on the tariff question we reply that if
protection has slain its thousands, the
gold standard has slain its tens of thou?
sands. (Cheers.) If they ask us why
not embody in this platform all those
things that we believe, my reply is thsi
when we have restored the money of
the Constitution all other necessary re?
forms will be possible, and that until
that is done there is no reform that can
be accomplished. (Cheers.) Why is
it that in three months such a change
has come over the sentiment of this
country ? Three months ago it v/as
confidently asserted that those who be?
lieve in the gold standard would form a
platform and nominate and elect a can?
didate. And they had good reason for
the assertion, because there is.scarcely
a State here to-day asking for a gold
standard that is not within the absolute
control of the Republican party. Mr.
McKinley was nominated at St. Louis
on a platform which declares for the
maintenance of the gold standard until
it shall be changed into bimetallism by
international agreement. Mr. McKin?
ley was the most popular man among
the Republicans, and three months ago
everybody in the Republican party pro?
phesied his election. How is it to day?
"He who used to boast that he looks
like Napoleon (laughter) shudders to?
day wheo he thinks that he was nomi?
nated on the anniversary of the battle
of Walterloo. (Cheers.) He can
fancy that he hears in the distance the
sound of the waves as they beat on the
lonely shores of St Helena. (Cheers.)
! Why this change ? Ah ! My friends,
the change is evident to anyone who
i looks at the matter. It is because no
private character, however pure, no
personal popularity, however great, can
protect from the avenging ^rath of an
indignant people. The mau who would
declare that he is in favor of foisting
the gold standard on this people, or
who is willing to surrender the right
of self-government and to place legis?
lative cor.'rol in the haors of foreign
potentates and Powers, cannot hope for
an election to the Presidency of the
United States (Cheers )
"We go forth," said the orator,
"confident that we shall win. Why?
Because there is not a spot of ground
upon which the advocates of the gold
standard can meet us. You tell us the
great cities are io favor of the gold
standard. Burn down your cities and
leave your farms, and your eities will
grow up again. But destroy our farms
and the grass will grow in every city'of
the Union. (Great cheering.)
"My friends," he continued, "we
shall declare that this nation is able to
legislate for its people upon every ques?
tion without waiting for the consent of
any other nation on earth, and upon
that issue we expect to carry every
State in this nation. (Great cheering.)
It is the issue of 1776 over again.
Our ancestors, when only three mil?
lions, declared their independence of
every nation on earth. Shall we, when
Highest of all in Leavening Pov
grown to seventy millions, have less
courage ? If they say we cannot have
bimetallism until some other nation as?
sists we reply we will restore bimetall?
ism and 1st England adopt it. because
the United States has led the way.
(Cheers.) We shail answer their de?
mand for the gold standard by saying
to them : "You shall not press down
upon the brow of labor this crown of
I thorns. You shall not crucify mankind
i upon a cross of gold." (Tremendous
cheers.)
CHIOAGO, July 9.-At 3.15 P. M.
the voting began upon Mr. Hill's pro?
posed substitute for the free coinage
plank. It resulted. Ayes 303; noes
626.
Mr. Hill said he did not desire a cali
of States upon bis two financial amend?
ments, but he did desire a vote by
States on the resolutions commending
the administraban.
The second roll call was begun at
3.47 P. M.
The result of the roll call on the
resolution endorsing the Administration
was announced : Ayes 357 noes, 564,
not voting and absent 9 ; total 930.
Thia, announcement accounted for all
the delegates and was greeted with ap?
plause and hisses.
Mr. Hill's two financial amendments
were then voted down viva voce.
Mr. Tillman rose to ask the parlia
mentarv status of his ameodment con
?
demning the Administration.
The Chair replied that it was still
pending if the gentleman desired to
press it. Mr. Tillman replied that as
the failure to endorse was equivalent to
a vote of censure he would not renew
his ameodment.
At 4.35 P. M. the roll of States was
called on the adoption of the platform
as reported by the committee on resolu?
tions. The result was announced :
Ayes 628 . noes 301, absent 1 ; total
930.
There was only the faintest applause
on the announcement of this already an?
ticipated result.
Au 4.47 P M. the Convention took
a recess until 8 P. M.
The masses of spectators at the even?
ing's session were, if Dossible, denser
and the excitement intenser than at any
previous meeting of the Convention,
because the crisis of the nominating
speeches, and of balloting for Presiden?
tial candidates had arrived.
The chairman informed the Convec?
tion that, the roll of States would now
be called so the nominations of candi?
dates for Presidency should be made.
By an agreement intered into by the
friends of the several candidates, the
chairmen added, the nominating and
seconding speeches would be confined to
to thirty minutes in length, which time
might be used either when the nomina?
tions were made, or wheo the State of
the speakers was called..
Seator Vest, of Missouri was the
first delegate to ascend the platform.
He nominated Bland, of Missouri,
in an eulogistic speech.
H. T. Lewis, of Georgia, nominated
W. J. Bryan, of Nebraska.
Senator David Turpie, of Indiana,
nominated Governor Matthews, cf that
State.
Hon. Fred White, of iowa, nomi?
nated Horace Boies.
John S. Rhea, of Kentucky, nomi?
nated Senator J. S. Blackburn.
Gov. Russell, of Massachusetts, de?
clined to have bis name presented, as
did Senator Daniel, of Va.
Mr. Patrick, of Ohio, nominated
John R. McLean, of Cincinnati.
At 12 35 the convention adjourned
uwtil 10 a. m
Chicago. July JO. The Convention
was called to order at 10 59 and pro?
ceedings opened with prayer at ll.
Harrity, of Penn., nominated Robert
K Pattison, of Penn.
Miller, of Oregon, nominated Pen
noyer.
The nominations then closed and the
roll call of states was ordered for the
first ballot.
11.42. Vote stands, Bland, 136:
Boies, 70, Matthews, 37 : McLean. 49:
Bryan, 117; Blackburn, 39: Pattison,
23 ; Campbell, 2. Russel, 2
12 25. Result of first ballot Bland,
233 ; Boies, 71 ; Mattews, 37 :
McLean, 54; Bryan, 132; Blackburc
82, Pattison, 94; Campbell, 1 ; Rus?
sel, 2, Pennoyer, 18 ; Tillman, 17.
States that passed on first vote on being
called split their votes between outside
candidates.
Chicago, 2.28 p m. Fifth ballot
after correction gives Bland, 241 :
Boies, 83, Matthews, 36, McLean, 46,
Bryan, 280.
Chicago, July 10, 3.09. Bryan
nominated on 5th ballot.
-rn? - ? -#- - -
In going to get a drink stop and tknik
what bargains in Piano9, Organs and Sewing
Machines are to be had at the Sumter Music
[ House, in the Masonic Temple building.
*. S. Gov't Report
slaking
, Powder
ELY P5JBE