first utterance addressed to the representatives fresh from the people, solemnly urged upon them that it was their 'plain duty' to give free trade to Porto Rico. His party leaders, quick to obey his injunction, made ready to comply with his recommendations. But in a night, almost in the twinkling of an eye, the mighty magnates of the trusts swept down upon Washington and interposed their strong arm, and 'plain duty' vanished like mist before the rising

: sun.

"The President wheeled into line, the Republican party reversed its policy, and set up a tariff wall between the Island of Porto Rico and the remainder of the United States. It is not at all surprising that in the recent somewhat lengthy declarations of principles enunciated by the party in convention assembled, while they enlarged upon almost every political question, they could not find the space to point with pride to the achievements of their party in its dealings with that unhappy island.

"The Democratic party stands for equal taxation, equal rights, and opportunities to all who come under the folds of the flag.

"Tenth-They wholly failed by their legislation or by the cheaper method of platform declaration to tell the country what their policy is in respect to the Philippine Islands. For two years by their equivocating policy, and no policy at all, they have continued in that archipelago a war, expensive in human blood as well as in money.

"Incompetent to deal with this question and too cowardly to avow their real purpose of imperialism and militarism in dealing with these and kindred colonial questions, they should be retired from power, and the control should be given to a party honest, bold, and patriotic enough to apply American theories and precepts to existing conditions, and thereby solve them in harmony with the underlying principles of the Declaration of Independence and the constitution of our country.

"Eleventh-Another part of the issue of the campaign this year is the scandalous dealings of a high Cabinet officer with private banks of the country. These scandals are notorious and are based upon the earnest and repeated written demands of the officers of some of these banks that they should be favored by this administration because of money contributed by them with which to buy the Presidency of 1896.

"Correspondence submitted to Congress shows that, in one case at least, an appeal from an institution in New York City to the Secretary of the Treasury for financial assistance because, as it was claimed, the officers of that bank had contributed liberally to the election of the present Chief Executive, was not made in vain, and the asked for assistance in this case from the Government was freely if not corruptly given.

"Twelfth The scandals which surrounded the War department in feeding embalmed beef to the soldiers, in its purchase of old yachts, tugs, ocean liners, ocean tramps, barges, scows, etc., for use as army transports constitute an important chapter.

"Thirteenth-So also the scandals in connection with the post

office matters in Cuba, and the scandals in connection with the expenditure of the funds of the Paris exposition. Time will not merit an amplification of all these scandals.

"Fourteenth-They loudly proclaim that theirs is the party of liberty, and in their vainglory boast of their name, Republican, yet they are caught coquetting and forming secret entangling alliances of the most detestable character with the old mother monarchy.

"They stand supinely by and refuse even an expression of sympathy with the Boer republics in their heroic and unequal struggle for existence as against the gross oppressions and brutal efforts at enslavement of the same old tyrant who went down in defeat when he sought to prevent the establishment of our own libertyloving republic.

"They thus permit a brave people, in love with their free republican institutions, to perish from the earth, lest by one word of sympathy and comfort they might offend the delicate sensibilities of their new-found ally, Great Britain.

"Fifteenth-An important chapter is the oft-repeated promise, made to be broken, that when the war ceased the oppressive, burdensome, and vexatious war taxes on many articles of prime necessity should be repealed or reduced.

"Though the war closed two years ago, and notwithstanding there is a large and growing surplus in the Treasury, not one dollar of reduction in these taxes has been made.

"It is known that delegation after delegation of citizens, suffering from these burdens, crowded the committee-rooms at Washington and literally begged for some relief. It is true that those of us who constitute the minority of Congress joined in that appeal and declared our readiness to support any and all measures that might in some degree remove these burdens of taxation. But a deaf ear was turned by the Republicans to all such efforts for relief and none

came.

"It is well known also that no relief will be given by the party in power, and it is vain for overburdened people to look to them while present policies are attempted to be enforced.

"The only hope for relief lies in hurling from power the Republican party, and the restoration of the party which believes in simple and economical government.

"Sixteen and lastly-The cost of Republicanism and its twin monster-imperialism.

"This is neither the time nor the occasion to discuss in detail the increased appropriations made necessary by the Republican policy of imperialism.

"Briefly, however, I will mention that the average of appropriations per year for all purposes of government for the two years immediately preceding the Spanish-American war was about $475,000,000. The average expenditures per annum for each of the three years since that war, including the fiscal year upon which we have just entered, shows an increase of nearly $300,000,000. The total increase for the three years will be nearly $900,000,000. And in like proportion it will go on.

"This shows the difference in cost of the empire as against the republic. These figures refer alone to the money cost of the change. and do not include the expense of the blood of the American boys, the price of which is far beyond computation.

"Yes, a man who stands like a mighty rock in the desert; a man who knowing the right will dare do the right: a man who, 'rather than follow a multitude to do evil, will stand like Pompey's pillar, conspicuous by himself, and single in integrity.'

"Such a man, as the one part, this convention will tender to the nation as its candidate for President. A man who is unsurpassed as a citizen, unequaled as an orator, courageous as a soldier, conspicuous in every element that constitutes the typical and the tru American-William J. Bryan of Nebraska."

His mention of the name of W. J. Bryan brought the convention to its feet in a frenzy of enthusiasm. Delegates sprang upon their chairs, waving hats, handkerchiefs and umbrellas in the wildest fashion. The usual nonsense of delegates marching around the hall carrying the standards of the States, grouping them together on the floor, elevating them to the galleries and in other ways manifesting the wild sort of idiocy which goes for enthusiasm in National conventions was kept up for half an hour. When order was sufficiently restored. Delegate Cannon moved an adjournment until 10:30 a. m. July 5, 1900, which was declared carried.

Chairman Richardson called the convention to order shortly after 11 o'clock, July 5, 1900. Prayer was offered by Rt. Rev. John J. Glennon, of Kansas City. Mr. Richardson then announced that the platform committee was not ready to report, and pending word from them, he invited ex-Governor Hogg, of Texas, to the platform, who made a long speech. At the conclusion of Governor Hogg's address, the cry of "Hill" started, and the chairman pounded his gavel vigorously, and when order was restored, introduced A. M. Dockery, of Missouri. The first mention of Dewey's name since the opening of the convention was made by Mr. Dockery while discussing the Philippine question, but the name of the famous

admiral was received without a ripple of applause. As no word was received from the platform committee, the time of the morning session was given over to speechmaking by Mayor D. S. Rose, of Milwaukee; J. E. McCullough, of Indianapolis; Congressman James R. Williams, of Illinois; Gov. J. W. Beckham, of Kentucky, and J. W. Miles, of Maryland. Mr. Williams submitted the following resolution:

"That a committee of nine delegates be appointed by the chair for the purpose of conferring with the Silver Republicans and the Populist parties now gathered in Kansas City."

Shouts of "No!" "No!" followed the reading, but the resolution was put to a vote, and amid much confusion on the floor, was declared adopted. Chairman Richard

son announced that he had been informed that the platform committee would be ready to submit their report about 3:30 p. m. Thereupon a motion was put and carried to adjourn until that hour.

When the convention reassembled at 3:30, nearly all of the delegates were ready for business. It was after 4 o'clock when Chairman Richardson called the convention to order. The platform committee, headed by Senator Jones, Judge Van Wyck, D. J. Campau and Senator Tillman, pushed their way to the front and presented their report. The document was read by Senator Tillman, of South Carolina, in a full round voice, easily heard throughout the hall. As he proceeded, each plank was greeted with applause. When the applause subsided, Senator Jones moved that the platform be adopted by acclamation. The motion was put, and amid a roar of cheers and applause, the platform was adopted without a word of dissent.

The plank in the platform denouncing England's policy toward the Boers had called out immense