much feeling, and our people were prepared
to vigorously support an exponent of bi-
metallism."
The financial plank offered by the minority was rejected,
The resolution commendatory of President Cleveland's administration was defeated 564 to 357.
In all the votes thus far reported, the minority consisted of the members from New England
except a few from Massachu
the coast states as far south as Maryland,
and the delegates from Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota.
Amendments of Senator Hill
Senator Hill had offered in addition to the amendments proposed by the minority of the Committee on Resolutions, two other amendments:
The first proposed to insert at the end of the clause opposing "the demonitization of any kind of legal tender-money by private contract" the following clause:
"But it should be carefully provided by law at the same time that any change
in the monetary standard should not apply
to existing contracts."
The other amendment was to add at the end of the finan
cial plank the following pledge:
21. First Battle, p. 615.
"Our advocacy of the independent free
coinage of silver being based on the belief
that such coinage will effect and maintain
a parity between gold and silver at the ratio
of 16 to 1, we declare as a pledge of our sin-
cerity, that, if such free coinage shall fail
to effect such parity within one year from its
enactment by law such coinage shall thereupon
be suspended."
Both of the amendments were rejected without a division, and the platform as a whole, unamended, was then adopted by yeas, 628, nays 301.
The Convention was called to order at 8:30 o'clock by Representative Richardson, of Tennessee, in the Chair. A roll of the states was called so that nominations for the presidency could be made. By agreement the nominating and seconding speeches were to be confined to thirty minutes in length. nominating speeches dragged over until Friday morning.
Kr. Henry 7. Levis, of Georgia, presented the name of Mr. Bryan with the following speech:
"Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Con-
vention: I do not intend to make a speech,
but simply, in behalf of the delegation on
this floor from the State of Georgia, to
place in nomination as the Democratic candi-
date for the Presidency of the United States
a distinguished citizen, who se very name is
an earnest of success, those political record
will insure Democratic victory, and whose
life and character are loved and honored
by the American people.
"Should public office be bestowed as
a reward for public service? Then no man
more than he merits this reward. Is pub-
lic office a public trust? Then in no
other hands can be more safely lodged this
greatest trust in the gift of a great people.
Was public office created for the welfare of
the people and the prosperity of the coun-
try? Then under his leadership in the coming
campaign may re confidently hope to achieve
these great ends in human government. In
the political storms that have hitherto
swept over this country he has stood on the
field of battle among the leaders of the
Democratic hosts like Saul among the Israel-
ites, head and shoulders above all the rest.
As Mr. Prentiss said of the immortal Clay,
so we can truthfully say of him, that 'His
civic laurels will not yield in splendor to
the brightest chaplet that ever bloomed upon
a warrior's brow.
"He needs no speech to introduce him to
this convention. He needs no encomium to
commend him to the people of the United States.
Honor him, fellow Democrats, and you vill hon-
or yourselves. Nominate him and you will re-
flect credit upon the party you represent.
Place in his hands the Democratic standard
and you will have a leader worthy of your
cause,
and will win for yourselves the plaudits
of your constituents and the blessings of pos-
terity. I refer, fellow citizens, to the Hon.
William J. Bryan, of the State of Nebraska."
The nomination was seconded by Honorable Theo. F. Kluttz, of North Carolina, Honorable George Fred Williams, of Massachusetts, Honorable Thomas J. Kernan, of Louisiana, and Honorable E. F. Dockery of Wisconsin.
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