CHAPTER XXXVI.

The Third Day.-Further Presentation of Candidates.-Hoadly of Ohio and Randall of Pennsylvania.-Speeches in Indorsement of Cleveland's Nomination.-The Evening Session.The Platform Presented and Adopted.-A Strong Statement of Democratic Principles.

The delegates assembled on the third day of the Convention at 11 o'clock in the forenoon, and the proceedings were opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. George C. Lorimer of Chicago, formerly of Boston. He rendered thanks for a country where liberty has found a refuge, labor an opportunity, domestic virtue a shield, and humanity a temple. He prayed that the nation may be awakened to realize that not in material prosperity, nor in wealth lay greatness and salvation, but in those virtues and principles announced in the Word of God and echoed down through the centuries. That in this country liberty may not degenerate into license, nor authority into tyranny, nor capital into oppression, nor labor into riotousness, nor conviction into bigotry and superstition. He asked for a blessing on the Convention, that the high sentiments and ennobling principles that fell from the lips of the speakers of yesterday may become the governing principles of this great party, and that its affairs today may be so ordered that the nominee of the Convention will be a man of lofty character, of resplendent reputation, whose attitude before the people shall be an inspiration to the growing manhood of the people, and that, if such nom

inee be elected, he may be a blessing to the nation, and not a scourge.

Then followed further presentation of candidates, the enthusiasm and the turbulence which followed the announcement of Governor Cleveland's name on the preceding day having induced an adjournment before all the States had expressed their preferences.

Mr. Mansur of Missouri seconded the nomination of Allen G. Thurman, styling him "the noblest Roman of them all," "the colossal Democrat," "the Bismarck of America." He was loudly cheered. Then Thomas E. Penn of Ohio put in nomination Governor Hoadly of that State. Ex-Senator Wallace of Pennsylvania followed, presenting in the name of his State delegation Hon. Samuel J. Randall as Pennsylvania's choice. The theme was eloquent, and so were his remarks. He said:

"The name which I bring you is found on every page of your country's and your party's history in the last two decades. It is that of no tyro in political affairs. It is that of a man in the prime and vigor of his manhood, with every faculty trained in practical government. An official life of twenty years lies behind him, clear, luminous and pure. No dishonest action, no corrupt practice has ever stained his escutcheon. While most of his contemporaries in official life have grown rich, through devious and unknown means, he is still a poor man, whose highest aim has been fitly to serve his people and his republic. Democrats, the hour has struck for the nomination of a Democrat grounded in the faith and tried in the stern crucible of his party's service. The pathway of expediency lies behind us, strewn with the wrecks of our failures. Let us be honest now. Let us stand by the record of our own pure public men. Let us boldly appeal to the people on that record, and spurn the delusive promises of our bitter foe. The name of such a man we

bring you―his practiced hands, his experienced foresight, his conversance with public affairs-and he will lay the foundations of your return to power, so broad, so wide, so deep, that they will be permanent. He has been practically the leader in the National House of Representatives for seventeen years, favoring a reduction of taxation and an economical administration of the government. His iron will has put the knife to corrupting extravagance, and has compelled a return to comparative purity of administration. Earnest in purpose, pure in life, a grand tribune of the people, and a statesman, no favor sways him and no fear can awe."

Then, after Massachusetts had, in a speech by Mr. J. W. Cummings, seconded the nomination of Senator Bayard, there followed a series of indorsements of Governor Cleveland.

First came Arkansas, for which State Hon. U. M. Rose was deputed to speak. He said:

I rise for the pur

"GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: pose, with your kind indulgence, of making perhaps the shortest speech that was ever made on this platform, a speech which probably will not occupy more than five minutes. After much consultation and deliberation the delegation of which I have the honor to form a part have made up their minds to cast their vote unanimously for Grover Cleveland, of the State of New York. We have listened patiently and courteously, and without objection, to everything that has been said against Grover Cleveland. He has received the unanimous approval of the State Convention of the State of New York. Let me say to you that there are no slaves in this Convention. There is no

man here that wears a manacle upon his wrist. The delegation that I represent is also voting under the unit rule, but we do not consider that we are slaves because we carry

out the wishes of the Democracy of our State. What has been said against Governor Cleveland? We are in favor of him, because we believe him to be not a holiday reformer.

"We have listened to everything that has been said against Governor Cleveland with patience and with courtesy. What does it amount to? Simply this: that he has made some mistakes. To say that he has made mistakes is no more than to say that he is human. But we are told that he has enemies at home. There is no man who can administer with fidelity to principle the high and responsible office like that of governor of the State of New York without making enemies at home. Mr. Tilden had his enemies. George Washington, the greatest and the purest patriot that the world ever saw, had his enemies. If you are going to find a man who has no enemies, you will find a man who has not that elevation of character which is necessary to make him a successful candidate of the Democratic party, or a fit representative of its principles.

"Again we are told that Governor Cleveland is not acceptable to all the parties and men of his State; and that we ought not to enter the maelstrom of New York polities. But let us say, in answer to that, that the name of Governor Cleveland has ceased to be the individual property of the State of New York. It has become a part of the public domain and the property of the whole people of the United States."

Then followed Governor Edward S. Bragg, of Wisconsin, announcing that a majority of the delegates from that State wished to second the nomination of the Governor of New York. Governor Bragg said:

It is with feelings

"GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: of no ordinary pride that I fill the post that has been assigned to me to-day. Grim and gray personally, fighting the battles of the Democratic party, I stand to-day to voice

the sentiment of the young men of my State when I speak for Governor Cleveland. His name is upon their lips; his name is in their hearts; and he is the choice not only of that band of young men, but he is the choice of all those who desire for the first time, as young men, to cast their votes in November for the candidate nominated by this Convention. They love him, gentlemen, and respect him, not only for himself, for his character, for his integrity and judgment, and iron will, but they love him most for the enemies he has made.

"I do not assume here to speak for labor. The child of a man who always earned his daily bread by his daily labor; brought up for more than a quarter of a century, from boyhood to manhood, among the laborers that have made the great Northwest what it is, I do not assume to speak for labor. Labor is not represented in political conventions by the soft hand of the political trickster, no matter where. The men who follow conventions and talk about the rights of labor are the Swiss contingent who place their camps. wherever the prospect of profit is greatest, while honest, intelligent, horny-handed labor will be found following the old Democratic flag, thanking God that its self-styled leaders have gone where they belonged. Men come here to talk of labor. Yes, their labor has been upon the crank of the machine; their study has been political chicane in the midnight conclave. We are told that the Democratic party is suffering from fearful political disorders by these men. If we are to judge from past experience, those disorders in the quarters where they are alleged to exist can only be cured by an application of Federal soap. I have heard it said that the States of the Northwest ought to have no voice in this nomination. I have heard it said, 'What moots it what their opinion is, or what they may say? What was it that placed the great States of the Northwest in the Re