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Show THE DEMOCRATS BEGIN. : The Democratic National Convention 'was called to order yesterday, In the presence of a vast crowd which the uncertainty of Its proceedings had attracted. at-tracted. From all appearances, the Parker men were in a decided majority, but the minority Is still seemingly firm in resisting hlo nomination, and as long as more than one-third of tho delegates remain steady in opposition, of courw it will bo impossible for him to win. If thoijo who advocate his nomination so strenuously must have him, they evidently evi-dently will have to resort to the dangerous danger-ous expedient of abolishing the two-thirds two-thirds rule. Hon. John Sharp Williams, the Democratic Dem-ocratic leader in the Houso of Representatives, Repre-sentatives, wns selected by the committee commit-tee to bo temporary chairman, and was expected to "strike the keynote" of tho campaign. He did. And that keynoto is ono of defense!, explanation, excuw, denial. It Is to bo a defensive; campaign, cam-paign, not an aggressive ono, according ' to this "keynote." The hard times, the panic, tho universal distress that ensued en-sued on the election of Cleveland twelve years ago, were not, he Insisted, caused by that election, or by anything that the Democras threatened to do, or did do; tho trouble wasn't brought on by the demonetization of silver, nor by the oppression of monopolies or trusts, but was the result of a universal, worldwide world-wide condition. This, of course, is an explanation; but It Isn't the Democratic explanation that we are all familiar with. It marks a complete change of uase by the party, provided the party follows Mr. Williams In this, as tho party's delegates seemed to do by their acclaim. The tone of Mr. Williams's opening is flippant; it sounds more like what a rough-and-tumblo debate In the House of Representatives Is expected to be, than a statesmanlike marking out of a policy for a great party. It Is personal, full of temporary allusions and drives.1, and of light weight. And yet it was catchy, sounded well, and called forth enthusiasm. It Is much tho sort of a speech as that delivered by Bourke Cockran In the House, which set the Democratic Representatives wild with Joy, but which covered them with chagrin cha-grin when they had time to read it, and reflect on Its real meaning and effect. So with this speech of Mr. Williams; it catches tho crowd with Its Jibes, but when the delegates and the country come to read and consider the tone and substance of It, all will see that it is a speech to cover or defend with, but that It does not furnish cne slogan to win with. Mr. Williams's speech Is very long. It has a detailed review of and comment com-ment upon the Republican National platform adopted at Chicago In June. But It cannot be said to bo a masterly review or criticism; that will come from others. And yet that Republican platform plat-form is so solid, ro well grounded In fact, historical verity, and practical application ap-plication to American conditions, thai the waves of rage, of criticism, and of denunciation will beat about It In vain; it will stand firm, triumphant, a great work that not only shows the beauty and strength of republican Institutions and the glorious administration of the affairs of this mighty country by a party which shows how to do something else than spit and grumble and complain, com-plain, but that has repeatedly received the approval of the American people. There Is every Indication that the Democrats are about to reverse- their policies on most of the Issues that havo agitated the country, as Mr. Williams in his speech reverses the former Democratic Demo-cratic explanation of the financial panic of 1893 and the disasters that came upon the Industries of the country upon the election of their candidate for President Pres-ident In that year. Their position, then, will be that of one who confesses to continual and persistent error on everything every-thing of Importance In the past, a fervent fer-vent protestation that they are right this year, a denunciation of their opponents oppo-nents for being right in tho past, and an unrepressed longing for the offices, that leads tho party to confess anything and everything for tho past and profess anything, and everything for the future in order to get them. But how will this sort of a campaign strike the people of tho country? With amazement and disgust, most certainly; and as a perfect demonstration of the fact that aa a candidate for tho administration admin-istration of the affairs of this great country it Is impossible to lake seriously the Importunities of the Democratic party. |