th. Though
Administration and Eastern Democratic leaders had long been working to
stem free coinage sentiment, this seemed rather to increase. By July
1st, in thirty-three of the fifty States and Territories, Democratic
platforms had declared for free coinage. The first test of strength in
the convention overruled the National Committee's choice of David B.
Hill for temporary chairman, electing Senator Daniel, of Virginia, by
nearly a two-thirds vote. The silver side was then added to by unseating
and seating.

Hot fights took place over planks which the minority thought unjust to
the Administration or revolutionary. The income-tax plank drew the
heaviest fire, but was nailed to the platform in spite of this. It
attacked the Supreme Court for reversing precedents in order to declare
that tax unconstitutional, and suggested the possibility of another
reversal by the same court "as it may hereafter be constituted."

The platform assailed "government by injunction as a new and highly
dangerous form of oppression, by which federal judges in contempt of the
laws of the States and the rights of citizens become at once
legislators, judges, and executioners."

Attention having been called to the demonetization of silver in 1873 and
to the consequent fall of prices and the growing onerousness of debts
and fixed charges, gold monometallism was indicted as the cause "which
had locked fast the prosperity of an industrial people in the paralysis
of hard times" and brought the United States into financial servitude to
London. Demand was therefore made for "the free and unlimited coinage of
silver at the present legal ratio of 16 to 1 without waiting for the aid
or consent of any other nation." Practically the entire management of
the Treasury under Mr. Cleveland was condemned.

[Illustration: Parade.]
The McKinley-Hobart Parade Passing the Reviewing Stand,
New York, October 31, 1896.

The platform being read, Hill, of New York, Vilas, of Wisconsin, and
ex-Governor Russell, of Massachusetts, spoke. William J. Bryan, of
Nebraska, was called upon to reply. In doing so he made the memorable
"cross of gold" speech, which more than aught else determined his
nomination. In a musical but penetrating voice, that chained the
attention of all listeners, he sketched the growth of the free-silver
belief and prophesied its triumph. While, shortly before, the Democratic
cause was desperate, now McKinley, famed for his resemblance to
Napo