NEW YORK--Trumpets blaring, signs waving and flashes popping, the Democratic Party opened its 1992 national convention here yesterday with an evening session stressing party unity, women's issues and the achievability of the American dream.

Speakers pounded home these themes and leveled attack after attack against President Bush--who they said is neglecting the country's ills.

Efforts to project an image of party unity were not fully successful. Wile speakers proclaimed solidarity from the podium, signs and chants on the floor demanded that former Calif. Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. be allowed to address the convention. Runner-up Brown has yet to endorse the presumptive nominee, Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton.

As Democratic National Committee Chair Ronald H. Brown declared that "never in a generation have we Democrats been so united," Brown supporters on the floor chanted "Let Jerry Speak."

The chants could be clearly heard throughout Madison Square Garden and on the national television broadcast.

On the convention floor, the battle over a Brown appearance played itself out in hundreds of individual skirmishes. Clinton and Brown supporters in the California, Connecticut and Florida delegations fought to block each others' signs.

Ronald Brown said yesterday morning that the former California governor would not be allowed to speak if he did not endorse Clinton.

Carlos M. Alcala, a 1973 graduate of Harvard Law School and a Brown delegate from Sacramento, Calif., said that when party leaders talk about "unity," they mean "uniformity." According to Alcala, "there's a difference."

Acala said the Brown protests would go on forthe rest of the convention or until his candidateis allowed to address the delegates.

For their part, Clinton supporters said theyfeared the vocal Brown delegates would only hurtthe Democratic Party's chances in November.

"The only thing they can do is divide the partyand keep the Democratic ticket from winning theWhite House," said Clinton supporter Wilbur T.Peer, an Arkansas resident who was held a Clintonsign in front of Brown placards in the Californiadelegation.

While shouting over Brown supporters, Democratson the elaborate red, white and blue podiumconstructed for the convention tried to bring homethe party's positions on women's issues and theeconomy. They also mercilessly bashed the ticketof President Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle.

Women's issues were highlighted by six womenDemocratic Senatorial candidates who addressed theconvention last night.

"I always wanted to be one of many, and nowthat time has come," said Sen. Barbara Mikulski(D-Md.), now the only female Democrat in theSenate.

Two of the Senatorial candidates, along withMikulski, referred to last fall's Senate JudiciaryCommittee confirmation hearings on Supreme CourtJustice Clarence Thomas, then a nominee. OklahomaUniversity Law Professor Anita Hill charged thatThomas had sexually harassed her.

If are elected to the Senate, Mikulski said,"never again, when a woman comes forward before aUnited States Senate committee, will she ever beassaulted for telling the truth."