People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-07-29
WEAVER AT COUNCIL BLUFFS.
THE FIRST SPEECH OF THE PEG
PLIES NOMINEE.
Delivered July z, Before the Twin
City Chautauqua on the Silver
Issue.

Issue.
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
1t would have been a great pleas
ure to me to have listened to an ad-
dress upon the subject in hand from
the Hon. Richard p. Bland, of Mis-
souri,, but circumstances having
called him back to the floor of the
house of representative [ have been
improvlsed as his representative here
to-day, and [ take pleasure in ap-
pearing before you for the purpose
of submitting some views concern
ing this great question. 1t is ques-
ton far reaching in its consequences,
touching the well-spring of the whole
republic, and it is of sufficient i'm
portance, as it occupies the gateway
to the discussion Of the whole range
of economical questions; it is of
sufficient Importance to challenge the
attention Of every American citizen.
M. Theirs, in his preface to the
history of the French revolution,
says that the people of France were
incapable of comprehending the
march of ideas. Had they been
capable of comprehending them they
would have avoided the bloodiest
chapter in the history of civilization,
namely, the French revolution. He
said they could comprehend the ar
ray, the onset, the shivered diadems,
the blood flowing in the streets, but
they could not comprehend the
mighty revolution of thought.
hope that the historian who shall
write the history of the political con-
fiicts of our day may avoid the
necessity of inficting upon American
civilization the same criticism. He
who looks upon human government
lightly, he who turns an Indifferent
ear to the necessities of a mighty ma
ton like this, now numbering sixty
four mi Ions of le>ple and which
will number within the lifetime of
the majority of men and women
listening to me here to-day, hun
dreds Of millions of people, fails to
comprehend the magnitude of our
civilization and the problem which
our great government represents.
Cromwell said to his painters when
about to paint his portrait, ''Paint
me as [ am; if you leave out these
scars and wrinkles [ will not pay you
a penny" He wanted the world to
look at the real Cromwell, and not
the ideal Cromwell, and what I have
to say here to-day, my fellow-ci
zens, | will say in all candor for the
ladies and gentlemen who may diff
fer with me, but wish to paint the
present condition of the republic
just as | see it with its wrinkles and
its scars. [ am an optimist, for be-
lieve in the ultimate triumph of our
civilization and the destruction of
the obstacles which now impede its
progress, and yet l believe that I see
those obstacles and comprehend
them. Now we are in the midst
not on y at the threshold-of an ex-
cited political campaign, but we are
In the midst, and have been for the
past eighteen months, of one of the
most tremendous political upheavals
that extends into every part of the
republic. You might to-day, if you
could, drive pin in the center OF
this republic and attach a line to it
of sufficient length to describe a
circle that would include every
county within it, and there is not a
county within the republic where
the people are not inquiring on the
very question I am going to discuss
here to-day, and this inquiry is not
confined to any class of political
theorists, but includes all the people,
and [ am able to testify from per
sonal observation and long expe-
rience before the public that be-
lieve there is a vein of honesty run
ming through all parties, and those
who think that the people who differ
with them are dishonest, have failed
to comprehend themselves and make
proper inspection of their own
heart and minds.
THE PEOPLE WANT TO GET AT THE
EXACT TRUTH.
There is no question about that
If know myself here to-day | dc
not wish to convey wrong impress
sion nor to be under a wrong i'm.
preston myself. want to inquire
first, what has caused this upheava
OF the people. Is any one so illogi
cal as to conclude that this great up
heaval is, ephemeral without any
logical cause? Causes and effects
follow after one another like the
great waves of the sea. You have
seen them dash in fury upon the
shore. Just so, cause and effect fol
low one another. This great up.
heaval is the effect of certain causes
and when we get at the causes We