Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-24
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
Greeted With Continuous 0va-
tions in Atlanta.
THE ANCIENT LANDMARKS
Was the Subject of His Lecture at the Grand
Opera House.
HIS WORDS WERE FREE FROM oFFENsE
ing Ills Discourse-"We Plant Trees,
Others Gather the Fruit He Said
The Last Campaign Was the Tree.

Atlanta, Ca, Dec. 23.-Hon. William j.
Bryan opened his lecture tour here to-
night at the Grand opera house before
large audience. All day long he had
been entertained by one organization or
another and he held an almost continu-
Gus reception. Gov. Atkinson took him to
the executive mansion in the morning
as his guest. At noon the Young Mems
Democratic league rendered him lunch
con, and tonight the Fulton club enter
tanned him. Among the speakers at the
luncheon was ex-Secretary Hoke Smith
Mr.. Bryan was introduced tonight by
Mr. Hal T. Lewis, the Georgian who
nominated him at Chicago.
The late nominees reception was en-
thusiastic, the audience cheering loudly
and long. His subject was, THE AN
cient Landmarks" The subject matter
was extremely conservative. There was
nothing in 1T to offend any one. The
address was discussion of the govern
mental questions Government, said he,
is what the people make it-good or bad,
as they dictate. They can remedy abuses
If they seriously undertake to do so.
Often they are Indifferent. 1t has been
said that the man who neglects to take
part in controlling the government is
worse than the men who govern badly.
Mr.. Bryan quoted literally from JEFF
ferson and Jackson. He touched on the
leading issues of the recent campaign,
but in non-partisan way. The aim,
said he, of advocates of different mon
etary systems is to secure that one which
Is best for the greatest number of cit
liens. Men differ as to which system
will accomplish that, but all agree that
the system which will give unit OF
value of the least possible fluctuations Is
ha Tn q npnnla
country and eventually the people of the
world will select that system under which
the unit of value is the most stable. In
reaching that decision selfishness must
here to stay, but 1t is not wholly disad-
vantageous, for it is the manifestation of
the instinct of self-preserYation
Government should not only avoid
abuses, but should protect the weaker
against the strong. A government sub
stitutes law for force, and right for
might Governments must restrain. JEFF
ferson said that one of the most i'm
portant duties of a government was to
restrain one set of citizens from injur-
ing the others.
Trusts were denounced as a means of
doing an injury to ones fellow citizens.
Mr. Bryan remarked that he did not
think any party openly defended trusts.
They are permitted to exist because the
people are Indifferent. They could be
ion. Newspapers form public opinion,
but they are not to be expected to do 1t
ALL Every individual citizen should ex-
ercise his influence, take a position and
let it be known. Public opinion is SO po-
tent that it can crush out any abuse, even
trusts or the use of money in politics.
The use of money by political parties Is
the most pernicious influence in politics.
And the party is young, indeed, which
does not use money to advance its. ends.
.lx,~ 10 rnr,afa, nganFn n a
use of money is permitted, the citizens
will themselves be plundered to recoup
the expenditures.
Unjust taxation was treated at some
length. The speaker declared unjust
taxation to be indirect larceny. 1t Is
taking money from one mans pocket and
putting 1t in the pocket of another man.
The chief cause of the discomfort in
this country is favoriteism in one form or
another under the government. This
favoriteism may be manifested by un-
Just taxation in different forms.
Mr.. Bryan found good results in the
recent campaign. 1t set the people to
thinking, habit which they will keep up.
Jefferson said that public officials who
are not watched are wolves Mr.. Bryan
thinks that hereafter public officials will
be more closely watched. Good govern
ment consists in jealousy and not con-
fidence Over-confidence encourages
abuse of confidence. s5l
In concluding the lecturer remarked
significantly that the Latin poets said
we plant trees, the fruit of which we do
not expect to pluck. We are laying the
foundations now for those who come after
us. A part of the foundation work was
gotten under way in the recent cam
paign. The superstructure will be built
later. s=,s,s- fe8 fs-
Mr. Bryan will leave here tomorrow
morning and will go to Chicago, whence
he will go to his home in Lincoln.
!. -A,.tn 80 1nnt or