Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-07-17
A GREAT SPEECH.
THE ADDRESS WHICH NOMINAL.
ED WIN. JENNINGS BRYAN.

'''''' On NV.
simply Logical, DigniftedIy Flo
quent Presentation OF Condition.
Quickly SilenCeS the Fire of til,
Enemies Heaviest Gums Hi
and Russell Go Down Before til,
Sturdy knight Armed With tn,
Lance of Truth.
Like the appearance of Ericsson,
monitor at Newport News after the
Merrimac had caused such devastation
to the best war ships of the American
navy, was the advent of the silver
champion of Nebraska, after some O
the heavy guns from the East had en-
gagged in bold dash of impassionet
rhetoric to scatter the silver forces
The result was the same-inditferenc
surprise, dismay and utter rout, and
the orator Of the west grasped the
standard of victory by his own un.
aided valor.
His speech was as follows:
"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen o
the Convention: l would be pre-.
sumptious indeed to present myself
against the distinguished gentleman
to whom you have listened, if this
were but a measuring of ability, but
this is not contest of persons. The
humblest citizen in all the land, when
clad in the armor OF righteous cause
is stronger than all the hosts of error
that they can bring. leone to speak
to you in defense of cause holy as
the cause of liberty-the cause OF hu-
manity. When this debate is con.
cluded, a motion will be made to lay
upon the table the resolution offered
in commendation of the administra.
tion, and also a resolution in condem-
nation of the administration. l shall
object to bringing the question down
to the level of persons. The individ-
ual is but an atom. He is born, he
acts, he dies; but principles are eter.
nal, and this has been a contest OF
principles.
Never before in the history of this
country has there been witnessed such
a contest as that through which we
have passed. Never before in the his.
tory OF American politics has great
issue been fought out as has this issue
by voters themselves. On March 4
1895, few Democrats, most OF them
members OF Congress, issued an ad-
dress to the Democrats OF the nation,
asserting that the money question was
the paramount question OF the hour
asserting also the right of the major
ity OF the Democratic party to control
the position of the party on this para
mount issue, concluding with the re.
quest that all believers in the free
coinage of silver in the Democratic
party should organize and take charge
of and control the policy Of the Demo
cratic party.
"Three months later, at Memphis
an organization was perfected, and the
silver Democrats went forth openly
and boldly and courageously proclaim
ing this belief and declaring that they
would crystalline in a platform the
declaration which they had made
and then began the conflict. with a
zeal approaching the zeal which in
spired the crusaders who followed Pc
ter the Hermit. Our silver Democrats
went forth to victory, until they are
assembling now, not to discuss, not to
debate, but to enter upon the judg.
ment rendered by the plain people OF
this country.
ain this contest, brother has been
arrayed against brother, and father
against son. The warmest ties OF love
and acquaintance and association
have been disregarded. Old leaders
have been cast aside when they re-
fused to give expression to the senti-
ments of those whom they lead, and
new leaders have sprung up to give di-
rection to this cause of truth. Thus
has the contest been waged, aud we
have assembled here under as binding
and solemn instructions as ever were
fastened upon representatives of the
people. We do not come as individ-
uals. As individuals, we might have
been glad to compliment the gentle
man from New York (HilD. but we
know that the people for whom we
speak would never be willing to put
him in q position where he could
thwart the will OF the Democratic
party. l say it was not a question OF
person--it was question OF princi'
pies and it is not with gladness, my
friends, that we find ourselves brought
into conflict with those who are now
arrayed on the other side.
The gentleman who just preceded
me Governor RusselD spoke of the
old State OF Massachusetts,. Let me
assure him that not one person in all
this convention entertains the least
hostility to the people OF the State OF
Massachusetts,, but we stand here
representing people who are the equals
before the law of the citizens of th'
State of Massachusetts,. When yor
come before us and tell us we shall
disturb your business interests, w
reply that you have disturbed our busl
ness interests by your course. W.