The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-07-18
BRYAN'S GREAT SPEECH
Which Gave Him a Boom for
the Presidency.
THE CHAMPION SILVER ORATOR.
Ringing Presentation OF the Claims of
the AdyOcntes of Free Coinage
ut Sixteen to One.

CHICAGO, July 10.-William Jen.
nings Bryan, of Nebraska just about
immortallzed himself by Il remarkable
speech at Thursday afternoons session
OF the National Democratic Convention.
He was speaEing on the adoption OF
the platform. His speech in full
follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of this
Convention: would be presumptuous,
indeed, To present myself against the
distinguished gentleman To whom you
have listened, If this were but Il meas
uring of ability, but this is not con-
test among persons. The humblest
citizen IN the land when clad in the
armor of a righteous cause is stronger
than all the hosts of error that they
can bring. ! come to speak TO you in
defense of a cause as holy as The cause
of liberty, the cause of humanity.
cloud app!ausc.)
When this debate is concluded, n
motion will be made TO lay upon the
table the resolution offered in COM
mendation of the administration. l
shall object to bringing this question
down to level of persons. The
individual is but an atom; he is born,
he acts, he dies, but principles are
eternal, and this has been a contest of
principle Never before in the history
of this country has there been wit
messed such a contest as that through
which we have passed. Never before
in the history of American politics has
great issue been fought out, as this
issue has been, by the voters them
selves.
On the 4th of March, 1895, a few
democrats, most of them members of
congress, issued an address to the
democrats of the nation asserting that
the money question was the paramount
issue of the hour; asserting also the
right of a majority of the democratic
party 20 control the position of the
party on this paramount issue, con-
cluding with the request that all
believers In free coinage of silver in the
democratic party should organize and
take charge of and control the policy
of the democratic party. Three months
later at Memphis, an organization was
perfected and the silver democrats
went forth openly and boldly and
courageously proclaiming their belief
and declaring that If they succeeded
they would crystalize in platform the
declaration which they had made; and
then began the conflict with a zeal
the zeal which inspired
the crusaders who followed Peter the
Hermit. Our silver democrats went
forth from victory unto victory until
they are assembled now, not to discuss,
not to debate, but to enter up the
judgment rendered by the plain people
of this country. (Arplause.) In this
contest, brother has been arrayed
against brother and father against son.
The warmest ties of love and acquain-
tance\ and association have been dis
regarded. Old leaders have been cast
aside when they refused to give
to the sentiments of those
whom they would lead, and new
leaders have sprung up TO give dIrec-
ion to this cause of truth. (Cheers.)
Thus has the contest been waged, and
We have assembled here under as bind
ng and solemn instructions as were
'ver fastened upon the representatives
If people.
We do not come here as individuals
Why, as individuals, we might have
'een glad to compliment the gentle
nan from New York (Senator HilD,
'ut we know that the people for whom
1e speak would never be willing to
'uL him in a position where he could
hwart the will of the democratic
arty. (Cheers.) l say it was not a
uestion of persons; it was a question
t principle, and it is not with glad
ess, my friends, that we find ourselves
rought into conflict with those who
re arrayed on the other side. The
entleman who just preceded me Gov.
,usselD spoke of the old state of
Let me assure him
hat not one person in all this conven-
ion entertains the least hostility to the
eople of the state of Massachusetts
but we stand here repre-
enting people who are the equals
efore the law of the largest citizens of
be state of Massachusetts. (Applause.)
When you come before us you tell
s that we shall not disturb your bus
ness in this; we reply that you have
isturbed our business by your course.
Great applause and cheering.) We
ay to you that you have made too
United in its application the definition
the business man. The man who is
for wages is as much a
usiness man as his employer. (Con-
nued cheering.) The attorney in
Ountry town is as much a business
ian as the corporation counsel in
reat metropolis. The merchant at
ne crossroads is as much business
ian as the merchant of New York.
he farmer who goes forth in the
forming and tolls all day, begins in |
he spring and tolls all summer, and
y the application of brain and muscle {
} the natural resources of this coun- |
y, creates wealth, is as much of Il
nsiness man as the man who goes
pom the board of trade and bets upon
le price of grain. The miners who (
0 a thousand feet into the earth or I
Imb 1900 feet upon the cliffs and
ring forth from their hiding places l
lie precious metals to be poured in
lie channels of trade, are rs much '
men as the few financial
agnates who, in n back room, corner
lie money of the world.
We come to speak for this broader
ass of business men. All, my friends,
e say not one word against those who I
WDI-A1'