The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-08-27
BOURkE COCHRAN =
! ANSWERS BRYAN.
Speech Delivered at Madison
Square Garden, New York,
Tuesday Evening, Aug. Is.
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies' and Gentlemen.

tlonal song still ringing in our ears who
can doubt the issue of this campaigns That
Issue has been well stated by your presid
ing officer stripped. as he says. of all
verbal disguise, it is an issue Of common
honesty. an issue between the honest dis.
charge and the dishonest reputation Of
public and private obligations II is
question as To whether the powers of this
government snail be used to protect honest
industry OF t. tempt the citizen to dishon-
esty
On this question honest men cannot
differ 1t Is one of morals and of Justice.
1t involves the existence of social order 1t
is the contest for civilization itself If it
be disheartening tn Democrats and to low
ers of free institutions to find an issue of
this character projecting into a presidential
campaign this meeting furnishes Us with
an inspiring truth Of how that issue will
be met by the people. A Democratic CON
vcntion may renounce the Democratic
faith but the Democracy remains faithful
to Democratic principles. Democratic
leaders may betray a convention To the
steps of Democratic voters from the path
way of honor and ef justice. \ candidate
bearing the mandate of a Democratic con-
venticn may in this hall open "A canvass
levcled against the foundations of social
order but he beholds the Democratic
masses confronting him organized for the
defense.
Fellow Democrats let us not disguise
from ourselves the fact that we hear In
this cOntesta serious and grave and solemn
burden of duty We must raise our hands
against the nominee of our party. and VIC
must do it to preserve the future of that
party itself. We must oppose the nominee
OF the Chicago convention. and we know
full we'll that the success of our opposition
will mean our own exclusion from public
life. but we will he cunSulcd and gratiflcd
by the reflection that il will prove that the
American people cannot be divided into
parties on II question of simple morals or
OF common honesty. We would look in
vain through the speech delivered here one
week ago to find true statement of the
issue involved in this canvass. Indeed,
believe it is doubtful if the candidate him
self quite understands the nature Of the
faith which he processes. | say this not in
criticism of his ability, but in justice to
his morality. | believe that if he himself
understood the inevitable consequences of
the doctrines which he breaches, his own
hands would DE the very first to tear down
the platform on which he stands.
A Soil Not Propitious to Revolution.
But there was one statement in that
speech Winch was very free from ambiguity,
pregnant with hope and confidence to the
lovers of order He processes his unques-
toned belief in the honesty of the Amcri-
can masses, and he quoted Abraham Lin
coin in support of the faith that was in
him. Well, | do not believe that the faith
of Abraham Lincoln was ever more sig
nificantly justified than in the appearance
which Mr.. Bryan presented upon this plat
form in the change that has come over the
spirit and the tone of Populistic eloquencC
since the Chicago convention.
We all must remember that lurid rhet
orc whch glowed as ficrcely I'm the west
ern skies as that sunlight which through
! the past week foretQld the torrid heat q
the ensuing day, and here upon this plat
form we find that same rhetoric as mild
as insipid ~ the waters of sta9nant pool
He is candidate who was swept into tho
y
asm, awakened by appeals to prejudice
and greed. He is candidate who on hi,
trip home and in the initial steps of his
trip eastward declared that this was rcvo
lutionary movement; who no sooner found
himself face to face with the American
feeling than ne realized that this soil is MOI
prOpitiOus to revolution.
The people of this country will not
oh "a ift ,4rlit ctr
the tests and experiences of century for
institutions based upon the fantastic
dreams Of Populist agitators The Amer
lean nation will never consent to substi-
tute for the republic Of Washington of
Jefferson and of jackson the republic OF
an Altgeld, Iillman or "A Bryan. The
power of public opinion which caus,,l the
vivid oratory of the Chicago platform tc
burn low and soft as the moonlight out
side of this platform, which has already
shown its power to control Populistic elo-
qucnce, will show the full extent OF its
wisdom, will give Abraham Lincoln
prophecy its triumphant vindicaton when
it brushes the seed of Populistic socialism
next November.
Proposed Violation of the Constitution.
Now, my friends, I have said there was
one statement of great significance in Mr.
Bryan speech There is another portion
of it which is singularly free from any OBJ
security, and that may he comprised within
the two initial paragraphs where he talks
logically, consistently, plainly the Ian
guagc of revolution. Whatever change
may have come over his manner as "A can
didate, however much the vehcmence of
his cloquence may have been reduced, two
things for which he stands remain unal-
tered.
On this platform he defended the most
revolutionary plank Of the Chicago con
vention in speech less vehement, but not
less earnest, than that in which he sup
ported its adoption. On this platform he
defended the populistc programme of
overthrowing the integrity Of the supreme
court. If there be any fruit which has
grown for the benefit Of all mankind out
of the establishment of our republic. il has
been the demonstration that il is possible
by the organization of an Independent
tribunal t. safeguard the rights Of every
citizen and protect those natural privileges
against any invasion from whatever source
or however powerful might be the antag
onizing elements.
The very existence of that power presup
poses the existence of an independent tri-
puma. Yet w have this popullst eenyen-
ton, because a Populi-t measure WIS con
dclunpd "a fDcan~t itut iuuaI. PROMISING