Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1896-08-26
BOuRKE COCHRAN
ANSWERS BRYAN.
eoeech Delivered at Madison
Square Garden, New York,
Tuesday Evening, Aug. I8.
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
y,u,,o,,, no,nncrats All.

Mr. Chairman, Lttules anu UchCieinon,
Fellow Democrats, ALI
With the inspiring strains Of the ma
uonal song still ringing in our ears who
ran doubt the issue of this campaign That
,ssue has been we'll stated by your presid-
Inu 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 repudiation of
mblic and private obligations 1t Is
uuestion as to whether the powers Of this
government shall be used to protect honest
industry or to tempt the citizen to dishon-
esty.
On this question honest men cannot
differ. 1t is one of morals and Of justice.
Il involves the existence Of social order. 1t
"a the contest for civilization itself. If it
be disheartening to Democrats and to low
ers of free institutions to find an issue OF
this character projecting into presidential
campaign, this meeting furnishes us with
an inspiring truth Of how that issue viii
be met by the people. A Democratic con-
yention may renounce the Democratic
/ faith, but the Democracy remains faithful
TO Democratic principles. Democratic
leaders may betray a convention to the
4 Populists, but they cannot seduce the foot
/ steps of Democratic voters from the path
way of honor and Of justice. A candidate
bearing the mandate of Democratic'con-
vention may in this hall open a canvass
leyeled 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 bear in
| this contest q serious and grave and solemn
burden of duty We must raise our hands
against the nominee Of our party, and we
must do it to preserve the future of that
party itself. We must oppose the nominee
of the Chicago convention, and we know
full well that the success of our opposition
will mean our own exclusion from public
life, but we will be consoled and gratifed
by the reflection that it will prove that the
American people cannot be divided into
parties on question of simple morals or
Of common honesty. We would look in
vain through the speech delivered here one
week ago to find a 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 be the very first to tear down
the platform on which he stands.
Soil Not Propitious to Revolution.
But there was one statement in that
speech which 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 Ameri-
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
nifcantly 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 eloquenoe
since the Chicago convention.
We all must remember that lurid rhet-
oric which glowed as fiercely in the west
ern skies as that sunlight which through
the past week foretoid the torrid heat Of
The ensuing day, and here upon this plat
form we find that same rhetoric as mild,
as insipid as the waters Of a stagnant pool.
de Is q candidate who was swept into the
nomination by wave Of popular enthusi-
asm, awakened by appeals to prejudice
and greed. He is a candidate who on his
"Trip home and In the initial steps OF his
trip eastward declared that this was revo-
Iutionary movement; who no sooner found
himself face to face with the American
feeling than he realized that this soil Is not
propitious to revolution.
The people of this country will not
change the institutions which have stood
The tests and experiences Of a 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, a Tillman or Bryan. The
power of public opinion which caused the
vivid oratory of the Chicago platform to
'nurn low and soft as the moonlight out
side Of this platform, which has already
tshown its power to control Populistic elo-
quence, will show the full extent of its
wisdom, will give Abraham Lincoln 8
prophecy it's triumphant vindication when
1t crushes the seed of Populistic socialism
next November.
Proposed Violation Of the Constitution.
Now, my friends, / have said there was
one statement Of great significance in Mr..
Bryan speech. There Is another portion
OF 1t which is singularly free from any OBJ
ecurity, and that may be comprised within
the two initial paragraphs where he talks
logically, consistently, plainly, the Ian
guage Of revolution. Whatever change
may have come over his manner as can.
a.date however much the yshenepoe o.