Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-07-21
BRYAN's STIRRING SPEECH.
"Boy Orator" Of Nebraska Awales
the Greatest Enthusiasm.

oA40 S1SCIUCSU IlUuuSldSln,
Arouses the Multitude by His Eloquent
Plea for the Ere, Coinage of Sill
ver-Greatest Speech of the
Convention.
Ex-Congressman William j. Bryan, of
Nebraska, by his able oratorical efforts,
created scene of the widest excite
ment and enthusiasm at the Chicago
convention that has ever been witnessed
in the history of national political con-
ventions. The immense audience went
fairly wild over his burning words, and
there is good reason to believe that his
mastery effort went far towards se-
curing for him the nomination.
Mr.. Bryan, after the applause which
greeted his appearance on the platform
had subsidized. said:
'Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of This
Convention: l would be presumptuous In
deed to present myself against the dis
thguished gentleman Senator David q.
HilD to whom you have listened If this
were but measuring of ability. but this
Is not a contest among persons. The hum
blest citizen in all the land when clad in
the armor of a righteous cause Is stronger
than the whole hosts of error can bring.
I come to speak to you in defense of a
cause holy as the cause of liberty-the
cause of humanity. Loud applause.l
When this debate is concluded a mo-
ton will be made to lay upon the table
the resolution offered in commentator OF
the administration, and also the resolu-
lion in condemnation of the administration,
I shall object to bringing this question
down to level Of persons. The Individual
Is but an atom; he Is born, he acts, no
dies. but principles are eternal. and this
has been contest Of principles Never
before in the history of the country has
there been witnessed such q 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 themselves.
Progress of Silver Movement,
ION the 4th Of March, 1895: few demo-
Gratis, 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; as
sorting also the right Of majority of the
democratic party to control the position
OF the party on this paramount issue; con.
GLIDING with the request that all believ-
ers In free coinage Of silver in the demo-
cratic party should organize and tako
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 OPEN
ly and boldly and courageovsly proclaim
Ing their belief and declaring that If sue
cessful they would crystalline in platform
the declaration which they had made; and
then began the conflict, with a zeal ap-
preaching the zeal which inspired the cru
saders who followed Peter the Hermit.
Our silver democracy went forth from
victory unto victory until they are assem-
bled now, not to discuss, not to debate,
but to enter up the Judgment rendered by
the plain people of this country. Zap
plause.] In this contest brother has been.
arrayed against brother and father against
son. The warmest ties Of love and ac-
Quaintance and association have been dis
regarded. Old leaders have been cast
aside when they refused to give express
sion to the sentiments of those whom
they would lead and new leaders have
sprung UP to give direction to this cause
OF truth. [Cheers.l Thus has the contest
been waged and we have assembled here
under as binding and solemn instructions
as were ever fastened upon the repre-
sentatives of people.
Not Question of Personalities.
1--WE do not come as individuals. Why,
M individuals we might have been glad to
compliment the gentleman from New York
Senator Hill, but we knew that the people
for whom we speak would never be willing
to put him in position where he could
thwart the will of the democratic party.
lCheers.1 say 1t was not question Of per-
sons; 1t was question of principle; and 1t
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 mo
spoke of the old state of Massachusetts,,
Let me assure him that not one person in
all this convention entertains the least hos
tility to the people of the state of Massa-
ChISaff9 E,,f e<o =
representing people who are the equals
before the law of the largest citizens In the
state OF Massachusetts. [Applause.l
Business Hen Defined.
when you come before us and tell us
that we shall disturb your business inter-
ests. we reply that you have disturbed our
business interests by your course. [Great
applause and cheering.] We say to you
that you have made too limited in its APP
plication the definition of business man
The man who is employed for wages is as
much business man as his employer.
Continued cheertng] The attorney in a
country town is as much a business man as
the corporation counsel In great metrop-
oils. The merchant at the cross roads
store is as much business man as the
merchant of New York. The farmer who
goes forth in the morning and tolls all day.
begins In the spring and tolls all summer,
and by the application of brains and muscle
to the natural resources of this country
creates wealth, is as much business man
as the man who goes upon the board Of
trade and bets upon the price of grain.''
The sentiments Of the speaker were
ries seemed to be mass of white because
of the handkerchiefS waving. 1t was some
minutes before Mr.. Bryan could be heard,
He proceeded as follows:
THE miners who go 1000 feet into the
earth or climb 1900 feet upon the cliffs and
bring forth from their hiding places the
precious metals to be poured into the chan
nels OF trade are as much business men as
the few financial magnates who in a back
room corner the money market Of the
world.
I'VE come to speak for this broader class
of business men. All, my friends, we say
not one word against those who live upon
the Atlantic coast; but those hardy
pioneers who brayed all the dangers of the
wilderness, who have made the desert to
blossom as the rose-those pioneers away
out there. rearing their children near to
natures heart, where they can mingle
their voices with the voices of the birds
out there whore they have erected school
houses for the education of their young,
and churches where they praise their
Creator, and cemeteries where sleep the
ashes of their dead-are as deserving of
the consideration of this party as any
people In this country. [Great applause.l
1t Is for these that we speak. We do not
come as aggressors. Our war is not a
war of conquest. We are fighting in the
defense of our homes, our families and
posterity. loud applause.] We have
petitioned and our petitions have been
scorned. We have entreated and our en-
treaties have been disrcgarded. We have
begged and they have Knocked, and our
calamity came. We beg no longer; we en-
treat no more; we petition no more We
defy them. (Great applause and confusion
in the silver delegations.]
An Andrew jackson Needed.
1.-THE gentleman from Wisconsin has said
<t,o< =, FOE n NV ,.ia IN