The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-08-13
THE ISSUE SET FORTH.
Bryan's Eloquent Summary of the Qaes
ION OF ths Hour.

t.on OF tins Hour.
"Mr. Chairman. Gentlemen OF the
Convention and Fellow Citizens-I
shall. at future day and In a formal
letter. accept the nomination which in
now rendered me by the notification
committee. and l shall at that time
touch upon the issues presented by the
platform. 1t Is fitting. however. that.
at this time. In the preserice of those
here assembled. ! speak at some length
In regard to the campaign upon which
We are now entering. We do not un-
derestlmate the forces arrayed against
US. nor are we unmindful OF the impof.
tance Of the struggle In which we are
the righteousness Of our cause. we shall
defend with all possible vigor the posi-.
tions taken by our party. We are not
surprised that some OF our opponents
In the absence of better argument. re-
sort to abusive epithets. but they may
rest assured that no language however
violent, or invectives however vehe-
ment, will lead us to depart q single
hairs breath from the course marked
out by the national convention. The
citizens. either public or private. who
assail the character and question the
patriotism OF the delegates assembled
In the Chicago convention, assail the
character and question the patriotism
of the millions who have arrayed them.
selves under the banner raised there.
1T has been charged by men stands
ing high In business and political cirs
cles that our platform Is a menace to
private security and public safety. and
II has been asserted that those whom
I have the honor for the time being to
represent not only mediate an attack
upon the rights OF property. but that
| they are the foes OF social order and
national honor. Those who stand upon
the Chicago platform are prepared to
make known and to defend every mo-
/ tive which influences them. every pur.
pose which animates them and every
hope which inspires them. They underA
stand the genius of our institutions,
I they are stanch supporters Of the form
/ of government under which we live,
and they build their faith upon the
l foundations laid by their fathers. An-
I drew Jackson has stated. with admira>
BILE ciearness and with an emphasize
which cannot be surpassed. both the
duty and the speciality Of the govern
ment. He said Distinction In society
will always exist under every Just gov-
! ernment. Equality OF talents or OF ed
ucation or Of wealth cannot be produc-
ed by human institutions. In the full
I enjoyment OF the fruits Of superior in-
dustry. economy and virtue, every man
Is equally entitled to protection by
law We yield to none In our devotion
to the doctrine just enunciated. Our
campaign has not for Its object the
reconstruction OF society. We cannot
insure to the vicious the fruits Of .
virtuous life; we would not invade the
home OF the provident In order to
transfer the rewards Of industry to the
lap OF Incidence. Property IL and win
remain the stimulus TO endeavor and
the compensation for toll. We believe,
as asserted In the Declaration OF Inde-
/ pendence. that all men are created
I equal: but that does not mean that all
men are or can be equal In possessions,
7 In ability or in merit: II simply means
that all shall stand equal before the
law and that government officials shall
not. In making constituting or enforcing
the law. discriminate between citizens
assert that property rights as well as
the rights Of persons are safe In the
hands ~ the common people.
Abraham lincoln in his message
sent to congress in December 1851. said:
NO men living are mere worthy TO be
trusted than those who toll up from
poverty; none less inclined 10 take 90
touch aueht which they have not hon
esttv.' 7 repeat hts language with IN
qualified approval and Join with him
IN the warning which he added. name
ly: Tst them beware ~ surrendering
n political power which thew srreafv
possess and which. II surrendered win
surely he used ~ close the dNors of af-
vancemert agsinst such ss they and %
Ak new disabilities and burdens upon