Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-08-14
GENERAL WEAVER'S SPEECH
NOMINATING Mr.. BRYAN.

was broad, generous and grandly patriotic,
placing the welfare of the nation above party
names, and the cause Of humanity above
every other consideration. From beginning
to end it is filed with the nobest and lofhest
sentiments, and should be read and studied by
every true American anxious for his countrys
veal.
Following is the speech in full:
In that midnight discussion between Brutus
and Cassus concerning the contemplated
battle at Philippi, Brutus urged that their
cause was rife, their legions brmful, at the
height and ready to decline. Said he;
''rhere is tide in affairs OF men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to
fortune,
Omitted, all the voyage OF their life
Is bound in shadows and in miseries.'
And then in the dramatic climax, he eX-
claimed;
son such full sea are we now aloat,
= And we must take the current when it
serves
Or lose our venture
For twenty years we have been pleading
with the people to espouse the sacred cause
which is at stake in this campaign. We
have constantly urged through good and
through evil report that our principles were
more important than party associations; were
above all considerations of private fortune or
the petty and feverish ambitions OF men. We
have thus far suited our action to our words.
Through five presidential campaigns, stretch
ing from 1870 to 1892, you correctly estimated
the purposes of old party managers, and
events have sustained every specification in
your indictment against them. Millions Of
honest men within old party ranks were de
ceived, lured into ambush and betrayed.
But not a single one of your pickets has ever
been caught mapping or been taken by sur
prise
To your devoted efforts is largely due the
revival of economic learning in this country,
which has enabled the democratic party to as
sumo its present admirable attitude. Your
work now promises much to mankind and is
about to break forth in complete victory for
the industrial masses Though oft repulsed
by the multitude, whom we would have liber-
ated, though crucihed in return for our kind
ness, yet through it all we have steadily con-
hded in the righteousness OF our cause and
the final good sense of the people. We still
believe that this nation has a mission to per-
form, which bad men will not be permitted to
destroy, and recent events indicate that the
nineteenth century is not, after all, to close
with the friends of freedom respondent in the
/ Western hemisphere
This country has recently witnessed a new
/ Pentecost and received another baptism of
/ fire. The recent convention at Chicago
sounded bugle call for union, which can
neither be misunderstood nor 60 unheeded.
/ In its patriotic utterances and action it swept
away all middle ground and opened the road
to a formidable organic alliance. They not
only made union possible, thank heaven they
have rendered it inevitable.
From the very beginning our organization
has made party fealty subordinate to princi-
pie We will not here reverse ourselves and
refuse to accept victory now SO easily within
our reach. We will not refuse the profered
assistance of at least three million free silver
democrats and not less than one million free
silver republicans simply because they have
shown the good sense to come with an or
gained army fully equipped and manned for
battle. Let them have their own divisions
and army corps. Let them manifest their
own esprit de corps. The field of glory is
open to all competitors who are lighting for
the same principles.
The populists have already shown their
proves in many engagements during twenty
years OF struggle. If our allies can strike
sturdier blows at plutocracy than can we, if
they can scale the battlcment of the gold
power more gallanuy than our old veterans
and are able to plant their coors one foot
nearer the citadel Of the enemy than we can
ourselves, let every populist cheer and support
them in their heroic work. We will all
march under the same flag, keep step to the
same music, face the same foe share in and
Shout over the same triumph
We cannot be mistaken concerning the rea
IL
year. 1t is between the gold standard, golo
bonds and banl, currency ON the one hano
and the bimetallic standard, mo- bonds an,
government currency on the other. The
people are asked to choose between enforced
idleness, destitution, debt, bankruptcy anc
despair on the one side and an open door o.
opportunity under Just laws and normal con
dtions on the other. The situation present,
the mightest civic question that ever con
yulscd a civilized nation. The conflict car
neither be postponed nor avoided.
In the name of the suffering people
affirm that this is no time for dissensons no.
party divisions. (Applause) The suprem,
hour for action has arrived. If we would b,
victorious we must make common caus,
with the convention. No other course il
either prudent or desirable. We are no
asked to abandon our party, nor would it b,
wise to do So II 1t IS to be preserved W.
WILL in my judgment, be compelled to tax,
the course which | am about to Indicate
The silver democrats have lined up as al
organization. Now let the populists, FREE
, silver republicans and the American silve
party do likewise for an embattled square
| impenetrabe to the assaults of the confeder
5 ated gold power. After due consideration, il
: which have fully canvassed every. possible