Evening journal., 1896-07-16

Democrats, because at last, my friends,
when these questions which arise from
time to timo upon the surface and disturb
tho thought and agita;e the people have
passed away, wo all agroo in those great
fundamental principles which underlio
our form Of government We believe that
al men wero created equal, not that they
are equal in talents or in virtues or I'm
merits but we agree in this, that wher-
ever government comes in contact with
the citizens, or wherever the citizen touch
es the government all must stand equal
before the law We agree that government
can be no rospecter Of persons and that its
stroasth, its matchless strength, must be
the protector Of the fortunes of the great
est and tho possessions of the poor and
that it shall stand an impartial arbitrator
between oil of its citizens. We must agree
on this. We agree that there arc inalien-
able rights the rights which government
did not give, rights which government
cannot take away.
We all agree that governments are insti-
tutcd among men to secure and to pre-
serve these rights. and wo agree that gov
ernments derive their just powers from
tho consent OF the governed We know no
ed here and in assemblages like this all
over this broad land are the sovereign
source Of ali power. These citizens arc the
substantial foundation upon which rost
our form of government. And whilo our
citizens appreciate the responsibilities Of
citizenship and strive eaoh in his own
way and in accord to his best Judgment TO
bring civilization to higher ground and
make the government each year a more fit
expression of the virtue of the people, as
long as this IS desired by all, we can agree
in tho Fundamental principles, though wo
may diner in these minor points which
separate u.s. 1t was here that / received
my first instruction in democracy. I DO
not use that as party name. / mean it
I'm the broader scnse--that democracy that
recognizes the brotherhood of man. Il was
here that learned the truth of the poets
language "Honor and fame from no con
dition rise. )" It matters not what their
station in life, what their ancestry, what
their surroundings, all these stand upon
common ground, and all are citizens.
Freedom of Conscience.
It was here, too, that I learned that
principle that must go hand in hand with
broad democracy, the freedom of con-
science-that every man has a right TO
worship God according to tho dictates Of
his own conscience, and that no govern
mont like ours can attempt TO dictate how
a man shall servo or worship his God.
These are the basic principles upon
which have beon reared the greatest ma
/ tion known to history. l am a believer
in the progress of the race. Talk not to
me about crises through which we cannot
pass. Tell me. not of dangers that will
overthrow obstacles too great TO be over
come. We have none such A brave, he
roic, patriotic people viii be ready to meet
every emergency as it arises Each genera
| tion Is capable of self government, and
| bolieve each generation will be more capa-
bic under our institutions than the goner-
alton which went before Abraham Linz
coin, IN that greatest OF his speeches, said
that we had an unfinished work. Every
| generation receives from the preceding
| generation an unfinished work. The works
of man are imperfect We shall labor on
/ from age to age We shall not reach per.
fection, but If We do our duty we shall
leave the world better than II was when
We entered It, and every generation will
enjoy the blessings bequeathed from the
generations of tho past.
My friends with such gathering here,
Il
entire land, from tho Atlantic TO the Pa
oifc and from tho lakes TO the gulf Will
a people such as this, the nation can look
with absolute confidence for that wisdom
that intelligence, that patriotism and that
courage 60 moot every hour Of danger.
But I must not talk to you. Permit me
again and again to thank you for what
you have done for me- for the words that
you have spoken and the kindly express
sions which sec on every face.
We know not what may be the result OF
this campaign. We shall go forth and dc
our duty as we see It, But whnt shall b,
the result cannot be known until the votes
are counted. But no matter what the re
suit Is, whether this campaign results in
my election or my defeat, time cannot rol
me OF the delightful recollection of tn,
confidence and love of these citizens Of ny
boyhood days. l thank, ,you.