The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-08-19

Democratic principles. tApplause.l Demo-
cratic leaders may betray a convention to the
Populists, but they cannot seduce the foot
steps of Democratic voters from the pathway
of honor and of justice. [Applause.l candi-
cate bearing the mandate of Democratic con-
veution may in this hall open canvass
leveled against the foundations of social order
, and he beholds the Democratic masses con-
fronting him on the ground of defense. lap
plause.l
Fellow Democrats, let US not disguise from
ourselves the fact that we bear in this contest
q serious and grave and solemn burden of
dutv. We must raise our hands against the
nominee of our party, and we must do it to
preserve the future of that party itself. Jap
plause.J 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 eiife, but we
will be consoled and gratified 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. fAp-
plause.I We would look in vain through the
speach delivered here one week ago to find
true statement of the issue involved in this
canvass. lLaughter.l Indeed, / believe it is
doubtful if the candidate himself q1ite under
stands the nature of the faith which he pro-
fesses. [Laughter.] / say this not In criticism
Oh lis hDllitss out yuotiOC w LIS AAoAni1tys
[Laughter.] I believe that if he himself under
stood the inevitable consequences of the doc
trines which he breaches that his hands would
be the very first to tear down the platform on
which he stands. [Applause.l
But there was one statement in that speech
which was very far from ambiguity, pregnant
with hope and confidence to the lovers of
order. He processes his unquestioned belief
in the honesty of the American masses and he
quoted Abraham Lincoln in support of the
faith that was in him. Well, l don't believe
that the faith of Abraham Lincoln was ever
more significantly justified than in the appear
ance which Mr. Bryan presented upon this
platform in the changes that have come over
the spirit and the tone of Populistic eloquence
since the Chicago convention. We all must
remember that lurid rhetoric which glowed as
fiercely in the Western skies as that sunlight
which through the past week foretold the tor
rid heat of the ensuing day, and here upon
this platform we find that some rhetoric as
mild, as insipid as the waters of a stagnant
pool. He is candidate who was swept into
the nomination by q wave of popular enthu-
siasm, awakened by appeals to prejudice and
greed. He is q candidate who, on mis- trip
home and in the initial steps of his trip east
ward, declared that this was revolutionary
movement; who no sooner found himself face
to face with the American feeling than he re-
allied that this soil is not propitious to revo-
luton.
The people of this country will not change
the institutions which have stood the tests and
experiences of century for institutions based
upon the fantastic dreams of Populist agita-
tors The American Nation will never con-
sent to substitute for the Republic of
Washington, of Jefferson and of Jackson for
| the republic of an Altgeld, Tillman or
Bryan [Applause.1 Now, my friends, 1 have
| seid there was one statement of great signif f.
| cance in Mr.. Bryan's speech There is another
| portion of it which is singulagly free from any
| obscurity, and that may be comprised within
| the two initial paragraphs where he talks logi-
| caily, consistently, plainly the language of
| revolution. Whatever change may have come
| over his manner as candidate, however much
/ the yehemence Of his eloquence may have
been reduced, two things for which he stands
remain unaltered. On this platform he de-
! tends the most revolutionary plank OF the Chi
cago convention in speech less vehement but
/ not less earnest than that in which he sup
| ported their adoption. On this platform he
| defended the Populistic programme of over
throwing the integrity of the Supreme Court.
| [Applause.]
If there be any truit which has grown for the
benefit of all mankind out of the establish
sment of our Republic it has been the demon
stration that 1t is possible by the organization
| of an independent tribunal to safeguard the
| rights of every citizen and protect those nat
ural privileges against any invasion from
whatever source or however powerful might
be the antagonizing elements. [Applause.l
! The very existence Of that power presupposes