The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-08-26
and he beholds the Democratic masses
confronting him organized for the de-
fense. (Applause.)

Fellow Democrats, let us not disguise
from ourselves the fact that we bear
i'm this contest serious and grave and
solemn burden of duty. We must raise
our hands against the nominee of our
party, and we must do it to preserve the
future of that party itself. (Applause.) }
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 pub
lie life, but we will be consoled and
gratified by the reflection that it will
prove that the American people can
not be divided into parties on a ques-
ton of simple morals or of common
honesty. (Applause.) We would look
i'm vain through the speech delivered
here one week ago to find true state
ment of the issue involved in this cam
vass. daughter Indeed, believe it
is doubtful if the candidate himself
quite understands the nature of the
faith which he processes. Laughter.
say this not i'm criticism of his ability,
but in justice to his morality. Laugh
ter. / believe that if he himself under
stood the inevitable consequences of
the doctrines which he breaches that
his own hands would be the very first
to tear down the platform on which he
stands. (Applause.
LURID RHETORIC sUBDUED.
But there was one statement in that
speech which was very free from ambi-
guilty, pregnant with hope and conf
dence to the lovers of order. He pro-
fesses 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, /
do not believe that the faith of Abra-
ham Lincoln was ever more signifi-
cantly justified than in the appearance
which Mr.. Bryan presented upon this
platform; in the changes which 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 torrid heat of the ensuing
day, and here upon this platform we
find that same rhetoric as mild, as in
sipid As the waters of stagnant pool.
He is candidate who was swept into
the nomination by a wave of popular
enthusiasm, awakened by appeals to
prejudice and greed. He is candidate
who, on his trip home and in the ini-
tial steps of his trip eastward, declared
that this was revolutionary move
ment; who no sooner found himself
face TO face with the American feeling
than he realized that this soil is not
propitiJus to revolution. The people
of this country will not change the in
stitutions which have stood the tests
and experiences of century for insti-
tutions based upon the fantastic dreams
of Populist agitators; the American
Nation will never consent to substitute
for the Republic of Washington, of JEFF
ferson, and of Jackson, the republic of
an Altgeld, a Tillinan, or Bryan. (Ap-
plause. The power of public opinion,
which caused the vivid oratory of the
Chicago platform to burn low and soft
as the moonlight outside of this plat
form, which has already shown its
power to control Populistic eloquence,
will show the full extent of its wisdom,
will give Abraham Lincoln's prophecy
it's triumphant vindication when it
crushes the seed of Populistic Socialism
next November. Cheers
Now, my friends, have said there
was one statement of great significance
in Mr.. Bryan's speech. There is another
portion of it which is singularly free
from any obscurity, and that may be
comprised within the two initial para
graphs where he talks logically, con-
sistently, plainly, the language Of rev.
olution. Whatever change may have
come over his manner as a candidate,
however much the vehemence of his
eloquence may have been reduced, two
things for which he stands remain un-
altered. On this platform he defended
the most revolutionary planks of the
Chicago convention in speech less vehe-
nent, but not less earnest, than that In
which he supported their adoption. On
this platform he defended the Popu-
listic program of overthrowing the in
tegrity of the Supreme court. Gap
plause. If there be any fruit which
has grown for the benefit of all man.
kind out of the establishment of oui
Republic, it has been the demonstra-
ton that is possible by the organization
of an independent tribunal to safeguard
the rights of every citizen, and protect
those natural privileges against any in
vasion from whatever source, or how
ever powerful might be the antagoniz
ing elements. lApplause.) The very
existence of that power presupposes th'
existence of an independent tribunal
Yet we have this Populistic convention
because Populistic measure was con
demned as unconstitutional, proposing
not TO amend the constitution in th'
ordinary way prescribed by that instru
| htrt
court, to reorganize it (he used the Ian
guage of the platform itself so that ]
will pronounce those laws constitu
tional which the constitution itself con
demns; proposal to make the court
Of law instruments of lawlessness; Z
violate that sacred pact between tn
States on which the security of thi
Nation rests; 10 profane the tempt
erected for its protection by the hand
of false priests who, though sworn Z
defend it, will be appointed to destro
it. (Great applause
FREE SILVER WON'T INCREASE WAGES
f In the time to which / must confin
, myself tonight ] can do nothing bu
: examine that one question which Nj
Bryan himself declares to be the ovel
shadowing issue of this campaign.
. am a little puzzled when read thi
speech to decide just what Mr.. Brya
: himself imagines will be the fruit Of
{ change in the standard of valu
: throughout this country. do not b