The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-07-15
Bryan the Man Of the
Hour.
His Speech Yesterday Cap.
tured the Crowd and He
Becomes a Presiden-
tlal Possibility.

of Bryan, of Nebraska, was the event
of the day and it had wonderful in
huence on the convention
Cheer after cheer went up as
Bryan, of Nebraska, tall, smooth
faced, youthful looking, leaped upon
the platform to close the debate Ban
ners waved from the free silver dele.
cations and handkerchiefs, newspa-
pers, hats, fans and canes were brougt
into play by the enthusiastic crowd
At one tine the applause became
deafening and could not be suppress
ed by MIR. Richardson, who was
acting temporary chairman.
When quiet was restored Mr. Bry-
an began speaking, clearly and de-
liberately The belief in the honor
of righteous cause, he said, was
stronger than the predictions of dis
aster. He would move to lay on the
table the resolutions in condemnation
of the Administration. (Cheers.
This was not question that per-
mltted descent into personalities.
This had been great contest: new
er before had 80 great an issue been
fought out. He sketched the growth
of the free silver idea in the Demo.
catic ranks and Of the zeal that had
been injected into the party contest
The silver men had gone forth to
victory after victory, and were assem-
bled now, not to condemn, not to
protest, but to enter up a judgment
ordered by the people. AS individ-
uals. he said, those he represented
might have been willing to compli
ment the gentleman from New York,
(Mr. Hill but they were unwilling
to put him in position where he
could thwart the will Of the Demo
cratic party. (Cheers) He claimed
for his people that they were the
equals of the people OF Massachusetts,,
(ceers, and when the people Of Mas
sachusetts came to the people of Ne
braska and and said: "You have dis
turbed our business" the people Of
Nebraska replied to the people of
Massachusetts: You have disturbed
our business y you have too linn
tied an application of the definition
Of the words business man. The
man employed for wages is as much
business man as his employer
applause. The farmer who goes
out to toll in the morning is as much
business man as the man who goes
on the board of trade to gamble
in stocks. (Cheers The miner is
as much a business man as the few
financial msgnates who. in a back
room corner the money Of the world.
(Great cheering.
Mr.. Bryan said those he repres~
ented were tired of submitting to
the burdens which oppressed them
eve beg no longer, we petition no
more We defy them
This denuncation, uttered in Mr.
Bryan's most dramatic manner, was
followed by scene Of wild excite.
ment and cheering which lasted
several minutes
"What we need" Mr.. Bayan con.
tinued, sis an Andrew jackson to
stand as Andrew Jackson stood
against the national banks. We are
told that our platform is made to
catch votes We reply to them that
changed conditions make new issues.
The principles on which Democracy
rests are as everlasting as the hills,
but they must be applied to the new
conditions as they arise.
"New conditions have arisen and
we are attempting to meet them.
They tell US that the income tax
question ought not to be brought in
here that it is a new idea. They
find fault with us for our criticism
of the Supreme Court Of the Unit
States. We have not criticised it.
We have simply called attention to
it If you want a criticism of the
Courtain the matter of the income
tax read the dissenting opinions of
the Judges They say that we pass
ed an unconstitutional law. / deny
it. The income tax was not uncon
stitutional when it went before the
Supreme Court for the first time 1t
did not become unconstitutional until
one Judge changed his mind. And
we cannot be expected to know when
a Judge will change his mind.
(Cheers and laughter.) The income
tax is a just law. l am in favor IF
It, (applause) and when l find man
who is not willing to pay
his share of the burdens of the
Government which protects him,
| find man who is unworthy to en-.
Joy the blessings of Government
like ours. Loud cheers