Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-08-20
BRYAN'S ADDRESS
The Democratic Candidates
Formal Acceptance Of the
Presidential Nomination.
The Full Text Of His
New York Speech.

Mr.. CHAIRMAN, GENTLEMEN OF THE
COMMITTEE AND FELLOW CITIZENs-I
shall at a future day and in formal letter
accept the nomination which is now ten
dered by the notification committee, and
shall at that time touch upon the issues
presented by the platform 1t is fitting,
however, that at this time, in the presence
Of those here assembled, speak at some
length in regard to the campaign upon
which we are now entering. We do not
underestimate the forces arrayed against
us, nor are we unmindful Of the impor-
tance Of the struggle in which we are en-
gagged; but, relying for success upon the
righteousness of our cause, we shall defend
with all possible vigor the positions taken
by our party. We are not surprised that
some of our opponents, in the absence of
better argument, resort to abusive epithets,
but they may rest assured that no Ian
guage, however violent, no invectives,
however vehement, will lead us to depart
a single hairbreadth from the course
marked out by the national convention.
The citizen, either public or private, who
assails the character and questions the pa
triotism of the delegates assembled in the
Chicago convention assails the character
and questions the patriotism Of the mil
lions who have arrayed themselves under
the banner there raised.
1t has been charged by men standing
high in business and political circles that
our platform is a menace to private secur-
ity and public safety, and it has been as
serted that those whom l have the honor
for the time being to represent not only
mediate an attack upon the rights Of
property, but are the foes both of social
order and national honor.
Those who stand upon the Chicago plat
form are prepared to make known and to
defend every motive which influences them,
every purpose which animates them and
every hope which inspires them. They un-
derstand the genius of our institutions,
they are stanch supporters of the form Of
government under which we live, and they
build their faith upon foundations laid by
the fathers. Andrew jackson has stated,
with admirable clearness and with an en-
phasis which cannot be surpassed, both
the duty and the sphere of government.
He said: Distinctions in society will al
ways exist under every just government
Equality of talents, Of education or of
wealth cannot be produced by human in
stitutions. In the full enjoyment of the
gifts of heaven and the fruits Of superior
industry, economy and virtue every man
is equally entitled to protection by law. "
We yield to none in our devotion to the doc
trine just enunciated Our campaign has
not for its object the reconstruction Of so
ciety. We cannot insure to the vicious the
fruits Of virtuous life; we would not in
wade the home Of the provident in order to
I i.
not propose to transfer the rewards of in
dustry to the lap Of Incidence. Property is
and will remain the stimulus to endeavor
and the compensation for Toll We be-
lieve, as asserted in the Declaration Of In
dependence, that all men are created equal,
but that does not mean that all men are
or can be equal in possessions, in ability
or in merit 1t simply means that all shall
stand equal before the law, and that gov
ernment officials shall not, in making con-
STRUNG or enforcing the law, discriminate
between citizens.
Quotes From President Lincoln.
assert that property rights, as wen as
the rights Of persons, are safe in the hands
of the common people. Abraham Lincoln,
In his message sent to congress in Decem-
Der, 1861, said, "No men living are more
up from poverty, none less inclined to
take or touch aught which they have not
| honestly earned" " / repeat his language
with unqualified approval and join with
him in the warming which he added
namely, ''Let them beware Of surrender.
} ing political power which they already
| possess, and which power, if surrendered,
will surely be used to close the doors Of ad-
| vancement against such as they and to fix
new disabilities and burdens upon them
| till all Of liberty shall be lost" Those who
daily follow the Injunction In the sweat
1 of thy face shalt thou eat bread. y are now,
as they ever have been, the bulwark Of
law and order, the source of our nations
| greatness in time Of peace and its surest
defenders in time Of war.
! But / have only read part Of Jackson's
utterance Let me give you his conclusion,
4 But when the laws undertake to add to
those natural and just advantages artificial
distinctions, to grant titles, gratuities and
exclusive privileges, to make the rich rich
er and the potent more powerful, the hum
BILE members Of society, tho farmers, me-
chanics and the day laborers, who have
neither the time nor the means Of securing
| like favors for themselves, have right to
complain of the injustice Of their govern
ment. Those who support the Chicago
platform indorse all Of the quotation from
jackson, the latter part as well as the
former part.
We are not surprised to find arrayed
against us those who are the benelciaries
of government favoritism. They have read
our platform. Nor are we surprised to
learn that we must in this campaign face
the hostility of those who find pecuniary
advantage in advocating the doctrine of
noninterference when great aggregations Of
wealth are trcspassing upon the rights of
individuals. We welcome such opposition.
1t is the HIGHEST Endorsement which