The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1896-08-14
Bryan's Notification Speech.

Committee and Fellow Citizens-l
shall, at a future day and in formal
letter, accept the nomination which is
now rendered by the notification COM
mittee, and shall at that time touch
upon the issue presented by the plat.
form. 1t is fitting, however, that al
this time, in the presence of those here
assembled, I speak at some length in
regard to the campaign upon which we
are now entering. We do not under
estimate the forces arrayed against US,
nor are we unmindful of the importance
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 po-
sitions taken by our party. We are
not surprised that some of our oppo-
nents, in the absence of better argu-
ment, resort to abusive epithets; but
they may rest assured that no language
however violent, no invectives how.
ever vehement will lead us to depart
single hairs breadth from the course
marked out by the National Conven-
ton. The citizen, either public or
private, who assails the character and
questions the patriatism of the dele
gates assembled in the Chicago Con-
vention, assails the character and ques-
tions the patriotism of the millions
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 menace to private security
and public safety, and it has been as
serted that those whom | 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.
Mr.. Bryan then stated under Jack
sons exposition of the Duty and Sphere
of Government and then attested
the devotion of the Democratic Party
to those principles. He then said:--
We are not surprised to find arrayed
against US those who are the beneficial
ries of Government favoritesm: they
have read our platform. Nor are
we surprise to learn that we
must in this campaign face the
hostility of those who find a
pecuniary advantage in advocating
the doctrine of non-interference when
great aggregations Of wealth are tres
passing upon the rights of individuals.
We welcome such opposition; it is the
highest Endorsement which could be
placed upon us. We are content to
have the cooperation of those who de-
sire to have government administered
without fear or favor.
1t is not the wish of the general pub
lie that trusts should spring into exis-
tence and override the weaker men,
bers Of society it is not the wish of the
general public that those trusts should
destroy competition and then collect
such tax as they will from those who
are at their mercy; nor is it the fault of
the general public that the instrumen
talities of government have heen so
often prostituted to purposes of private
gain. Those who stand upon the
Chicago platform believe that the Gov
ernment should not only avoid wrong
doing; and they believe that the law
should he enforced alike against all
enemies of the public veal. They do
notexcuse petit larceny, but they do de-
clare that grand larceny is equally a
crime; they do not defend the occupa-
tion of the highwayman who robs the
unsuspecting traveller, but they in
clude among the transgressors those
who, through the more polite and less
hazardous means of legislation, appro-
pirate to their own use the proceeds of
the toll of others. The commandment
"Thou shall not steal" thundered from
Sinai and reiterated in the legislation
Of all nations is no respecter of persons.
1t must be applied to the great as well
as to the small; to the strong as we'll as
to the weak; to the corporate person
created by law as well as to the person
Of flesh and blood created by the AL
mighty. No government is worthy of
the name which is not able to protect
from every arm uplfted for his injury
the humblest citizen who lives ben ath
The flag. 1t follows, as necessary cons
clusion, that vicious Legislation must
be remedied by the people who suffel
rom the effects Of such legislation and
l.