The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-10
W. ]. BRYAN'S SPEECH
That Carried the Democratic
Convention Of Its Feet.
DEFIANCE TO THE GOLD MEN.
The Words That Caused the Banners
OF tho Other States TO Bow Down
Co That OF Nebraaka.

4's1EtCTaAfC convention To-Day.
Mr.. Chairman ard Gentlemen: would
be presumptuous indeed 20 rrsseu, my
self against the distinguished gentlemen
to whom you have listened. IL this were
but a measuring Of ability. but this Is lot
G contest Of persona The humbiest cltf-
zen In al the Land when clad In the armor
Of righteous cause. Is stronger than all
the hosts that error can bring ! come
TO speak TO you In defense Of cause holy
as the cause OF liberty. the cause OK hui
uantty. When this debate Is concluded
4 motion VIII be made TO lay upon the
table the resolution offered In commenca-
ton Of the administration. and also q reso-
luton IN condemnation Of the adrnimsfra-
ton. / shall object TO bringing this qIes-
ton down 10 the level OF persons. The In
civitlal Is but an atom. he 10 born. he
acts. he dies. but principles are eternal.
and this has been q contest OF principles
Never before in the history OF this
country has there been witnessed such q
contest as that through which We have
passed Never before In the history OF
American politics has great issue been
fought out. as has this Issue, by the vot-
ers themselves. On the 4th Of March. 1885.
. few Democrats. most OF them members
OF congress. issued An address 10 the
Democrats OF the nation, asserting that
the money question was the paramount
issue of the hour. asserting also the right
OF the majority OF the Democratic party
to control the position OF the party on
this paramount issue: concluding with
the request that all believers in the free
coinage of silver In the Democratic party
should organize ana take charge OF and
control the policy Of the Democratic par
~. Three months later. at Memphis, an
organization was perfected, and the sill
yer Democrats went forth openly and
boldly and courageously proclaiming their
belief and declaring that they would crys-
talize In platform the declaration which
they had made, and then began the con-
ffct with a zeal approaching the zeal which
inspired the crusaders who followed Peter
the Hermit.
Our silver Democrats went forth TO
victory until they are assembling now not
10 discuss, not to debate. but TO enter
upon the judgment rendered by the riain
people OF this country. In this contest
brother has been arrayed against brother
and father against son. The warmesr ties
OF love and acquaintance and association
have teen disrerafded. Old leaders have
been cast aside when they refused 10 give
expression to the sentiments OF those
whom they would lead. and new leaders
have sprung up to give direction 10 this
cause Of truth. Thus has the contest been
waged. and we have assembled here under
as binding and solemn instructions as eve
er were fastened upon representatives OF
the people. We do not come as indi-
v.duals. Why. as individuals, we might
have leen glad 70 compliment. the gentle
mau from New York tSerator HID. but
we know that The people for WHOM, we
speak would never be willing to put him
IN a position where he could ttwart the
will or the Democratic party. I say shat
1t is not question OF persons. 1t was
a question of principles. and l. is not with
giaeness nv friends. that W. Esd our
selves brought into confic. with those
who are now arrayed on the other side.
THE gentleman who has just preceded
me Gov. RusselD spoke Of the old state OF
Massachusetts. Let me assure him that
not one person in all this convention enter
talns the least hostility to the people of
the state OF Massachusetts,, but we stand
here representing people who are the
equals before the law of the largest cia-
Gems of the state OF Massachusetts, When
you come before us and tell US we shall dis
turb your business interests, We reply that
YOU have disturbed our business interests
by your course. We say to you that you
have made too limited In its application the
definition OF business man. The man who
Is employed for wages is as much busi-
ness man as his employer. The attorney
in a country town is as much business
man as the corporation counsel in the great
metropolis. The merchant at the cross
roads store is IL much a business man as
the uerchan. OF New York. The farmer
who goes forth in the morning and tolls
all day, begins In spring and tolls all sum-
mer, and By the application OF brain and
muscle to the natural resources of this
country creates wealth, is as much bush
ness man as the man who goes upon the
board OF trade and bets upon the price CT
grain"
the sentiments OF the speaker were
cheered again and again. and the galleries
seemed 10 be a mass OF white because OF
the handkerchlefs waving. The cheers
wer. renewed again and again. and II was
some minutes before Mr.. Bryan could be
heard. He proceeded as follows:
The miners who so i.oeo feet into the
earth or climb :, 900 feet upon the cliffs
and bring forth from their hiding place
precious metals TO be poured into the
channels OF trade are as much business
men as the financial magnates who in
hack room corner the money OF the
world
The free silver delegates az this m6meat
broke forth In tremendous cheers. order
was finally restored and air. Bryan. con-
tinnng said:
I'VE come TO speak FOR this broader
class Of business men. All. my friends.
we say not a word against those who ike
upon the Atlantic coast. but those hardy
pioneers who have hraveG AL the dangers
% the wilderness. who rave made the
desert 20 blossom as TIE rose. .host nioT-
GERS away out there. rearing their chill.
cren near 20 natures bear. here they
can rnlngie their Voice with the voices OF
the birds. out there were they have erect
Ell school houses for TIRE education 90 their
young ard churches whore they praise
their Creator and Gems scries where sleep
OF the consideration OF this party as anv
people in this country. u is for those
that we speak We do not come SIS ag-
gressors: our war Is not war OF con-
quest We are fighting for our homes. our
families and prosperity. We have peti-
toned. and our eutreaties have been dis
regarded We have begged and they have
Knocked. and cur caiamiiies have become
worse We beg no longer: We sntrsat 10
more: we petition no more: We DEFY then.
TIE gentleman from Wisconsin has
said he fears a Robesp.erre. Ny griend.
In this land OF the free you need fear no
tyrant who vii spring up from among
the people. whas we need Is an Andrew
Jackson 20 stand as Jackson stood against
the sacroAehments Of aggrantized wealth.
Tnav ;asl as the platform was made TO
catch votes We reply TO them that
changing conditions make new srsnes:
that the principles upon which rest the
Democracy are rs everlasting az the hills.
bat that they n1nst be applied 10 new con-
d!aorx as they arise. New conditions have
arisen. ard We ara attempting 10 nice.
thesa caSG{ lions
They tee as thAs the income tar ought
not 10 be brought IN here; that q, Il a new
idea They c~sticsse ns rc~ Ger criticism
81 ghn supreme court % the Unffea States.
Ny friends. we have not criticised; &c
have simply drawn attention 20 whzs you
know IL goa want criticisms. read TIE
Dissenting opinions % TIRE court That vii
give you criticisms. They say we paSSNss
an Unconstitutional law. I deny Il n.