The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-22
HOW BRYAN WON.
FULL TEXT OF HIS GREAT SPEECH
Before THE CONVENTION.

Ei~bttnp Not for CONQUEST, But In Defence
of Homes. Families and Posterity-No
Question of Honor.
Here is the full text of William j.
Bryan's speech before the convention.
which gave rise to such remarkable
outburst of enthusiasm, and did so
much toward carrying the convention
for his nomination.
"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of
the Convention: I would be presump
tuous, indeed, to present myself against
the distinguished gentlemen to whom
YOU have listened if this We're but q
measuring of ability, but this is not a
contest among persons. The humblest
citizen in all the land when clad in
the armor of a righteous cause is
stronger than the whole hosts error
can bring.
II come to speak to you in cesense
of cause holy as the cause OF LIBERTY
the cause of humanity.
''When this debate is concluded a
motion will be made to lay upon the
table the resolution offered in commen-
dation of the administration, and also
the resolution in condemnation OF the
administration. 1 shall object to
bringing the question down to level
OF persons. Tne individual IS but an
atom; he is born, he acts, he dies, but
principles are eternal and this hes
been contest of principles. Never
before in the history of this country
has there been witnessed such a con-
test as that through which we have
passed. Never before in the history
of American politics has a great issue
been fought out, as this issue has
been, by the voters themselves.
"On March 4, 1895. afew Democrats,
most of them mem oers of Congress.
issued an address 10 the Democrats OF
the nation, asserting that the money
question was the paramount icsue Of
the hour; asserting slso the light of a
majority of the Democratic party to
control the POSITION of the party on
this paramount i-sue, and concluding
with the request that all believers in
free coinage OF silver in the Democrat
ic party should organize and take
charge of and control the policy of th:s
Democratic party.
"Three months later, at Memoirs,
an organization was F erfectsd, and the
silver Democrats went forth openly
and boldly and courageously proclaim
ed their belief, and declaring that if
successful they would crystalize in a
platform the declaration which they
had made. Ahd then began the con.
flict, with zeal approaching the zeal
which inspired the crusaders who fol-
lowed Peter the Hermit.
"Our silver Democrats went forth
from victory unto victory unit! they
are assembled now, not to discuss, not
to debate, but to enter up the iudg-
ment rendered by the plain ople of
this country.
Tn.tbis contest brother has been ar
rayed against brother and father
against son. The warmest ties OF love
and acquaintance and association have
been diregarded. Old leaders have
been cast aside when they refused to
give expression to the sentiments of
those whom they would lead, and new
leaders have sprung up to give direc-
ton to this cause of trust.
''Thus has the contest been waged,
and we have assembled here under as
binding and solemn instructions as
were ever fastened upon the reprssen-
tatives of, a people. We do not come
as individuals. Why, as individuals
we might have been glad to compli-
ment the gentleman from New York,
Senator Hill, but we know that the
people for whom we speak would new
er be willing to put him in position
where he could tnwart the will of the
Democratic party.
81 said it was not a question of per-
sons; it was q question OF principle,
and it is with gladness, my friends,
that we find ourselves brought into
conflict with those who are now array
ed on the other side.
'The gentlemen who just preceded
me, Governor Russell, spoke of the
old State of Massachusetts,. Let me
assure him that not one person in all
this convention entertaips the least
hostility to the people of the Stats of
Massachusetts. But we stand here
representing people who are the equals
before the law of the largest citizens
in the State of Massachusetts.
"When you come before us and tell
US that we shall disturb your business
interests we reply that you have dis
turbed 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
q business man as his employer. The
attorney in a country town is as much
q business man as the corporation
counsel in a great metropolis. The
merchant at the cross roads is as much
q business man as the merchant of
New York.
'"The farmer who goes forth in the
morning and tolls all day begins in the
spring and tolls all summer, and, by
the application of brains and muscle to
the natural resources of this country,
creates wealth, is as much a business
man es the man who goes upon the
Board of Trade and bets upon the price
of grain. The miners who 60 one
thousand feet into the earth or climb
two thousand feet upon the cliffs sud
bring forth from their hiding pie ce the
precious metals to be poured into tLa
channels of trade are as much busine. :
men as the few financial msgnat IS who
in back room, corner the money
market of the world.