The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-08-19
BRYAI'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-1
shall at q future day ard in q formal letter
accent the nomination which is now ten
dered by the notification committee, and l
shall at that time touch upon the issues
presented by the platform. 1t Is lifting,
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 epithcts,
but they may rest assured that no Ian
guage, however Violent 10 lnvect1ves,
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 III 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 q menace to private secur-
ity 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 ..vtsci1 upon the rights OF
property, but arc 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 animatcs them and
every hope which inspires them. They I'M
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 chi
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 CT heaven end the fruits Of superior
industry, economy and virtue every man
is equally entitled to protection by law. y
We Weld to none in our devotion to the dec
trine just enunciated. Our campaign has
not for it's object the reconstruction OF So
ciety. We cannot insure to the vicious the
fruits of q virtuous life; we would not III
wade the homo of the provident IN order to
supply the wants Of the spendthrlft; we 90
not PROPOSE to transfer the rewards Ct III
dustry to the lap Of Incidence. Property Is
and will remain the stimulus to cndaavor
and the compensation for toll. We be-
lieye, cs asserted in the Declaration OF In
depenGeEce, thatall men Grc created equal
but that does rot mean that all men are
or can be equal in possessions, IN ability
or in merit It simply means that all shall
stand equal before the law, and that gov
ernmcnt officials shall not, IN making, con-
STRUNG OF enforcing the law, discriminate
between citizens.
Quotes From President Lincoln.
assert that property rights, as we'll as
the rights of persons, are safe ID the hands
of the common people. Abraham Lincoln,
in his message sent to congress IN Dccenl-
ber, 1861, said, ''No men living arc more
worthy to be trusted than those who toll
up from poverty, none less inclined to
take or touch aught which they have not
honestly earned" I repeat his language
with unqualified approval ard join with
him in the warning which he added
namely, s'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-
yanccmenJ against such as they and to Tx
new disabilities and burdens upon them
till all Of liberty shall be lost Those who
daily follow the injunction. ''In the sweat
of thy face shalt thou cat bread, " arc now,
as they ever have been, the bulwark OF
law and order, the source of our nations
greatness in time Of peace anG It's surest
defenders in time CT war.
But have only read I. part OF jackson,
utterance Let me give YOU his conclusion,
''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
ble members Of society, the farmers, ne
chanics and the day iaborers, 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, tho latter part as we'll as the
former part.
We are not surprised to find arraEefl