The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-10-15
Bryan's Campaign Speeches,
AT ST. LOUIS, MO.
n Stirring and Patriotic Address at
the National Association OF Demo-
cratic Clubs.

alton OF Democratic Clubs was held il
st. Louis last week, and Mr.. Bryal
was invited to attend. Ho rcache'
thcrC ON Saturday afternoon, and ii
the evening he was greeted by an au
dience OF 1900 enthusiastic admlrer
at the Auditorium, where he spoke IL
follows =:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
ment: For just ~ little while ! asl
your affection. | don't require Il grea
deal OF time to say all that have tt
say to you tonight. The club can bl
OF moro service now that it was in pre-
paign is being run by the people them
selves. Tho club have adopted ;
button which bears tho likeness OF
Thomas jefferson. (Applause.) l.
you had searched through all histOr,
you could not have found IA man more
worthy OF bcing taken rs your idea
statesman.
A Voice" Except Bryan"
MIR. Bryan-Becausc, in all the his,
tory Of the human race, there has never
been but Que Thomas Jefferson.
A Voice" You're another"
M. rBryan--Of all the constructive
statesmen Of whom the world has ever
seen, Thomas Jefferson stands first.
y Voice" And Bryan next"
MIR. Bryan-At u time when this
Government waS an experiment, he
wrote that immortal document which
declared that all men are created equal,
that they arc endowed with inalien-
able rights, that governments are in-
stituteu to preserve these rights, and
that governments derive their just
powers from the consent Of the govern
cd. In stating these four propositions
he stated the Alpha and Omcga OF
Democracy. (Applause.)
Men may write books and men may
fill libraries with volumes, but they
can never improve upon that state
ment recorded in u few sentences and
yet mprchcnsivc, that this is Il gov
crnment OF the people, ion the people,
and by the people. In my Judgment,
no Statesman ever lived who so Iuiiy
understood human nature as Jefferson
did. No ono more fully understood
the capacity OF the people for self
government: no one more fully NJ.
derstoOd the dangers to be guarded
against.
He stated the principles which
undcrlic Democracy and then applied
those principles 20 every question that
arose during his time.
The greatest danger which i govern
mcnt has to fear, when trusted in hu-
man hands is tnvorilism. Eavoritism
is the curse Of all governments,
(applausc): at least among govern
ments like ours, and yet lavoritism is
the dangerous strength, even in our
government, because our government
is administered through human beings
and human beings are human. My
friends, if you would have d govern
ment to fiji the ideal of Il perfect gov
ernment, you must have II government
that is no ruspcctOr Of persons, u gov
ernment which deals with ca lai hands,
q government which gives to none,
which takes from none, and q govern
ment which in the damlnistra: ion OF
law anu Justice, treats all alike and
Furnishes the great william as it does
the petty scoundrol.
If you ask me what is my highest
ambition, | will say that above all Of
fees that human hands can give.
above all honorS which confidence and
esteem can bcStOw, if | could choose
the name by which | should be known,
| would have il this, thut have done
my best to make the Government what
Thomas Jefferson desired it should be.
Great appiuuso.) My friends, govorn-
mcnt has driftcd away from the Old
landmark. (A voice: "Wc have not. y
In times Of passion, in times Of selfish
ness, the instrumentaliticS OF govern
mcnt have been turned to private gain
and government instead OF dealing out
equal and exact Justice, has been a. re-
fugc Of those VINO, having obtained
positions, have used it to enrich them
solves out OF the toll and sweat Of their
fcilOWmcn.
Behind tho bulwarks erected by our
opponents, have been gathered every
public enemy who prcys upon the pco-
pie, and they can call to their aid but
Il small portion of the unjust gains
that they have wrung from the public
through vicious legislation, but u small
portion Of those gains will be cor
ruption fund, the like Of which has never
been known before in any government
on the face OF the Garth. (Applausc
and chcers.)
A Voicc-'If Mark Hanna.could only
hear that"
Mr.. Bryan-Against this enemy sup
piled with all the material that is sup
posed to be valuable in such Il conflict,
against this enemy, confident, AFRO
giant and inso!cnt, VIC have nothing
to oppose except the cOnscicnccs III
seventy millions Of people. (ApDlausc.
My friends, those who live fifty year:
from now, reading the pages OF his
tory, will envy those who lived in this
day of such wonderful opportunities.
AS tho Presidential nominee OF tho
Ieoplc's Alliance, ! want to say to yor
that DO not desire the Involuntary
support OF any citizen OF this nation.
Wc appeal to the will, we submit oui
cause TO the Judgment, and If an
elected, want to feel that behind m,
l have majority of these people, an,
thcn, 50 hclp me God, | will carry GU
the ?latforl0 to the letter. Great ap
piausc and checrs.)
BE not discouraged by abuse, abuse
has always been the lost of those who
fought against intrenched privileges
II you become annoyed, turn back t.
the pages OF history and for ever,
name that is applied to you, you will Gn1
one equally severe applied to Jefferson
All, my friends, may como nearer thar
that. That great spirit yondcr (point
ing to a portrait Of Lincoln), was ~
Indignantly attacked by the aristo
cracy Of wealth and would be as nm
popular to-day in New York or Boston
among our iinanciers as jackson wa
or Jefferson was in his day.
There Is nothing, my friends, which
so inspires as truth, and those VIII,