Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-08-21
BRYAN'S ADDRESS
The Democratic Candidates
Formal Acceptance Of the
Presidential Nomination.
The Full Text Of His
New York Speech.

snail at a future Jay ana III n formal lcllcr
accept 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 fitting,
however, that at this time, in the presence
of those here assembled, l speak at some
length in regard to the campaign upon
which we arc now Cntcging. We do not
underestimate the forces arraycd against
us, nor arc we unmindful of the impor-
TANGO Of the struggle in which we are en-
gagged; but. relying for success upon the
righteousness Ct 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
guaeC, however violent. no inVcctives,
however vehement will lead us to depart
q single hpirbrcadth from the course
marked out by the national convention.
Tho citizen, either public or private who
nssails the character ard questions the pa
triotism of the delegates assembled in the
Chicago convention UsG.ls the character
and questions the Iat...tism q l..' mil
lions who have arraygd 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 sccur-
ity and public safety, and it has been as
serted that those whom | have the honor
for the timc hcng to represent not only
mediate an attack upon the rights of
property, but arc the foes both Of social
order and national honor.
Those who stand upon the Chicago plat
form arc prepared to make known and to
defend every motive which influences them,
every purpose which Gnimates them and
every hope which inspires them. They I'M
dCrstand 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 clcarness and with an en-
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
situations In the full enjoyment of the
gifts of heaven and the fruits of superior
industry, economy and virtue every man
IS equally entitled to protection by law"
We yield to none in our devotion to the doc
trine just enunciated Our campaign has
not for it's object tho reconstruction of So
Ciety. We cannot insure to the vicious the
fruits of Virtuous life; we would not in
wade the homo of the provident in order to
supply the wants Of the spendthrift; we do
not propose to transfer the rewards of in
dustry to the lap of Incidence. Property is
and will remain the stimulus to cndcaVot
and the compensation for toll We be-
lieve, as asserted in the Declaration of In.
dependence, that all men are created equal,
lint hot Il snnt hot
or can be equal in possessions, in ability
or in merit 1t simply means that all shall
stand equal before the law, and that gov
eminent officials shall not, in making con-
STRUNG or enforcing the law, discriminate
between citizens.
Quotes From President Lincoln.
assert that property rights, as well as
the rights of persons, are safe in the hands
of the common people. Abraham Lincoln,
in his message sent to congress in Deem
ber 1861, said, ono men living are 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" l repeat his language
with unqualified approval and join with
him in the warning which he added
namely, 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.
Vancement against such as they and to fix
new disabilities and burdens upon them
till all of liberty shall be lost" Those who
daily follow tho injunction, "In the sweat
of thy face shalt thou eat bread, are now,
as they ever have been, the bulwark of
law and order, the source of our nation 8
greatness in time of peace and its surest
defenders in tino of war.
But have only read a part of Jackson's
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 moro powerful, the hum
BILE members Of society, the farmers, me-
chanics and the day laborers, 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 indorso all Of the quotation from
Jackson, the latter part as well as the
former part.
We are not surprised t. find arrayed
against us those who are the benefciaries
of government 1aVoritism. They have read
our platform. Nor arc we surprised to
lcdrl llldJ we must III tnlS campaign lace
the hostility of those who find pecuniary
advantage in advocating the doctrine of
noninterfercncc when great aggregations of
wealth are trespassing upon the rights Of
Individuals. We welcome such opposition
1t is the highest Endorsement which
could be bestowed upon us. Wearo content
to have the cooperation of those who desire
TO have the government administered with.
out fear or favor 1t is not the wish of the
general public that trusts should spring
into existence and override the weaker
members of society. 1t is not the wish of
the general public that these 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 gen
eral public that the instrumentalities of
government have been so often prostituted
to purposes of private gain. Those who
stand upon the Chicago platform believe