Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-08-13
BRYAN'S ADDRESS
The Democratic Candidates
Formal Acceptance of the
Presidential Nomination.
The Full Text of His
New York Speech.

shall at u future day and in formal letter
accept the nomination which is now ten
dercd by the notification committee, and
shall ut 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 are now entering. We do not
underestimate the forces arrayed against
MS, nor are we unmindful of the impur.
tuncc 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 viFor the positions taken
by our party. We are not surprised that
some of our opponents in the absence of
! bCttcrargument, resort to abusive cpithets,
. but they may rest assured that no Ian
/ guagC, however violent, no invCctiveS,
! however vehement, will lead us to depart
u single hairbrcadth from the course
| marked out by the national convention.
| The citizen, either public or private, who
assail5 the character and questions the pa
triOtsm Of the delegates assembled in 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 menace to private sccur-
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 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 animates them and
every hope which inspires them They un-
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 clCarncss and with an en-
phasis which cannot be surpassed, both
tho duty and tho 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 DO produced by human in
stitutions 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 cur devotion to the doc
trinC just cnunciated Our campaign has
lbt lDI llS blJCNl tliG ltCOuSlTlltllOl VI SO-
CiCty. We cannot insure to the vicious the
FRUITS Of "a virtuous life; we would not in
wade the home Of the provident in order to
supply tho wants of the spcndthrift; wet do
not propose to transfer the rewards of in
dustry to the lap of indolCnce. Property is
and will remain tho stimulus to Cndeavor
and the compensation for toll. We be-
licye, as asserted in the Declaration of In.
dependence, that all men are created equal
but that does not mean that all men are
on can be equal in POSSESSIONS in ability
or in merit. 1t simply means that all shall
stand equal before the law, and that gov
crnmcnt 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 Deccm-
Der, 1861, said, "No 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 a political power which they already
possess, and which power, if surrendered
will surely bo used to close the doors of ad-
yanccmCnt against such as they and to fix
new disabilities and burdens upon them
till all of liberty shall be lost j." Those who
daily follow the injunction, "In the sweat
Of thy face shalt thou eat bread are now
rs they ever have been, the bulwarll of
law and order, the source of our nations S
greatness in time of peace and its surcst
defenders in time of war.
But have only read part of Jackson's
utteranc0. Let me give you his conclusion,
But when the laws undertake to add to
those natural and just advantages artificial
distinctions, to grant titles, gratutes and
exclusive privileges, to make the rich rich
er and the potent more powerful, the hum
bic mCmbCr5 of society, the farmers, me
chanics and the day laborers, who have
Mother the time nor the means of securing
like fayors for themselves, have "a right to
complain of the injustice of their govern
mont" Those who support the Chicago
platform indorsc all of the quotation from
Jackson, the latter part as well us the
former part.
We are not surprised to find arraycd
against us those who are the bcneficarcs
Vt government favoritism. They have read
Iur platform. Nor are we surprised to
learn that we must in this campaign face
the hostility of those who find IL pccuniary
advantage in advocating the doctrine of
nonintcrfcrencc when great nggregations of
wealth are trcspassing upon the rights of
individuals. We welcome such opposition
1t is the highest Endorsement which
could be bestowed upon us Wcare content
to have the cooperation of those who desire
. t. have the government administered with