The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-09-17
Y K ? ILLIAM Jennings Bryan

| w spoke to organized labor at
v v Sharpshooters' Park, Chica-
90, on Labor Day. At the outset he an
aounced that he would not violate the
proprleties of the occasion by discussing
/ partisan questions, and he did not do so.
| The audience was larger than the speak
sr's voice could reach, and it is estimated
hat Mt least 1900 heard the cheering
words to workingmen uttered by the elo-
luent Nebraskan. Even the trees in the
Tlcinity of the speakers stand were filled
with adventuresome listeners, all anxious
% hear. Mr.. Bryan said:
Labor Day has become a fixed thing
among our institutions. and it is well that
It has, because on this day all over this
nation those who are engaged in the pro-
| iuctiOn of wealth meet in order that they
may commune with each other, discuss
those questions in which they are spe-
cially interested and emphasize before the
world that there is nothing dishonorable
In the fact that one earns his bread in the
sweat of his face. l am glad to stand on
This day in the presence OF those to whom
This nation is SO largely indebted for all
that it has had, for all that it has now,
and for all that it can hope tG have. |
nm not indulging in idle hattery when l
say to you that no part of the people of
The world are so important TO the welfare
Of mankind as those whose labor and
brain convert natural resources into ma
teral wealth. l might quote to you what
Mr.. Carlisle said of these people in 1873.
He described them as the struggling mass
| rs, who produce the wealth and pay the
taxes of the country. He did not praise
them too highly. The struggling masses
not only produce the wealth and pay the
taxes of the country in time of peace, but
/ ,e,t.
must ever be the nations surest protec
| ton in time of peril.
Quotes President Lincoln.
Let me quote you what another Ameri
can has said. In speaking of labor and
| capital Abraham Lincoln in Il message
| to Congress used these words: Mon
archy itself is sometimes limited at as Il
possible refuge from the powers of the
people. In my present position L could
| scarcely be justified were | to omit to
raise warning voice against this approach
Of returning despotism. 1t is not needed
nor fitting here that general argument
should be made in favor of public instltu-
tons, but there is one point, with its con-
nectlon not SO hackneyed as most others,
| to which | ask brief attention. 1t is the
effort to place capital on an equal foot
| ing with, if not above, labor in the struc-
| ture of government. 1t is assumed that
labor is available only in connection with
capital: that nobody labors unless some
body else commanding capital somehow
| by the use of it induces him to labor"
And then he adds: Labor is prior to
and independent of capital. Capital is
only the fruit of labor and could never
have existed if labor had not first existed
Labor is the superior of capital and de-
serves much higher consideration Then
he adds: "No men living are more worthy
IA. l. Al .l,rt til
poverty; none less inclined to take or to
touch aught which they have not honestly
earned. Let them beware of surrendering
political power which they already pos
sess and which, if surrendered, will surely
be used to close the door of advancement
against such as they and to fix new tasks
and burdens upon them till all of liberty
shall be lost"
Capital but the Fruit of Labor.
These are the words of Abraham Lin
coin. They are not intended TO arouse
anmosity against capital, but they state
great truth that is always to be remem-
bered-that capital is but the fruit of
labor, and you cannot destroy labor with
out destroying the possibility of future
capital.
i have quoted from two American au-
thorities / want, in an ascending scale,
to reach Il higher authority still. Let
me quote to you what that man whose
words have entitled him to be called the
wisest of men, Solomon. said on this sub
iect: "Give me neither poverty nor rich
es: feed me with food convenient for me,
lost | be evil and deny Thee. and say,
who is the Lord? or lest be poor and
steal and take the name of my God in
vain
| want you to remember that Solomon
regards not the extreme, butt was about
70 say the golden mean-l will say the
Golden and silver mean rather. He re-
cards that condition best which is not at
citrer extreme but lies in between the
extremes. Neither great riches nor abject
povertv furnishes the soil in which grows
tbe hest civilization. Those who are OPP
pressed by poverty lose the ambition. the
aspiration, the lofty purpose that is nee
essary to lead one on to the greatest
achievements; and those who possess too
greet wealth lose the necessity for labor.
that labor which is absolutely essential
to the developing of that which is best in
human ature. Solomon was right, there
fore. when he prayS for this intermediate
condition. The great middle classes are
the bulwark of society, and from the mid
die classes has come almost all OF good
that has come to bless the human race.
There are some who apply the name dem
agosue to anybody who speaks of the
common people. The common people are
the only people who have ever hailed glad
ly any person who preached humanity
and equal rights. | do not mean to say
that there are no exceptions to the gener-
al rule. There have always been found
among the richer classes those who We're
filed with the spirit of philanthropy; there
have always been found among them
those who were willing to spend their
lives in the uplifting of their fellows; but
| am speaking of the rule that reforms
do not come from and are not supported
by those who consider themselves lifted
above the common people. Nor do L
mean that you have never found among
the common people those who would be
tray their fellows. You have found every
where. it is one of the unfortunate things
that stand out upon every page of his
tory. that the character of Judas is not
confined to any class of society. He is
found everywhere and in all ages. |
simply meant to say this: That while
among the common people have ut all
times been found those who would hetray
their brethren and sell them into bondage.
if they could, but yet, in spite of this. the
common people have been the great i'm
pelling force that has lifted civilization
from generation to generation up to higher
ground.
Whence the Strength of Democracy.
There are three forms of government
best known among men. There Is the
monarchy. where Il king rules by right
divine: there is the aristocracy, where Il
few control, and there is the democracy,
which means the real people themselves.
Why is it that the strength of democracy
I do not use il in party sense, but in
its broader sensc-why is it that the
strength of democracy has always been
found among the common people? Why?
Why. it is simple enough. If man has
hig', position or great wealth he may be
able to stand and keep on the good side of
the king. If he has great influence he
may be one of the ruling classes in an
aristocracy. But you are not willing to
leave any form of government to your