The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-08
BRYAN ON
LABOR DAY.
Makes a Non Partisan Speech at
Chicago
To the WOrkingmen at Sharp
shooters Park.
ARBITRATION is GOOD
For the Settlement of Labor
Disputes.
Great Boon the Australian Bal
lot Has Proved.
ARBITRATION is GOOD

ed at SharpshOoters park, the spot se>
lected for yesterdays labor picnic
very slowly. At 1 o'clock there were
probably not to exceed 1000 people
around the speakers stand. Many Of
them were ladies. After that time there
was a steady stream of people flowing
into the ground and the vacant places
were soon occupied. At 2 o'clock a
mighty shout went up from the out
skirts of the crowd and the carriage
occupied by Mr.. Bryan had just ar
rived.
Thousands pressed forward seeking
to shake Mr.. Bryan by the hand. He
finally reached the speakers stand,
where he was received with prolonged
applause. On the stand were seated
J C. Mcconnell, ]. G. Prentiss and
large number of representatives of
Chicago. At 2:3O O'Clock Mr.. Bryan be-
gan his speech, being introduced by
Edward Carroll. president of the build
ing council, in a brief and appropriate
address. Mr.. Bryan said:
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men; I desire to thank the building
and trades council for this opportunity
which they have extended to me to
speak before the people assembled on
Labor day. Labor day has become a
fixed thing among our institutions. and
il IS well that it has, because on this
day all over the nation. those who
have engaged in the production Of
wealth meet, in order that they may
commune with each other. discuss
those questions in which they are
specially interested, and emphasize be-
fore the world that there Is nothing
dishOnOrable in the fact one earns his
bread in the sweat of his face.
/ am glad to stand on this day In
the presence Of those to whom this ma
ton Is so largely indebted for all il
has had, for all it has now and for all
II can hope to have. I am not indulg-
ing in idle hatteTy when 1 say to you
tnat no part Of the people of the world
are 50 important to the welfare Of
mankind as those who with labor and
Drawn convert natural resources in
to wealth (Applause-) I might quote
TO you what Mr. Carlisle said Of these
people in 1878. He described them as
the struggling masses, who produce the
wealth and pay the taxes Of the cOun-
try He did not praise them too high
" The struggling masses not only
produce the wealth and pay the taxes
OF the country in time of peace, but
the struggling masses have ever been
ana must ever be the nations SureSt :
protection in time of peril. Gap
LED
Let me quote to you what another
American has said. In speaking of Ia /
Dor and capital Abraham Lincoln, in a |
message to congress used these words: |
Monarchy itself is sometimes limited al /
as q possible refuge from the power of /
the people. In my present position I /
could scarcely be justified were to /
omit to raise a warning voice against /
this approach Of returning despOtisIn- +
1t IS not needed nor fitting that a gen [
eral argument should be made in ia I
vOr Of public institutions; but there is /
one point with its connection not so /
hackneyed as most others, to which I !
ask brief attention. It is the effort to /
place capital on an equal footing with, /
If not above, labor, in the structure of (
labor IS available only in connection /
with capital; that nobody labors unless I
somebody else commanding capital /
some how 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 new
er have existed If labor had not first /
existed (Applause.) Labor is the su-
pertor Of capital and deserves much |
higher consideration
Then he adds: No men living are
more worthy to be trusted than those (
who toll up from poverty, none less in
cllnsu 20 take or 70 toucn aught what
they have not honestly earned. Let
them beware of surrendering a politf-
cal power which they already possess,
and which. If surrendered will surely
be used to close the door of advance
ment against such as they. and to fix
new tasks and burdens upon them. till 1
all of liberty shall be lost Gap
plause.)
These are the words of Abraham
Lincoln They are not intended to
arouse anlmOsity against capital, but |
they state great truth that is always
TO be remembered, that capital is but |
the fruit of labor, and you cannot de-
stroy labor without destroying the pos
sibility Of future capital.
have quoted from two American
authorities. 1 want in an ascending /
scale to reach a higher authority still. /
Let me quote to you what that man
whose words have entitled him to be (
said on this subject; Give me neither
poverty nor riches; feed me with food /
convenient for me, lest be evil and de-
ny 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 Solo
mon regards not the extreme, butt
was about to say the golden meant
will say the golden and silver mean
rather. daughter and applause.) He
regards that condition best which is
not at either extreme, but lies in be-
tween the extremes. Neither great rich
es nor abject poverty furnishes the
soil in which grows the best civiliza-
ton Those who are oppressed by pow
erty lose the ambition, the lofty pur-
pose that is necessary to lead one on (
to the greatest achievements and /
those who possess too great wealth !
lose the necessity for labor, that labor /
which is absolutely essential to the de-
Tetop1ng Of that which is best in hui |
man nature Solomon was right there
fore, hen he prayed for this t0termedi-
ate condition The great middle class
the middle clsses has come almost all
or good that has come to bless the hu- /
man race. (Applause.)
Let me recall another compliment |
paid to the common people. You know |