The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-19


rendered the ex-congressman. Men ana
women stood in their places and cheereI
themselves hoarse. at the same time wav-
ing the small American flags vigorously.
When the cheering had subsided in a
measure the New York Banks Glee club
began to sing the star Spangle Banner"
The audience Joined in and helped out with
cheers.
Mr.. Cochran at length secured order.
and plunged at once into his suhiect-his
reply to Mr.. Bryan's speech. He held his
audience from the first, speaking in his
clear. resonant voice, which reached every
one Of his audience. Mr.. Cochran said:
Mr.. chairman, ladies and gentlemen,
fellow democrats (applause): With the
inspiring strains OF that national song
still ringing in our ears, who can doubt
the issue of this campaign. (Applause.)
That issue has been well stated by your
presiding officer. Stripped, as he says, of
all verbal disguise. It is an issue of COM
mon honesty. More applause.} An issue
between the honest discharge and the
dishonest reputation of public and pri-
vate obligations. 1t Is a question as to
whether the powers of this government
shall be used to protect honest industry
or to tempt the citizens to dishonesty. on
this question honest men cannot differ.
(Applause.) 1t is one of morals and of
justice. 1t involves the existence of social
order. 1t is the contract for civilization
itself.
IF 1t be disheartening to democrats and
the lovers of free institutions TO find an
issue of this character projected into
presidential campaign this meeting fur
nishes us with an inspiring truth of how
that Issue will be met by the people. Gap
plause.)
"A democratic convention may renounce
the democratic faith, but the democracy
remains faithful to democratic princi-
pies. (Applause) Democratic leaders may
betray a convention to the populists, but
they cannot seduce the footsteps OF DEM
ocratic voters from the pathway Of honor
and OF Justice (ApplauseJ A candidate
bearing the mandate of a democratic con-
vention may In this hall open a canvass
leveled against the foundations OF social
order, and he beholds the democratic
masses confronting him, organized for
the defense. (Applause.)
Fellow democrats, let US not disguise
from ourselves the fact that we bear in
this contrast a serious and grave and sol.
emn burden of duty. We must raise our
hands against the nominee of our party.
and we must do IL to preserve the future
of that party itself. (Appause)
I'VE must oppose the nominee of the
Chicago convention "a hurrah), and we
know full well that the success Of our op-
position will mean our own exclusion from
public life, but we will be consoled and
gratified by the reflection that 1t will
prove that the American people cannot
be divided into parties on a question Of
simple morals or of common honesty.
(Applause.)
I'VE look IN vainAthroash the speech
delivered here one week ago to ind a true
statement of issue involved in this can
vass. Oaughter) Indeed, l believe II Is
doubtful IL the candidate himself quite
understands the nature of the faith which
he processes. Oaughter.)
II say this, not in criticism of MS abil-
ity, but in justice TO his morality. Gaugn-
ter) 1 believe if he has understood the
inevitable consequences of the doctrines
which he breaches that his own hands
will be the first to tear down the PLAT
form on which he stands. (Applause) But
there was one statement in that speech
which was very free from ambiguity,
pregnant with hope and confidence to the
lovers of order. He processes his un-
questioned belief in the honesty of the
American masses, and he quoted Abraham
Lincoln in support of the faith that was
in him.
"wen. don't believe that the faith Of
Abraham Lincoln was ever more
significantly justified than in the
appearance which Mr.. Bryan presented
upon this platform in the change that has
come over the spirit and the tone Of popu-
listic eloquence since the Chicago conven-
tion We all must remember that lurid
rhetoric which glowed as fiercely in the
western skies as that sunlight which,
through the past week, foretold the torrid
heat Of the ensuing day, and here upon this
platform, we find that same rhetoric as
mild, as insipid as the waters of a
stagnant pond. He is a candidate who was
swept into the nomination by wave of
popular enthusiasm, awakened by appeals
to prejudice and greed. He Is a candidate
aO hA- Nrf- ~ .teg- u
| steps Of his trip eastward, declared that
this was a revolutionary movement; who
no sooner found himself face to face with
the American feeling than he realized that
this sort is not propitious to revolution.
1.-The people of this country will not
change the institutions which have stood
the tests and experiences Of a century for
Institutions based upon the fantastic dream
of populist agftators-that the American
nation will never consent to substitute for
The republic of Washington, of Jefferson
and of Jackson, the republic of an Altgeld,
Tillman, or a Bryan. (Applause)
1.-THE power of public opinion, which
caused the vivid oratory of the Chicago
| platform to burn low and soft as the moon
light outside of this platform, which has
already shown its power TO control popu-
| listic eloquence, win show the full extent
| of it's wisdom, who will give Abraham
| Lincolns prophecy its triumphant vindi-
| cation when 1t crushes the seed of populis-
| tic socialism next November (Cheers).
Now, my friends. have said there was
| one statement Of great significance in Mr.
Bryan's speech. There is another portion
of it which is singulaTly free from any OBJ
| scurity, and that may be comprised within
] the two initial paragraphs where he talks
| logically, consistently. plainly, the Ian
| guage of revolution. Whatever change may
| have come over his manner as a candidate
however much the vehemeEee Of his elo-
| quence may have been reduced, the two
| things for which he stands, remains un-
altered. On this platform he defended
the most revolutionary plank of the Chi
| cago convention in a speech less vehem-
| ent but not less earnest than that in
which he supported their adoption. on this
platform he defended the populistic pro-
gramme Of overthrowng the integrity OF
the supreme court. (Applause.)
IF there be any fruit which has grown
| for the benefit of all mankind out of the
| establishment of our republic, it has been
the demonstration that it is possible by
| the organization of an Independent trib-
unal to safely guard the rights of every
citizen and to protect these natural privi-
| leges against any invasion from whatever
| source, or however powerful might be