The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-09-11

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Ict.tcd for the labor picnic. very slowly
At , 80 o'clock mighty shout wAat up
from the outskirts of the crowd and
there was a great rush for the carriage
o,.,upieC by Mr.. Bryan, which had just
then arrived within the enclosure OF she
mark Hundreds of people pressed for
ward seeking to shake MIR. Bryan by the
hand, and the passage OF the carnage
through the crowd was sanewhat slow
in consequence. He finally reached the
speakers stand. where he was received
with prolonged applause. On the stand
were seated Judge Mcconnell, Judge
Prentiss and a large number of repro
sentatlves OF the trades unions OF Chi
eago. At , 20 Mr.. Bryan began his
speech, being introduced by Edward
Carroll, president Of the Building
Trades council, in a brief and appro-
pirate address. Mr.. Bryan said:
l desire to thank the Building and
Trades council for this opportunity which
they have extended 10 me ~ speak before
the assembled on Labor day. Labor day
has become q fixed thing among our inStl-
tutiOns, and Ii Is well that 1t has, because
On this day all over this nation those who
are engaged in the production OF wealth
meet in order that they may comm une
with each other, discuss those questions
emphasize before the world that there Il
nothing dishonorable in the fact that one
earns his bread in the sweat OF his face.
am glad To stand on this day In the pres
eTcs. of those TO whom this nation Is 50
largely indebted for all that il has had, for
all that il has now and for all that II can
hope To have | am not tndulging in idle
flattery when / 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 material wealth. LApplauSe.
might quote TO you what Mr Carlisle
said of these people in 1873 He described
them as the struggling masses who pro
duce 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 ths
struggling masses have ever been and
must ever bc the nations surest protection
in time of peril. Applause and voice;
Let me quote you what another Ameri-
can has said. In speaking OF capital and
labor Abraham Lincoln, in a message to
Congress, used these words; Monarchy
itself l. sometimes hinred at as possible
refuge from the power of the people. In
my present position l could scarcely be
justified were TO omit TO raise "a warning
voice against this approach OF returning
dcSpotiSm- 1t Is not needed nor lifting
here that "a general argument should be
ina de in favor OF public Institutions; but
there i one point with its point not so
hackncyed as most Others, To which L ask
brief attention. II is the effort to place
capital on an equal footing with, II not
above labor, In the structure Of govern
mcnt- II Is assumed that labor Is avail
able only in connection with capital, that
nobody labOrs unless somebody else com
Inanting capital somehow by the use OF
IL induces him To labor" And then he
adds: Labor Is prior to and independent
of capital. Capital is only the fruit of
i ii TOD
labor had not first existed. lApplausel.
Labor i the superior of capital and de-
serves much higher considerations"
These are the words of Abraham Lin
coin They are not intended TO rouse ami
mostly against capital, but they state n
great truth that Is always To be remem-
bercd that capital il but the fruit OF labor,
and you cannot destroy labor without de
stroying the possibility OF future capital
lApplause-
And the common people are the only
people who have ever heard gladly any
person who preached humanity and equal
rights. (Applause.D | do not mean tC
say that there are no exceptions To the
general rule There have always beer
found among the richer classes those who
We're filled with the spirit of philanthropy
there have always been found among then
those who were willing TO spend thei
lives in the uplifting of their fellows; but
l am speaking of the rule that reforms dc
not come from and are not supported by
IhttSt W NO llltlllScANtS llIItN aDONt
the common people. "a voice, THAI
right."b Nor do | mean that you have
never found among the common peopl,
those who would betray their fellows.
There are three forms of government
best known among men. There Is tn
monarchy, whore II king rules by right di
vine; there Is the aristocracy, where few
control, and there is the Democracy, whicl
means the real people themselves. VIII,
l. il that the strength of Democracy-I d.
not use IL in party sense, but in a broade
scnse-why Is il that the strength OF Dem
ocraCy has always been found aTuon9 tn
common people; Whyy Why IL Is simpl
cuough. If a man has high position o
great wealth he may bo able to stand -p,
keep on the good side of the king. II h
has great influence he may be one of tn
ruling classes in an ariStocracy. But yol
are not willing To leave any form OF gov
ernmcnt TO your children except n Dem
Dcracy in which each citizen Is protectc
in the enjoyment Of life and liberty AM
the pursuit of happiness. Applause.
The great common people believe in
Democratic form of government, becaus
II il only In a Democratic form of govern
ment that they are able to protect thei
rights and advance their interests 50 far a
government can advance human interests
Let me dwell for moment upon the ot
leCt of government.
Our government is the best form of gov
ernmCnt known among men. Our goS
ernmcnt is the best form of government
known among men not because every lay
= good, not because Wa have upon til
statute books every law needed TO prOteC
each citizen in the enjoyment OF his right,
Our government is the best form of go,
ernment known among men because II
possible under our form of government {
have Just as good gover1ment as I'll
people deserve Ours IL the best form b,
cause il Is possible for the people to max
IL reflect the best intelligence, the highes
yirture and the broadest patriotism of a
the people
~ mo warn ypu a,raipSt copfuSfp
government with the abuses OF govern
menJ. Andrew Jackson said that theI
were no necessary ills in government
that its evils existed only in its abuses.
Let me dwell for a moment upon th
object OF government. In this land it
our boast that our government derives II
just power from the consent of the GO
erned- What kind OF government wi
people consent to when they are free
consent There are two things to be col
sidered in government The first Is thu
in the enactment of legislation you sha
be careful TO give no advantage to OF
person over another II that advantage ca
b. prevented. In other words, it Ia III
duty of government TO avoid acts G
affirmative injustice; but thst is only par
OF the business OF government. .Iefferso
has stated the other half of it. He say
that government must restrain me
from injuring one another. That Is on
of the important duties of government {
restrain men from iniuring one another
and the government that fails TO restrai
the stronger arm that can be lifted frOI
injurin1 the weakest citizen mall tn
land Is a government which fails to do II
whole duty. Applause.
My friends, If you find a large numbe
OF men out of employment YOU have
right TO inquire whether idleness is "
iiicted upon the human race by natuhl
laws, 10y the act of the Creator or whethe
IL is due 10 legislation which is wrong
il Is due to legislation which is wrone
then ii is not only your right, but you
duty TO change that legislation. Al
plause. The greatest menace 20 the EN-
ployed laborer today is the increasin
army of the unemployed. 1t menace
every man who holds position, and