The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-08-22


upon this country. and declared that we are
utterly incapable of maintaining an independ-
ent policy of our. own COnteSSing that the
gold standard is fTaUTnt with evil to our peo-
pie, and that bimctaIlism Is best for this ma
tfon and fer the world. il yet declared that we
are help 'eSs-that must stand Idle while
our industries are prostrated and our people
ruined, until England shall consent for us TO
lift our hands in our defense. To this low
state has manmon brought the great party OF
the immortal Lincoln.
For years plutocracv has been winding its
Shiny and poisonous coils around the repub-
lican party. and il win strangie us to death as
the serpent of old Stranglcd the priest of
Neptune and his SONS SO also it laid ITS foul.
corroding hand tn democratic plrty-the
party of Jefferson and JackSon-and used all
of its giant strength to bend il to its purpo
Within both parties there was might strug-
gle for supremacy between those who bclicV C
in the sovereignty OF the people and those who
believe in the divinity of pelf Upon the re-
publican party the hand of Marcus Aurelius
Hannn has bucklcd golden mail and sent it
forth dedicated to the service of plutocracy in
this free land OF ours.
But in the democratic party, thank God the
people were triumph mt There the clutch of
the money power, after tremendous conflict.
was broken. The priests of Mammon were
scourged from the temple. and to-day, under
the providence of high Heaven, the old party.
rejuvenated. stands forth. stronger and better
than ever, the undaunted champion OF constitu-
y,
dependence. The gage of battle thrown down
ut st. Louis was taken up Mt Chicago. Against
English ideas we place American ideas against
an English policy, place American
policy; against foreign domination, we place
American independence, and against the selfish
control of privileged classes, we place the
sovereignty of the people
The republican platform is the antithesis of
the democratic platform One stands for gold
monometallism. the other for gold and silver
bimetallism. One proposes that we wait on
other nations, and the other that we act for
ourselves. One proposes that the government
shall lean upon the bankers of New York and
London; the other that the secretary of the
treasury shall stand erect. confident ani fear
less, and assert his power to protect the rights
OF the people and the honor of the nation; one
proposes to continue the policy of issuing
bonds, the other to stop it One declares for
an European alliance, the other is n declara-
tion for American independence. Upon these
all-important questions, the issue is joined be-
tween the two great political parties Of the re-
public.
Certainly there are other things of moment
in which the people feel profoundly concerned,
but of all questions in the current political
affairs OF this day and generation the financial
question rises 10 such supreme Importance
that all other projects are practically excluded
from present consideration. The Chicago con-
vention declared in so many words that until
this great, paramount issue was definitely set
tied and settled right, the consideration OF all
Other questions, upon which the people are
seriously divided, should be postponed or at
least not pressed upon public or legislative
attention. Around this one supreme issue the
great battle of 1895 is to be fought
For the first time it has been fairly presented.
without evasion or disguise. Both parties have
taken position boldly. Both are confident and
defiant Between them the American people are
the arbitrators. and as such they are to pass
judgment upon the most important question
presented to them since the storm of civil war
cd nd loft re ndu fofF
upon the land. They to pass judgment
on question which I profoundly believe eff
fects, no other question can, not only
the felicity OF their children, but the perpetu-
ity of American institutions and the well being
of all mankind
Mr.. Chairman in ell great movements in all
concerted efforts, when well directed, there
must be leadership A leader should be rep
resentative of the cause he champions He
should be more than that-he should be in all
essential qualities and in the highest degree
typical of those who invest him with the dig
nifty responsibility of leadership.
The Chicago platform has been denounced as
un-democratic and the delegates composing the
convention have been stgmatized as anarchists
and socialists. We have heard much of this
from n certain class OF papers and individuals.
On Saturday last in my own state an ex-demo-
cratic eX-supreme court judge characterized
the Chicago platform as "a bundle of populistic
notions saturated with socialism and anarchy"
and at the same time an eX-dcmocratic corpo-
raJlOn aJJOrney OF some distinction reiterated
that American citizenship meant government
mot by the unthinkinT, unheeding masses,
but by the elements which are guided by judg-
ment and reason" "Unthinking unheeding
masses" is very good. THE elements which
are guided by Judgment and reason" is extra
good. 1t is at least slight modification OF
Vanderbilts anathema, Damn the people,"
and for this small concession we ought, no
doubt, to be duly grateful
Who composed the Chicago convention? From
he frOu
whom have quoted the delegation sent to that
convention was composed of farmers, lawyers,
doctors, editors, merchants, manufacturers
and several of the most conspicuouSly success
full business men in the Missouri valley.
Among them also were eminent judges of high
courts, senators of the United States, repre-
sentatives in congress and the treasurer
and governor of the state. That delegation
was chosen by one of the greatest conven-
tions ever assembled in that state repre-
senting all classes of the very best PEOPLE OF
the common wealth What was true OF Mis-
souri, was equally true of nll the states. II
these men could not speak for the democratic
party, who couldS II these men do not under
stand democracy, who are its exponents? But
these are the men who are ridicu ed un-
thinking, unheeding mob, who cannot be trust
ed in the conduct of public affairs, and these
are the men who must give way to English
toadies and the pampered minions of corporate
rapacity, who arrogate to themselves all the
virtues and wisdom of the world.
Sir, the man who holds.up to opprobrium such
men as constituted the Chicago convention,
who denounces them as cranSs, anarchists, or
socialists, or who, in any respect, impugns
their intelligence or patriotism, does himself
most rank injustice, If he be not a knaVe, a
slanderer, or IA fool That convention did in
deed represent the masses" of the people. 1t
represented the men who pow and plant, who
fatten herds, who toll in shops, who fell forests
and delve in mines. But are these to be re-
garded with contumely and addressed in terms
of contempt?
Why, sir, these are the men who feed and
clothe the nation; whose products make up
the sum of our exports; who produce the
wealth of the republic who bear the heaviest
burdens in times of peace, and are ready al
ways TO give their life blood for their coun-
try's flag; they are the men whose sturdy
arms and faithful hands uphold the stu
pendous fabric of our civilization. They are
the bravest and the tenderest, the truest
and the best. These are the men who spoke
at Chicago in tones that rang out clear and
high and strong. They were in earnest and did
not mean to be misunderstood. II was the
voice OF true democracy 1t was the voice of
deep conviction, spoken without fear. They
demand what they want, and they mean to
have it. They did not go to Wall street for
their principles. nor over the sea for their in
spirations. Their principles were inherited
from the fathers and their inspiration sprang
from unconquerable live of country and
home.
For n leader they chose one OF their own-a
plain man of the people His whole life and
life work identify him in sympathy and inter-
est with those who represent the great in
dustrial forces of the country. Among them
he was born and reared and has lived and
wrought all the days of his life. He has been
their constant and fearless champion
They know himnnd they trust him
Sauve. yet firm; gentle, yet daunt-
less; warm-hearted. yet deliberate,
confident and self-posed. but without vanity;
learned In books and statecraft, but without
pedantry pretensfon: n superb orator. yet a
man of the greatest caution and method,
equipped with large experience in public
affairs, true to his convictions, true to himself
and false to no man, William Jennings Bryan
Is model gentleman and peerless leader.
Under his banner and guided by his wisdom
we will go forth to conquer
Lot N rnlI IU hnv hilltOnS In