Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-07-18
BRYAN'S GREAT SPEECH.

Following is the speech of William
Jennings Bryan of Nebraska the speech
which it is conceded made him a presi-
Dental possibility and gave him the
nomination-delivered in the Coliseum
July 9th. 1t WIS in answer to addresses
made by Hill and Russell. When Bry
an advanced to the platform he was Civ
en- a great ovation. He said;
"Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of this
Convention; woull be presumptious
indeed, to present myket against the
distinguished gentlemeri whom you
have just listened, If THIS were but a
measuring of ability but this is not a
contest of persons The humbiest citi
zen in all the land, when clad in the5 Ar
NOR of righteous cause, is stronger
than all the hosts of terror that they
can bring. come to speak to you in
defense of cause as holy as the cause
of liberty the cause of humanity. loud
apPlause.)
''When this debate is concluded mo-
ton will be made to lay upon the table
a resolution offered in commentator of
the administration and also a resolution
in condemnation of the administration.
| shall object to bringing this question
down to the level of persons. The in
dividual is but an atom; he is born; he
acts; he dies, but principles are eternal
and this has been a contest of principle
Never before in the history of the
count v has there been witnessed such a
contest as this through which we have
passed. On the 4th of March, 1896, a
few Democrats, most of them members
of congress, issued an address to The
Democrats of the ration, asserting that
the money question was the paramount
issue of the hour; asserting, also, the
right of the majority of the Democratic
party to control the position of the party
on this paramount issue; concluding
with the request that all believers in free
coinage of silver in the Democratic par
" should organize and take charge of
and control the policy of the Democrat.
ic party. Three months later, at Mem
phis, an organization was perfected and
the silver Democrats went forth openly
and boldly and eourageously proclaim.
ing their belief and declaring that If
successful they would crystalize in a
platform he declaration which they had
made, and then began the conflict with
zeal approaching that which inspired the
crusaders who followed Peter the
hermit
"Our silver democrats went forth
from victory unto victory until they
are assembled now, not 70 discuss, not to
debate, but TO enter upon the judgment
rendered by the plain people of this
country. tAppause) In this contest
brother has been arrayed against broth.
err, and father against son The warm
est ties of love and acquaintance and as
ISOLATION have been disregnrled. Old
leaders have been cast aside when they
refused to give expression to sentiments
of those whom they would lead, and
new leaders have sprung up to give d.
rection to this cause of truth tcheers);
thus has the contest been waged, and we
have assembled here under as binding
and solemn instructions as ever were
fastened upon the representatives of the
people We do not come as iudividu-
ais. Why, as individuals we might have
been glad to compliment the gentleman
II
know that the people for whom we
speak would never be willing to put him
in position where he could thwart the
will of the democratic party tCheers.)