The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-04


tLaughter.) In 1896 you have a population
almost trebied. a lower tax rate and vastly
greater conven.ences in every way and
car service befter I fgIbess' hastar sahooi-
houses, better churches. better dwellings;
and what more do you want? 6Applause1
is 1T any exaggeration to say that.this
whole question is a contest between Pop
uiism and common sense? Can anybody
the pretense that the American people
have been robbed and plundered for the
last Twenty-Five years and the monetary
system mas been so changed this country
has been oppressed beyond anything re-
corded in the history of civilized commu-
nities2 If the financial system of this
country for twenty-five years has been con-
tioi4ed by foreign syndicates, il it has been
OF foreign usurers more rapac:ous than
those whom the Savior of mankind
scourged from the temple at Jerusalem,
lhen this government. instead of being the
fruit of human opportunity, is a monument
or human d~epravity and human folly. in
be preserved because 1t is the best and
surest bulwark of public lights, 1t is a
government which ought to be destroyed
because II has proved itself to be an en-
CINE in the hands of foreign oppressors
fcr the spoliation of American laborers and
american producers. tApplaEse.) Here Is
the dividing line between the Popuiist and
the Democrat. lApplause) The Popuiist
tells us that this government of ours. a
government of universal suffrage, a gov
eminent controlled by the votes of the
American people, has been perverted from
the purpose of protection and Justice for
Whlch 1t was founded and used as a means
OF robbing the Am~erican~peopie to enrich
me money changers of Lombard street and
Inc syndlcates of European capitalists.
We should still cherish Democratic prin-
virtue and capacity of the elector is the
cardinal principle of Democracy reject and
fepel THIS charge of the Popuiist as a libel
upon the whole history of this country and
upon the splendor of our Institutions, upon
t9e virtue of our citizens, upon the majesty
OF our Republic and the glory of our flag.
Appiause.)
w are told that the reconciliation of
siNer is 10 bring about great results to the
American people some way or other; l have
not yet been able to discover how. But ldr.
Bryan declares he believes it. and on this
Nebraskan belief he asks you to build your
suLrages as II you had found a rock. Cap
m nlense 81 ours rust wh think r of f it; This govern
lngton, which was enlightened by Jeffer-
soh, which was administered by Jackson.
to perish of its own corruption unless a
d9qIacious young man from Nebraska is
must bear in mind, my friends, that there
- no parallel for the condition which he
ueclares Is the condition of the American
people to-day. Other countries nave been
conquered; pernfciouS systems of Iegisla-
ton have been fastened upon them: but no
country, however trampled under the heel
OF an invader. was ever yet without the
nope that in the providence OF God sooner
or later her deliverance would come. and
with that emancipation look for the ~restora-
t1on OF prosperity and happiness.
lists W mus aunt the fact that the Popu-
cations and forced a Ponulist "a ndidate
ana a Populist platform upon a Demo
clpate the country from the peril involved
IN IT'S success. we are forced to labor for
other circumstances. we would have on
posed strenuously and vigorously. Ap-
that have brought about this result. II
wont 90 to laugh at them. 1t wont do
their G!si absSrd dhsth s sS We "a mere max statement ta6d1fnt Of 2
find just what the grievances of the Pop
pose FOR their injuries.
FARMERS NOT POPULISTs.
IN the first place L would like to know
what a Populist is. 0aughter.) He is
supposed to be originally a farmer, but so
far as 1 have been able to discover vet
there Is not a farmer who works and tolls
ana manages a piow who is d Populist.
CApplause.) All the Populists l have ever
known were lawyers who cultivated their
nelghbors' quarrels daughters; journalists
who recorded them; politicians who sought
to profit by fomenting them. A genuine
Populist must necessarily be a man with a
great deal of leisure, something that an
T3esst LEARNER farmer ! meyer has. Applause)
men with abundant time to cultivate the
quarrels of their %neighbors, are travelling
around the United States announcing they
are going to benefit the condition of a
great portion of the people. 1 have always
asked them: WHO do you intend to bene-
ft?' Originally they started out with the
promise that they were going to benefit
and don't believe there was a man in the
United States who would have hesitated to
be enriched If he thought the Populists
meant II. But when any person comes to
you with a proposition to enrich you. to
o1er, for instance, a nice glittering gold
how he came by it. Gaughter) No man
Will pretend he can make gold bricks of
body proposes to offer you something, the
question which prudence. suggests you
and where does it come from. What then
can Mr.: Bryan offer to the American peo-
pie? What can the Populists offer to the
of the United States that they have
not, got at present.? l do not believe any
body will pretend Mr.. Bryan enjoys any
power by which he can increase the wages
in this country: not by any act of legisia-
tion or administration by the combined
of a Populist President and Popu-
list Congress. if two such should be elected
at the ballot box. could they make two
out of one, or with the pieces which
one No power on earth can create any
thing except by human labor. (Applause.)
give another something. he must take
something from somebody else.
ton of this community he must rob some
body else TO DO it. Now, who does he mean
70 9es Ta IN order to enrich somebody
enrich somebody; that he is honest enough
g mean what he gives he will honestly
sive-if a man can honestly give that which
Ne dishonestly takes. Let US see who Mr..
Bryan is going to despoil in order to en-
rich his favorite, that is if the American
.armer is his favorite and he is to be bene-
tied. j nave told you. and I repeat here.
t he could show me how he would in
,rease the wages of the laborer. / would
De the most active, though / can't saw /
would be the most loquacious. Populist in
he United States. daughter.) have loft I
he question for him to answer; and T state {
ny friends, that if the question could be
answered | would not be opposing Mr.. I
3ryan for an hour, but I would be enthu- I
iastical!y laboring for his election. / have !
isked him to show me where he can in /
,rease the wages of working men by this 9
cheme which he advocates. Show me that /
ma all the rest is simple. I don't saw that ]
rom any special love for the man who s
work.; with his hands. for I am just as t
ond or the man who works with his head: c
'ut when the man who works with his I
lands is prosperous, everybody else of ne /
'esslty must be prosperous also. (Ap- q
,lause) up /
THE WAGE QUESTION. t
when wages are high production must !
'e abundant; when production is alum +
liant every man enjoys prosperity, and I 8
ogether with all my fellow-eitizens. par |
1clpate i'll those good times which the ,
aborer produces when he is actively en- I
'Ioyed and his compensation is ample.
ApplauSe.) / don't profess any pbiIa, |