St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-07-25
Bryan's Great Speech.

We make tie following extracts
from tie speech Of Dir. Bryan de-
li.ercd in the convention during
the debate on the report OF the
ON platform. We regret
that Tor lack Of space we cannot
give the entire speech. whie b the
claim secured to him
the nomination
"The gentleman who has just
preceded me (Goy Russell spoke
of the old State Of Massachusetts.
Let me assure him that not one
person in all this convention en-
tertairs the least hostility to the
people of the State of Massnchu-
setts. But we stand hele repre-
senting the people who are the
equals before the law OF tho iarg-
est citizens of Massachusetts,
When yon come before us and tell
us that we shall disturb yonr bust
ness interests. we reply that you
have disturbed our business in
terests by your course. We say
to you that you have made too
limited in its application the de6ni-
ton Of business men. (Applause.
A man employed for wages is as
much a business man as an en-
ployer. An attorney in a country
town is as much business man
Us a lawyer in the great metropo-
lis. A merchant ut crossrcad
is as much u business man as a
merchant of Now York. A farm
81 who goes forth in the morning
and tolls all day. begins in the
spring ard tolls all summer. ard
by application of brain and muscle
to the natural resources OF this
country creates wealth. is as much
. business man as the man who
trades upon the board of trade
and bets upon the price of grain.
Miners who go thousands Of feet
into the earth or climb 2OOO feet
up on the cliffs and bring forth
from their hiding places the pre-
cious metals to be poured into the
channels of trade. are as mucl,
business men M the few financial
migrants who in . back room
corner the money Of the world.
X We have petitioned.
and our petitiousshAzs been s:orn
ed: we ahave entrea:.d and our
been disresarded, and
they have Knocked. and calam-
ity came. We beg no longer. We
en:reat no more; we petition no
more. We DEFY them. (App!anse }
"The gentleman from Wisconsin
said he feared RpbespierTc. My
friends, in this land Of the free.
We need fear no tyrant who will
spring mp from the people. What
we need is an Andrew jackson.
to stand as Andrew Jackson stood
against the encroachments and ag-
srandizing of wealth. They tell
us this platform is made to catch
votes. We reply to them that
the changing conditions make new
issues-that the principles upon
WHICH rest Democracy are as ever
lasting AZ tia hills, but that they
must bs applied to new conditions
as they arise Conditions have
arisen and we are attempting t..
meet these conditions. They tell
us that the income tax ought not
Go be brought in here, that it is
. new idea. They criticise us fo'
our criticism Of the Supreme Court
of the United States. Ny friends,
we have not criticised. We have
simply called attention to what
you know. # you want criticisms
read tie dissenting opini ons Of the
court; that will give you criticisms
They say we passad an unconsti-
tutioaal law. I deny it, The in-
come tax was not unc constitutional
when it vas passed. It was not
unconstitutional wAeB it went be
fore the Supreme Court Tie first
time. It did not become uncon-
stitutional until one judge changed
his mind, aud we cannot be
expected to kaow when a Judge
will change his mind. lAppiause.
The income tax is a just law. 1t
simply intends to put the burden
Of government justly upon the
backs of the people. am in favor
Of tue income tax. When I find a
man not willing to pay his share
of tho burden vi the government
which protects him, I find "a man
who is unworthy 70 enjoy the
blessings Of a government like
ours.
He says we are opposing the
natioual bank currency. It is true.
II you will read What Thonas Ben-
ten said you will find taa: he said
that in searching history he could
iind but one parallel 70 Andrew
Jackson. That WAS Cicero. who
destroyed the conspiracy Of Cn'a-
line and saved Rome. 4c did ios
Rome what Jackson did. destroyed
the bank conspiracy and saved
America We cay in our piatfor m
that we believe the right 10 coin
money aud Issue money is n func-
ton OF government: We believe it
We believe it IL part Of the sover-
s,gnty and can no more with safety
DO delegated to private individuals
than We could afford 10 delegate
the power to make penal statutes o.
levy laws for :axatiou Mr.. JET
ferson, who was once regarded ns
good Democratic authority, seems
to have differed in his opinion
from the gen tiemen who nave aa-
dress us on the part Of tue minority.
Those who are opposed to the pro-