Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-08-20
BRYAN'S SPEECH.
Delivered in New York upon Accept
Ing the Democratic Nomination for
President of the United States.

Mr.. CHAIRMAN, Genuemen OF me
Committee, and Fellow Citizens: 1
shall, at future day in formal lot
ter, accept the nomination which Is
now rendered me by the notification
committee, and 1 shall at that time
touch upon the issues presented by
the platform.
1T is fitting, however, that at this
time, in the presence Of those here
assembled, l speak at some length in
regard to the campaign upon which
we are now entering. We do not
underestimate the forces arrayed
against u.s. nor are we unmindful Of
the importance Of the struggle in
which we are engaged; but, relying
for success upon the righteousness Of
our cause, we shall defend with all
possible vigor the positions taken by
our party. We are not surprised that
some Of our opponents, in the absence
of better argument, resort to abusive
eplthets, but they may rest assured
that no language, however violent, no
inveCtives, however vehement, will
lead us to depart single hairs
breadth from the course marked out
by the national convention.
"The citizen, either public or pri-
vate, who assails the character and
questions the patriotism of the dele
gates assembled in the Chicago con-
ventlon sssails the character and ques-
tions the patriotism Of the millions
who have arrayed themselves under
the banner there raised.
THE CHICAGO PLATFORM DEFENDED.
1T has been charged by men stand
ing high in business and in political
circles that our platform ID menace
to private security and public safety 1;
and it has been asserted that those
whom / have the honor, for the time
being, to represent, not only mediate
an attack upon the rights ofproperty,
but are the foes of social order and
national honor.
"Those who stand upon the Chicago
platform are prepared to make known
and to defend every motive which in
Auences them, every purpose which
animstes them, and every hope which
inspires them, They understand the
genius of our institutions, they are
staunch supporters of the form of
government under which we live, and
they build their faith upon the foun-
dations laid by the fathers. Andrew
Jackson has stated with admirable
clearness and with an emphasis which
can not be surpassed, both the duty
and the scope of government. He
said; Distinctions In society will al
ways exist under every just govern
ment. Equality of talents, or educa-
ton or of wealth cannot be produced
by human institutions In the full
enjoyment of the gifts of heaven and
the fruits Of superior industry, econ
omy and virtue, every man is equally
entitled to protection by law
NO ANARoHIsTIc PRINCIPLES.
1--WE yield to none in our devotion
to the doctrine just enunciated Our
campaign has not its object the recon
struction of society. We cannot in
sure to the vicious the fruits of vlr-
tuous life; we would not invade the
home of the provident in order to
supply the wants of the spend-thrift;
we do not propose to transfer the re-.
wards of industry to the lap of indol-
ence. Property is and will remain
the stimulus to endeavor and the
compensation for toll. We believe, as
asserted IN the Declaration of indie.
pendehce, that all men are created
equal, but that does not mean that all
men are, or can be, equal in posses
'sions, in ability or ih merit 1t SIM
ply means that all shall stand equal
before the law, and that government
officials shall not, in making, constru-
ing or enforcing the law, discriminate
between citizens. assert that prop
erty rights, as we'll as the rights of
persons, are safe in the hands of the
common people. Abraham Lincoln,
IN his message sent to congress in
December, 1861, said: No men liv-
ing are more worthy to be trusted
than those who toll up from poverty,
none less inclined to take or touch
>aught which they have not honestly
earned / repeat his language with