The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-08-29
The Force Behind Bryan.
New York Journal

Ills JouibSJ " tnio wy, e"JS
demonstrations which attended the
candidates progress across half
continent:
/ call this touching as well as an
impressive spectacle, nowhere about
it is the trail of the professional
politician. With every vote given
for Bryan in this election will go
the heart of the giver. AS l said
before, the force behind the man is
90 vast as to be incalculable. You
can estimate it no more than you
can the strength of the buffet dealt
by a western tornado. 1t is
elemental. No man, be he ever so
great, can be more than the instru-
ment of such power.
What is the force behind this
candidate of the ssnew" democracy,
which is, after all, the old democra-
cy of the days of Thomas Jefferson!
What conviction has taken hold of
the minds of the people that they
sent to Chicago from all parts OF
the country more than 600 delegates
of such unity of purpose and deter
mination that neither threats, nor
entreaties, nor brides could divert
them by one hairs breath from the
course they had marked out for
themselves? What sentiment i'll the
heat of the masses has lined the
pathway of the young Nebraskan
through half score of states with
cheering throngs, and drawn from
the throats Of thousands appeals
that the blessing of God might rest
upon him? What drew 10000 peo-
pie into the streets of Chicago?
What filled these two great theaters
at Plttsburg? What purpose stirred
the 60, 900 people who begged for
tickets to Madison Square Garden?
This campaign is unlike any that
has preceded it, unless it be that
which ended in the election Of Lin.
coin. Day by day the feeling
spreads more widely among the peo-
pie that this is to be a battle for
liberty, for the rescue from the en-
croachments of capitalism of the
ancient rights of free speech, of free
thought and free political action.
Great as is the currency issue, the
need for protection of individual
liberty Is supplantlng it as the prime
issue of the campaign. Not only by
those who from the first have stood
for Bryan and the Chicago platform
has this issue been raised. 1t has
been proffered boldly, insolently by
the classes, that in their dread of the
effect of free silver coinage upon
their unlawful gains have thought te
avert it by exercising upon the
masses of the voters the power oil
coercion which great wealth has
given them. Not from the friends
and supporters of the democratic
ticket has proceeded the snarllne
chorus of malicious epithets directed
at honorable political opponents.
: No democratic employer has threat
: ened his men with discharge unless
; they cast their votes according te
J his WILL "Object lessons'e of
sort that bring penury to Thousands
! of homes, taking the bread from thu
: mouths of hungry children, have
: not been employed in Bryan's be
| nail. w u1ust lOOh W tnC bCttO
classes" for those incidents ID TIT
: evolution of American liberty.
The masses of people are no
cow ards. Recognizing the invasion
of their rights by the forces of pluto
, cracy, they offer resistance. Flo
3 every man who coercion forces int
, support of Mckinley a score will as
sert their manhood by rallying Il
: Bryan. They recognize in the con
trast between the two elements sur
e rounding the two candidates tn
line of divergence between. serfdon
and liberty, and they know that un
e less the choice be wisely made thi
! year four years more of plutocrac,
will so entrench pIutocracy that 1t
overthrow will be impossible.
The significance of the unity Q
the milllonaires and the corporation
in support of Mckinley Is not los
y upon the nation. The people stud
IL M, IIa,ro,, NJ,