The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-09

or Jefferson, TINS old Democratic party
of constitutional law and liberty shall
thus fall prey to the Vaccinations of a
propaganda maintained by silver mine
owners which had its origin many years
ago. 1t was not for such uses. 1t was
not for such an end that the Democratic
party was created. / protest with solemn
earnestnesS, with sincerity and persona
kindness that the Democrats of the north
ought not to have accepted this result
For thirty years they have stood at great
personal cost fighting devotedly for the
principles of Democracy until with q
restored union, they have triumphed il
Democracy. And now in this hour wher
we thought everything before us was
well, we have this new strength eXerted
to pull down the pillars of the temple and
plause) So, hope for better future
for the Democratic party. The evl
times, the evil days, though filled with
dangers and comprised around with
clouds, may pass. hope to live to see q
Democratic convention assembled here
when all shall be united and the whole
party restored to the vigor and power
which is necessary for its service to the
constitution. (Applause.)
Bryan of Nebraska took the platform
at 2:10 and closed the debate for the sill
yer men in Il half hour speech.
BRYAN'S SPEECH.
"AIr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the
Conventional would be prcsumptuous in
deed to present myself against the dis
tinguished gentleman to whom you nave
listened if this were but II measuring of
ability. but this is not contest among
persons. The humblest citizen in all the
land. when called to arms IN righteous
cause, is stronger than all the whole
hosts of error that they can bring.
Il 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 a motion
will be made to lay upon The table the
resolution Offered i'll commendation of the
administration. | shall object to bring
ing this question 10 a level of persons.
The individual is but an atom: he is born,
he acts. he dies, but principles are eter-
nal and this has been contest of prn-
ciple. Never before in the history of
this country has been witnessed such a
contest as that through which we have
passed. Never before in the history of
American politics has great issue been
fought out as this issue has been by the
voters themselves.
''On the fourth of March, 1895, a few
Democrats. most of them members of
NoHSltSS, lSsutIl W tllt IclllO-
Gratis of the nation, asserting that the
money question was the paramount issue
of the hour, asserting also the right of
allowing the Democratic party to control
the position of the party on this issue;
concluding with the request that all be-
levers in the free coinage of silver in the
Democratic party should take charge of
and control the policy of the Democratic
party.
"Three months later. at Memphis, the
organization was perfected and silver
Democrats went forth openly and boldly
and courageously proclaiming their be-
lief and declaring that. if successful. they
would cryStalize in platform the decla-
ration which they had made, and then
began a conflict with a zeal approaching
the zeal which inspired :he crusaders
who followed Peter the Hermit. Our
silver Democrats went forth from vic
tory to victory until ihey are assembled
now, not to discuss. not to debate. but
to enter up the judgment rendered by
them to the people of this country. CAP
plause) In this contest brother has
been alrayed against brother and father
against son. The warmest ties of love
and acquaintance and association have
been disregarded. Old leaders have
been set aside when they refused to give
expression to the sentiments of those
whom they would lead, and new leaders
have sprung up to give direction to this
cause of truth. (CheerS.)
"rhus has the contest been waged. and
we have assembled here under as binding
and solemn instructions as ever fastened
upon the representatives of people. We
do not come as individuals. While as
individuals we might have been glad to
compliment the gentleman from New
York QIilD, yet we know 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.
Eheers,) / say it was not question
of persons, it was Il question of prin-
friends. that we find ourselves brought
into conflict with those now arrayed on
the other side The gentleman who just
preceded me Governor RusselD spoke
of the old state Of Massachusetts. Let
me assure you tLat not one person in all
this convention cntertains the least hos
tility to the people of the state of Massa-
chusetts (applause), but we stand here
people who are equals before
the law of the largest citizens in The
state of Massachusetts. (Applause.)
When you come before us and tell us
that we shall disturb your business in
'NiNSlo We iNpis Spu navy
our business interests by your course.
Great applause and cheering.) We say
to you that you have made too limited
in its application the definition of
business men. n man employed Cor
wages is as much a business man as the
employed. Continued cheers.) The
attorney in a country town is as much
n business man as lawyer iii great
metropolis. \ merchant ut the cross
roads is rs much business man as
merchant in New York A farmer who
goes forth in the morning and tolls all
day, begins in spring and tolls all sum
mer, and, by the application of brain and
muscle to the natural resources of this
creates wealth, is as much a
business man as the man who goes upon
the Board of Trade and bets upon the
price of grain"
The sentiments of the speaker were
cheered again and again and the galleries
seemed TO be Il mass of white handker-
chiefs waving. The cheers were re-
newed again and again, md it was
some minutes before Bryan could be
heard.
He proceeded as follows:
Miners who 80 thousands of feet into
the earth or climb two thousand feet
upon cliffs and bring forth from their
hiding places precious metals. to be
poured into the channels of trade. are rs
much business men as a few financial
magnates who, in Il back room, corner
the money of the world
The free silver delegates at this point
brnl,n fnrth in, trnmapIpnS rhnnrs Stnpl-