The advocate., 1896-07-22
BRYAN'S GREAT EFFORT.
The Speech Which Nominated Him for the
Presidency.

PPe8lUency.
The following is the speech which
Hon. William J. Bryan delivered at
the Chicago convention in support Of
the report of the Resolutions commit
tee:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen Of This Con-
vention: would be presumptuous, indeed. to
present myself against the distinguished gen.
tlemen to whom you have listened. IL this were
but q measuring OF ability, but this Is not q
contest among persons. The humbleSt citizen
in all the land when clad in the armor OF a
righteous cause is stronger than all the hosts
OF error that they can bring. I come to speak
TO you In defense Of a cause as holy as the
cause Of liberty, the cause of humanity
When this debate is concluded q mo-
tion will be made to lay upon the table the res
olution offered In commendation Of the admin
istratiOn and also the resolution In cOndemna-
tiOn Of the administration. I shall object to
bringing this question down to @ level OF
persons. The individual is but an
Rtom-he is born, he acts, he dies
but principles are eternal, and this has
become q contest Of principle Never before
In the history OF this country has there been
witnessed such a contest as that through which
we have passed. Never before In the history
Of American politics has q great issue been
fought out as has this issue, by the voters
themselves
On the 4th OF March, 1895, few democrats.
most Of them members Of congress- issued an
address to the democrats Of the nation, assert
ing the money question was the paramount Is
sue OF the hour; asserting also the right Of
majority OF the democratic party to control the
position OF the party on this paramount issue
concluding with o request that all believers In
free coinage Of silver in the democratic party
should organize, take charge Of and control
the policy OF the democratic party Three
months later, at Memphis, an organization was
perfected, and the democrats went forth openly
and boldly, and courageously proclaiming their
belief, and declaring that II successful, they
would crystalline In platform the declaration
which they had made and then began the con-
flict with the zeal approaching the zeal which
inspired the crusaders who followed Peter
the Hermit.
Our silver democrats went forth from victory
unto victory, until they are assembled now, not
70 discuss, not to debate, but to enter up the
judgment rendered by the plain people OF this
country. In this contest brother has been ar
Psyed against brother, and father against son.
The warmest ties OF love and acquaintance and
association have been disregarded Old lead
erS have been cast aside when they refused to
give expression TO the sentiment OF those
whom they would lead, and new leaders have
sprung up to give direction to this cause under
as binding and solemn instructions as were
ever fastened upon the representatives OF the
people.
The gentleman who just preceded me, Gov
Russell, spoke Of the old state OF MaSsachu-
Betts. Let me assure him that not one person
In all this section entertainS the least hostility
TO the people Of the state OF Massachusetts,, but
we stand here representing people who are the
equals before the law Of the largest citizens In
the state OF Massachusetts,. When you come
before us and tell US we shall disturb your
business interests, we reply that you have dis
turbed our business interests by your course
We say to you that you have made
too limited In Its application the
definition Of business men. The man
who is employed for wages Is as much a
business man as his employer. The attorney
in Q country town is as much o business man
as the corporation counsel In great metropo-
lis The merchant at the cross roads store Is
as much business man as the merchant Of
New York The farmer who goes forth In the
morning and tolls all day, begins in the spring
and tolls all summer, and by the application OF |
brain and muscle to the natural resources of |
this country, creates wealth, is as much q
business man as the man who goes upon the |
board Of trade and bets upon the price Of grain.
The miners who 60 thousand feet into the |
earth or climb 1900 feet upon the clifls and |
bring forth from their hiding place the precious |
metals to be poured In the channels Of trade, |
are as much business men as the few financial |
magnates who, In a back room corner the |
money Of the world
We come to speak OF this broader class Of |
business men. All. my friends, we say not one
word against those who live upon the Atlantic
coast but those hardy pioneers who braved all
the dangers Of the wilderness, who have made
tho desert to blossom as the rose-those pio-
neers away out there, rearing their children
near 70 natures heart, where they can mingle
their voices with the voices OF the birds; out
there they have erected schoolhouses for the