New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1896-07-15
BRYAN's GREAT SPEECH.
The following is Portion of the Great
Address Made by VIM. J, Bryan
Before the Chicago
Convention.

present myself against the distinguished
gentlemen to whom you have listened if
this we've but measuring of ability, but
this is not contest among persons. The
humblest citizen in all the land, when
clad in the armor of a righteous cause,
is stronger than all the whole hosts Of
error that they can bring. come to
speak to you in defense of cause as ho-
ly as the cause of liberty-the cause of
humanity. I shall object to bringing
this question down to 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 a contest of prin
ciple. Never before in the history of
this country has there been witnessed
such contest as that through which we
have passed. Never before in the histo
ry of American politics has great issue
been fought out as this issue has-by
the voters themselves.
In this contest brother has been ar
rayed against brother, and father against
son. The warmest ties of love and ac-
quaintance and associations have been
d;sregarded. Old leaders have been cast
aside when they refused to give express
sion to the sentiments of those whom
they would lead and new leaders have
sprung up to give direction to this cause
of truth. Thus has the contest been
waged and we have assembled here I'M
der as binding and solemn instructions
as were ever fastened upon the represent
tatlve of a people.
The gentleman who just preceded me
(Gov. RUSSELL spoke of the old state of
Massachusetts,. Let me assure him that
not one person in all this convention en-
tertains 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
that we shall disturb your business IN
terests, we reply that you have disturbed
our business interests by your course.
We say to you that you have made too
limited application of the definition of
business man. The man who is employed
for wages is as much business man as
his employer. The attorney in coun-
try town is as much business man as
the corporation counsel in great me-
tropolis. 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
a business man as the man who goes up
on the board of trade and bets upon the
price of grain.
The miners who go thousand fec: in
to the earth OF climb 1900 feet upon the
cliffs and bring forth from their hiding
place the precious metals to he poured
in the channels of trade are as good bus
mess men as the few financial magnates
who. in back room, corner the money
of the world.
We come to speak of the claims of this
broader class of business men. All, nv
friends, VIC say not one word against
those who live upon the Atlantic coasts;
but those hardy pioneers, who braved all
the dangers of the Wilderness; who have
made the desert to blossom as the rose
those pioneers away out there, rearing
their children near to Natures heart,
where they can mingle their voices with
the voices of the birds; out there where
they have erected school houses for the
education oe their young and churches
where they praise their creator, and GEM
etcries where sleep the ashes of their
dead-are as deserving of the considera-
ton of this party as any people IN this
country. ...
1t is for these that we speak. We do
not come as aggressors. Our war is not
-. a war Of conquest. We ale fighting IN
the defense of our homes, our families.
and posterity.
We have petitioned and our petitions
have been scorned. We have entleated
and our entreaties have been disregard
ed. We have begged and they have
Knocked and our calamity came. We beg
no longer; we entrtat no more; we pc
tition no more; we defy them.
The gentleman from Wisconsin ha.
said that he feared a Robespierre. NJ,
friend, in this land Of the free you neet
fear no tyrant who will spring up from
amonr fha$ nenn1a Whit WE need 31c a