The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-08-19

popu.ists. but they cannot subdue the
footsteps Of democratic voters from the
pathway OF honor and justice. A candi-
date bearing the mandate Of a democrat
ic convention may. in this hall. open Q
canvass levelled against the foundations
OF social order. but he beholds the demo
cratic masses confronting him. organized
for the defense.
W. aus Oppose Bryan.
Fellow Democrats. let us not disguise
from ourselves the fact that we bear In
this contest a serious and grave and sole
omn burden OF duty. We must raise our
hands against the nominee Of our party.
and we must do Il to preserve the future
of that party. We must oppose the NOM
inee OF the Chicago convention. and We
know full well that the success Of our
opposition Will mean our own exclusion
from public life: but we will be contented
and grattfied by the reflection that "
will prove that the American people cam
not be divided into parties on a question
of simple morals or common honesty. We
would look In vain through the speech de-
livered here one week ago to- find Q true
statement of the issues involved In this
canvass. Indeed. believe II is doubtful
II the candidate himself quite under
stands the nature Of the faith which he
processes. l say this not in criticism q
his abiity but In justice to his morality.
believe that II he himself understood
the inevitable consequences OF the doc
trines which he breaches. his own hands
would be the very first to tear down the
platform on which he stands. We all
must remember that lurid rhetoric which
glowed as fiercely in the Western skies
as the sunlight which through thS past
week foretold the torrid heat OF the ensu-
Ing day and here upon this platform we
find that same rhetoric as mild. as In.
s.pid, as the waters OF a stagnant pool.
He is a candidate who was swept into the
nomtn nation by a wave OF popular enthu-
siasm awakened by appeals to pre5udice
and greed. He is a candidate who, de-
claring that this was revolutionary
movement, no sooner found himself face
to face with American feeling than he
realized that this soil Is not proplt.ous 10
revolution, that the people of this counr
try will not change the institutions which
have stood the tests and experiences CT 0
century for institutions based upon fan
tastic dreams Of a populist agftator: that
the American nation will never consent
to substitute for the republic OF Wash
Ington, or Jefferson and of Jackson. the
republic Of an Altgeld, Tillman or .
Bryan.
Bryan Is n Revolutionist.
Whatever change may have come over
his manner as candidate, however
much the vehemence Of his eloquence
may have been reduced. two things for
which he stands remain unaltered. IN
this platform he defended the most revo-
lutionary plank Of the Chicago conven-
ton, IN speeches the less vehement. hu.
not less earnest. than that In whici he
supported their adoption. On this plat
form he defended the poulistic pro-
gramme Of overthrowing the integrity Of
the supreme court. II there be any fruit
wh.ch has grown for the benefit of all
mankind out Of the establishment of our
republic. II has been the Demonstration
that II IL possible by tha organiasetsp%5.
an independent tribunal to safeguard the
rights Of every citizen and protect those
natural privileges against any invasion
from whatever source or however power.
ful might he the antagontzing element
The very existence of that power presup.
poses the existence Of an independent tri.
bunal; yet we have this populist conven-
ton. because a populist measure was
condemned as unconstitutional. propos-
ing. not to amend the constitution in the
ordinary way prescribed by that instru.
ment itself. but proposing to pack the
courts 80 that II will pronounce those
laws to be constitutional which the con.
st!tuton Nself condemns a proposal tc
make the courts Of law instruments OF
lawlessness: to violate that sacred com.
pact between the states on wh.ch the Sc.
curity Of this nation rests: to profans
the temple erected for its protection by
the hands OF false priests who, though
sworn to defend It. will be appointed to
destroy II.
He amt Understand BRYAN.
I'm the time to which most conhns
myself Tonight, can do nothing but ex.
anime that one question which Bryan
himself declares TO be the overshadowine
issue Of this campaign. am a little pug
zled when I read his speech to decide
just what Bryan himself imagines viii b,
the fruit Of n change in the standard oil
value throughout this country. do moi
believe that any man can follow who'll,
with the speech, because II he d.ssents
from one set OF conclusions he has got tC
rena but few paragraphs and he Will
finu another. II Bryan could show me
that. by any means known to heaven ol
on earth, wages could be Increased. I will
he ready to support him. because I know
Of no test OF prosperity absolutely nfalli
BILE except the rate Of wages paid TO Ia
borers. When we come to md how Bry
an expects to increase the wages OF la
Dor. we find ourselves lost In a maze o.
contradiction. No man can tell how OF
where or when the wages OF the work
inyman are to be Increased: but any on,
who examines the scheme can see tha'
the inevitable tendency, the inevitabl.
consequence of dcbasement In the stan
dard Of value. must be a reduction In tn,
rate Of wages: and that Is the conspirac,
IN which the populist IL engaged.
Now. Bryan tells US that he wants I,
cheaper the dollar: that he wants to In
crease the volume OF money. do no
belseve that any man who ever i've,
could quite understand populist's nottoi
OF what money is further than that he be
heves u e desirable thing to get, an,
he Is not very particular about the mean
by which he can get his hands on N
The basis of sound trade Is sound none,
money which is intrinslcally valuable
money which. like the gold coinage o
this country. the government cannot af
feet " II tried to. can take a ten-dolla
god piece and 7 can defy all the powe
OF all the governments Of this earth 4
take fve cents Of sts value from IL. Hav
ing earned II nv the sweat OF my brow
having earned 1t by the exercise Of m,
brain. having earned II by the exchane
of my commodities. ] can go TO the utter
ntost ends Of the ca rth and zhareyer