The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-08

ment that condition and substitute jus
tice for force in the settlement of these
difficulties. (Applause.)
Now 1 appeal to you to take the in
terest in the government that you
ought to take. I want you to take an
interest in politics. I am not here to
suggest to you a measure which vvo11Id
in my judgment bring relief, but I have
a right as an American citizen speak
ing to other American citizens-I have
a right, 1 say, to beg of you that Won
should recognize the responsibflifies
which are upon you as citizens and pre-
pare yourselves for the intelligent dis
charge of every duty imposed upon Won
Government was not instituted among
men to confer special benefits to anv
"a voice: Good boy.) Government
was instituted for the protection Of all
the citizens that they might enjoy the
fruits OF their own toll CGreat ap-
plause) And ii is the duty of govern
ment to make the conditions surround
ing the people as pleasant, as agreeable
as possible, and you must have your
opinion and by your votes must have
your influence on the determining of
what these conditions may be.
If you find g large number OF men
out Of employment you have a right
to inquire whether idleness is inflicted
upon the human race by natural laws
or whether It is due to legislation that
is wrong If it is due to legislation that
is wrong, then it is not only your right
but your duty to change that legisla-
ton (Applause.) The greatest men
ace to the employed labor OF today IS
the increasing army of unemployed It
menaceS every man who holds a posi-
ton, and If that army continues to in
crease it is only a question Of time
when those who are, may say, upon
the ragged edge, shall leave the ranks
of the EMPLOYED and Join those who are
out of work (Applause-)
My friends, am one of those who
believe that if you increase the amount
of idleness and you cannot work and
vet must eat, it will drive men to deS-
peration and make criminals out of
those who would earn bread and but
ter under better conditions. (Applause.)
The New York World of few days
ago, editOria1iy, complained of the in
crease of crime Ny friends, if you
find crime increasing, if you find idle
ness growing, it is not privilege only,
1t is a duty that you owe to yourselves
and your country to see whether you
can change conditions and improve the
conditions that surround you.
Now, when you come to the ballot,
I want you to remember that the ball
lot was given to you, not by any man
who employs you, not any nan-(Long
and continued applause. A voice, We
will remember YOU'D That ballot was
given to you by law. You had it be-
fore he employed YOU 1t will be yours
when your employment ceases. You
do not tell him that if he does not vote
according to your opinion you viii quit
working for him daughter and ap-
DlauSe and cheerS), and yet you have
lust as much right to say to him as he
has to you that you have got to quit
working for him if he don't vote the [
way you want him to. CApplause-) !
Nv friends when I say this 1 am not |
! fraid of offendfny anybody in this |
country who believes he has the right /
0y paying wages to control the vote |
IF those to whom the wages go 1 say |
{ there is such an employer L cannot |
hi haRa11EP
De offended at anything l have seen /
men who thought that because they |
oaned a man money he should vote as |
hey said so long as they held MS note /
Il can not impress upon your minds /
3nv more important truth than this, /
hat your ballot is your own to do with /
t as YOU please and there is nobody 4
hat must be satisfied with your vote /
svcept vo11r iudgmenC and your con- /
science" a voice: You viii be salts
ied.) Just at this point the limb OF a
rec broke down.
Mr.. Bryan: Don't worry friends"
A voice: They're coming down out
# the gallery
Mr.. Bryan: He has not made the
mistake that some Make-he does not
Jaw off the limb that IS under MN as
orne men are trying to do when they
destroy the producer. (Applause)
There is only one person, there is on
Y one citizen in this country who can
prove himself unworthy OF the ballot
which has been given to him, and that
5 the citizen who either sells it, or per-
nits 1t to be Wrested from him under
coercion. applause A voice: Or tries
o sell Others) Whenever q man offers
o nay for your vote, he insults your
and you ought to have no re-
pect for the man who tries to DO IL
APPLAUSE And the man who instead
f insulting your manhood by an offer
f purchase attempts to intin1idate you /
T coerce you, insults your citizenship
s we'll as your manhood. (Great ap-
llause.)
ave Just about as much or good as
hey deserve. At least the best way to
ecure anything is to deserve it. If the
eOpIe of this country want good laws
hey themselves must secure them. II
he people want to repeal bad laws they
ave the power to do IT
Government presents contest every
ay In q government like ours, every
ear offers the citizen an opportunity
o prove his love of country; every
ear offers him an opportunity to man
fest his patriotism. 1t IS said thau
fgflance is the price of liberty. The Cit
zen that is Indifferent is a citizen who
j ant to be nisruIed. The citizen who
: alert to make gOvernnl It what ii
ught TO be, is the citizen who has the
est chance Of living under good Laws
nd wise and benef1cent conditions.
Let me leave with just one parting
7Ord. Let me urge whatever may pc
our views on political questions hau-
yer may be your ideas of the policies
roposed from time to time by various
arties, let me urge you to make II your
ighest ambition to prove yourselves
-Orfhy of that greatest of all names,
n American citizen. thank you"
Great applause.)
nnrn T1T~MD"NN CRNTECT