The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1896-08-27
"Mr Chairman. Gentlemen OF thl

shall, at a future DAY anu III q IVA "'''
letter. accept the nomination "hlcn Is
now rendered by the notification COM
nittep and | shall at that time touch
upon the issues presented by the pat
form. Il is fitting, however, at this
time. in the presence of those mere as
scmblcd. | speak at some length IN re-
GaYd TO the campaign upon Wni~I w
are now entering. We DO not uhder-
estimate the forces arrayed against U.s.
neither are we unmindfu( OF the I'M
ls,ftance Of the struggle in which we
arc engaged; but, relying for success
7,Don the righteousness OF our cause,
we shall defend with all possible ElSoI
the positions taken by cur party.
1T has been charged by men stand
ing high in business and political cir
cles that our platform is menace to
private security and public safety; and
it has been asserted that those whom
have the honor, for the time being, TO
represent, not only mediate an attack
upon the rights of property, but are the
foes Of social order and national honor.
Those who stand upon the Chicago
platform are prepared to make known
end to defend every motion which IN
fluepces them, every purpose which an
imates them and every hope which in
snires them. Andrew Jackson said:
Distinctions in society will always eX-
Est under every just government.
Equality of talents, Of education, or OF
wealth. capnot be. produced by human
institutions In the full enjoyment OF
the gifts Of heaven and the fruits OF
superior industry, economy and virtue
every man is equally entitled to pro-
lection by law We yield 20 none il
our devotion to the doctrine just enun-
ciated.
The object Of the Campaign.
Our campaign has not for its object
she reconstruction Of society. We can
not insure to the vicious the fruits OF
a virtuous life; We would not invade
the home of the provident in order to
supply the wants of the spendthrlft;
we do not propose to transfer the re-
wards OF industry to the lap OF lndo-
Ience. Property is and will remain
the stimulus of endeavor and the COM
pensation for toll.
Il assert that property rights, as well
"a the rights of persons, are safe in the
hands Of the common people. Abra-
ham Lincoln, in his message sent to
congress in December, 1861, said: mo
nen living are more worthy to be
trusted than those who toll up from
poverty, none less inclined to take
or touch aught which they have not
honestly earned.
Il repeat his language with unqual-
fled approval and join with him In the
warning which he added, namely: Let
them beware Of surrendering a polite,
al power which they already possess
and which power, il surren,
dered, will surely be used tc
close the doors of advance
yuent against such as they, and to tiz
new disabilities and burdens upor
them, till all of liberty shall be lost.
Those who daily follow the injunction
In the sweat Of thy face shalt thot
cat bread are now, as they ever have
been, the bulwark of law and order
the source of our nations greatness il
time Of peace, and its surest defender
IN time of war;
Eve are not surprised to find arrayet
;against those who are the beneiciarie;
of government favoritism-they hav,
read our platform. Nor are we sur
prised to learn that we must in thi
campaign face the hostility Of thos
who find pecuniary advantage in ad
-vocating the doctrine of non-interfer
,ence when great aggregations 0
wealth are trespassing upon the right
of individuals. We welcome such op
postion--it is the highest indorseme,
which could be bestowed upon us. W
are content to have the cooperation {
those who desire to have the govern
ment administered without fear or fs
yor.
Existence Of Trusts.
SIT is not the wish Of the gener:
public that trusts should spring int
existence and override the weakt
members of society; 1t is not the wis
of the general public that these trus
should destroy competition and the
collect such tax as they will fro
those who are at their mercy. Tho!
who stand upon the Chicago platfor
believe that the government should NJ
only avoid wrong-doing, but that
should also prevent wrong-doing; ar
they believe that the law should
enforced alike against all enemies
the public veal The cOmmandmer
Thou shalt not steal Numbered fro
Sinai and reiterated in the legislatit
of all nations, is no respecter of pc
sons. 1t must be applied to the gre
as we'll as TO the small: to the strol
aS we'll as to the weak; to the corpora
person created by law as we'll as to t
person Of flesh and blood created
the Almighty. No government
worthy of The name which is not al