The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-08-15

great battle of 1896 is to be fought. For
the first time it has been fairly pre-
scented. without evasion or disgust Both
parties have taken positions boldly. Both
are confident and defiant. Between them
the American people are the arbiters.
and as such they are now to pass judg
ment upon the most important question
| presented to them since the storm of the
civil war wrecked many happy homes
and left its bloody trail upon the land.
| They are to pass judgment upon a ques-
| ton which | profoundly believe affects
as no other can, not only the present
happiness and prosperity of American
institutions. but the well being of all
| mankind.
Mr.. Chairman, in all great move
ments. in all concerted efforts when well
| directed, Their must be leadership.
leader should be representative of the
cause he champions. He should be more
than that. He should be i'm all essential
qualities in the highest degree typical
of those who invest him with the dignity
and responsibility of leadership The
| Chicago platform has been denounced
as undemocratic, and the delegates COM
prising the convention have been stig-
matized as anarchists and socialists. We
have heard much of this from a certain
class of papers and individuals. On Sat
urday last i'm my own slate. an eX-dem-
ocratic eX-supreme court judge charac-
terized the Chicago convention platform
as "a bundle of populistic notions and
brimful with socialism and anarchy.
| And at the Same time an cN-dcmOcr1.c
corporation attorney Of some distinction
declared that American citizen meant
| government not by the unthinking UNI
needing masses, but by the element who
are guided by judgment and reason.
'Unthinking, unheeding masses is
very good The elements which are
suided by judgment and reason is extra
aood. 1t is at least a slight modification
of Vanderbilts fragrant anathema
Damn the people. and for this small
concession we ought to do doubt to be
duly grateful. Who composed the Chi
cagO convention? From the state i'm
which reside the gentleman from whom
| have quoted. the delegation sent TO the
convention was composed of farmers
/ lawyers doctors. editors. merchants
manufacturers and several of the most
cOnspicuOusly successful business men
i'm the Missouri valley. Among them also
We're eminent judges of high courts SEN
ators of the United States. representa-
uves in congress. and the treasurer and
governor Of the state. That delegation
was chosen by one of the greatest con-
ventions ever assembled i'm that state.
representing all classes of the very best
| people of the commonwealth What was
true of Missouri was equally true of all
the states
IF these men could not speak for the
| democratic party. who could? If these
! men do not understand democracy. who
are its opponents? But these are the
men who are ridiculed as an unthinkng.
unheeding mob. who cannot be trusted
with the conduct of public affairs, and
these are the men who must give way
to English toadies and the pamperel
minions of corporate rapacty. who ar
rogate to themselves al the virtues and
wisdom of the world.
The man that holds up TO opprobium
such men as constituted the Chicago con-
vention who dcnounces them as cranks,
| anarchists or socialists, or who in any
respect impugns their intelligence or pat
riotism, does himself "A most rank injus-
tice. If he be a knave, slanderer or IA
fool. That convention did, indeed. repre-
| sent The masses of the people-the great
industrial and producing masses of the
people. 1t represented the men who pillow
and plant. who fatten herds. who toll in
shops. who fell forests and delve in
| mines But are these to be regarded with
contumely and addressed i'm terms Of
contempt? Why. sir. these are the men
who feed and clothe the nation: whose
products make up the sum OF our ex-
ports; who produce the wealth of the re-
public who bear the heaviest burdens I'm
time of peace. who are ready always
| to give their lives for their country $
| flag. These are the men who spoke at
Chicago i'm tones that rang out clear and
high and strong They were IN earnest
and did not mean to be misunderstood
For a leader they chose one of their
own. "a plain man of the people His
life and life work indenufy him in sym
pathy and interest with those who repre-
sent the farmers and the industrial for
ces of the country. Among them he was
born and reared. and he lived and
wrought all me days of mis- life To their
cause ne has devoted an the splendid
powers with which God endowed him.
| He has been their constant and fearless
champion. They know him and they trust
him. Suave. yet firm gentle yet daunl-
less warm-hearted. yet deliberate: con-
hdent and self-poised. but without van
ity learned in books ana statecraft. bat
without pedantry or pretense; a superb
orator. yet a man of the greatest eau
ton and method; equipped with large
experience in public affairs, true to his
convictions, true to himself and false TO
no man. William Jennings Bryan is
model gentleman and peerless leader of
the people. This man is our leader. I'm