The Progress., 1896-09-19
WESTERN EEWsPAP Err UNION REPORTD


shall. at future day and in formal
letter, accept the nomination which is
now rendered by the notification COM
nittee, and l shall at that time touch
upon the issues presented by the plat
form. 1t is fitting, however, at this
time, in the presence of those here as
sembled, l speak at some length in re-
gard to the campaign upon which we
are now entering. We do not under
estimate the forces arrayed against US,
neither are We unmindful Of the i'm
Lvrtance Of the struggle in which we
are engaged; but, relying for success
upon the righteousness Of our cause,
We shall defend with all possible vigor
the positions taken by our 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
1t 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 mako known
and to defend every motion which in
fuenCes them, every purpose which an
imates them and every hope which in
spires them. Andrew Jackson said:
Distinctions in society will always ex
ast under every just government.
Equality Of -alents, of education, or Of
wealth, cannot 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 to none in
our devotion to the doctrine just enun-
Ciated.
The Object Of the Campaign.
Our campaign has not for its object
the reconstruction Of society. We can
not insure to the vicious the fruits Of
virtuOus life; we would not invade
the home of the provident in order to
supply the wants Of the spendthrift;
we do not propose to transfer the re-
wards of industry to the lap Of indo-
lence. Property is and will remain
the stimulus of endeavor and the COM
pensa.ion for toll.
II assert that property rights, as we'll
O. 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
men 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.
II repeat his language with unqual-
lied 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. If surren-
dered. will surely be used to
close the doors Of advance
nent against such as they, and to fix
new disabilities and burdens upon
them, till all Of liberty shall be lost
Those who daily follow the injunction,
I'm the sweat Of thy face shalt thou
eat Bread are now, as they ever have
been, the bulwark Of law and order,
the source Of our nations greatness in
time OF peace, and its surest defenders
In time Of war.
! I'VE are rot surprised to find arrayed
against those who are the benefciaries
Of government favoritism-they have
read our platform. Nor are we sur
prised to learn that we must in this
campaign face the hostility Of those
who find pecuniary advantage In adj
vOcating the doctrine Of non-interfer-
ence when great aggregations of
wealth are trespasslng upon the rights
OF individuals. We welcome such op-
position-it Is the highest Endorsement
which could be bestowed upon us. We
are content to have the cooperation of
those who desire to have the govern
ment administered without fear or IA
vor.
Existence Of Trusts.
1T Is not the wish Of the general
public that trusts should spring into
existence and override the weaker
members Of society; it is not the wish
OF the general public that these trusts
should destroy competition and then
collect such tax as they will from
those who are at their mercy. Those
who stand upon the Chicago platform
believe that the government should not
only avoid wrong-doing, but that it
should also prevent wrong-doing; and
they believe that the law should be
enforced alike against all enemies Of
the public veal. The commandment,
Thou shalt not steal Numbered from
Sinai and reiterated in the legislation
Of all nations, Is no respecter of per-
sons. 1t must be applied to the great
90 we'll as to the small; to the strong
10 well as to the weak; to the corporate
person created by law as we'll as to the
person Of flesh and blood created hY