The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1896-07-18
VIM. ]. BRYAN'S
GREAT SPEECH,
WHICH GAVE HIM 4 BOOM
FOR THE PRESIDENCY.
CHAMPION SILVER ORATOR.
Ringing Presentation of the Claims of
The Advocates Of Free Coinage
at Sixteen to One.

CHICAGO, JULY 10.-William Jen-
nings Bryan Of Nebraska immortalized
himself by remarkable speech at
Thursday afternoons session Of the
National Democratic Convention. He
was speaking on the adoption OF the
platform. His speech in full is as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen NJ the
CoareNti0n:-I would be presumptious
indeed to present myself against the
distinguished gentleman to whom you
have listened if this were but q meas
uring of ability, but this is not con-
test among persons. The humblest
citizen in all the land when the call to
arms is in a righteous Cause is strong
er than all the whole hosts of error
that they can bring. come to speak
to you in defense of cause as holy as
the cause of liberty, the cause of hu-
manity. Loud applause. When this
debate is concluded motion will be
made to lay upon the table the resolu-
ton offered in cOmmendation of the
administration and also the resolution
in condemnation OF the administration.
l shall object to bringing this question
to level OF persons. The individual
is but sn atom; he is born, he acts, he
dies, but principles are eternal, and
this has been contest OF principle.
Never before in the history of this
country has been witnessed such a con.
test as that through which we have
passed. Never before in the history OF
American politics has great issue
been fought out, as this issue has been,
by the voters themselves.
On the 4th of March, 1895, few
Democrats, most of them members OF
Congress, issued an address to the
Democrats OF the nation, asserting the
money question was
THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE
of the hour, asserting also the right OF
allowing the Democratic party to con.
troll the position of the party on this
issue; concluding with a request that
all believers in the free coinage of silver
in the Democratic party should take
charge of and control the policy OF the
Democratic party. Three months later,
at Memphis, ar organization was per-
fected and the silver Democrats went
forth openly and boldly, and courage
ously proclaiming their belief and de-
claring, if successful, they would crys-
tallize in a platform the declaration
which they had made; and then began
a conflict with the zeal approaching
the zeal which inspired the crusaders
who followed Peter the Hermit. Our
silver Democrats went forth from vic
tory to victory, until they are assem-
bled now, not to discuss, not to debate,
but to enter up the judgment rendered
by them to the people of this country.
(Applause). In this contest brother
has been arrayed against brother, and
father against son. Warmest ties of
love and acquaintance and association
have been disregarded. Old leaders
have been cast aside when they refused
to give expression to the sentiments of
those whom they would lead. and new
leaders have sprung up to give direc-
ton to this cause of truth. Cheers.
Thus has the contest been waged,
and we have assembled here under as
binding and solemn instructions as
were ever fastened upon the represen.
tatives Of Il people. We do not come
as individuals. AS individuals, we
might have been glad to compliment
the gentleman from New York (Hill),
but we know the people for whom we
speak would never be willing to put
him in a position where he could
thwart the will Of the. Democratic
party. (Cheers). [ say it was not a
question Of persons, it was a question
Of principles, and it is not with glad
ness, my friends, that we find ourselves
brought into conflict with those now
on the other side.
THE gentleman who has just pre-
ceded me (Gov. Russell) spoke OF the
old State of Massachusetts. Let me
assure him that not one person in ali
this convention entertains
THE LEAST HOSTILITY
to the people of the State of Massachu-
setts. (Applause). But we stand here
representing the people who are the
equals before the law of the largest cit
liens in the State Of Massachusetts,.
When you come before us
and tell US that we shall disturb your
business Interests, we reply that you
have disturbed our interests by your
course. Great applause and cheering.)
We say to you that you have made too
limited in its application the definition
Of business men. A man employed for
wages is as much a business man as an
employer. Continued cheers. An
attorney in a country town is as much
a business man as q lawyer in the great
A merchant at a cross
roads is as much a business man as u
merchant of New York. A farmer,
who goes forth in the morning and
tolls all day, begins in the spring and
tolls all summer, and by application Of
brain and muscle to the natural re-
sources Of this country creates wealth,
a as much G. business man as the man
who trades upon the Board Of Trade
Ind bets upon the price Of grain. (Sen-
,iments Of speaker cheered and cheered |
again, and galleries seemed to be a
mass Of white handkerchiefs waving. |