The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-08-19

Mr.. Bryan read from manuscript but occA-
), ,Jnnlly he dropped the sheets Of paper and
spoke earnestly without looking at themL In
part he said:
Mr. Chairman. Gentlemen of the Committee
and Fellow-Ciuzens: l shall at future Gay
and In formal letter accept the nomination
which is now tendored by the notification COM
mittee, and shall at that time touch upon the
issues presented by the platform. 1t is lifting,
however, that at this time, IN the presence ol
those here assembled. speak at some length
In regard TO the campaign upon wnicn we are
now entering
It has been charged by men standing high in
business and political circles that our platform
is menace to private security and public SAFE
ty; and 1t has been asserted that those whom
have the honor to represent not only medltate
an attack upon the rights OF property. but are
the foes both OF social order and national
honor. Those who stand upon the Chicago
platform are airepared to defend every motive
which influences them, every purpose when
animates them, and every hope which inspires
them.
Our campaign has not for It's object the re-
construction OF society. We cannot insure TO
the vicious the fruits of virtuous lits Wc
wsuld not divide the home OF the proWdent N
order to supply the wants OF the spcnothrit.
we do not propose to transfer the rewards OF
industry to the lap OF Incidence. Property Is
and will remain the stimulus to endeaYor, and
compensation for toll We believe, MS asserted
men are created equal; but that does not mean
that all men are or can be equal in possessions,
in ability or merit; 1t simply means that AL
shall stand equal before the law; and that gov
ernmcnt officials shallnot, in making, constru-
ing or enforcing the law, discriminate between
citizens and we assert that property rights, Us
well as the rights OF persons, are safe in the
hands of the common people
Abraham Lincoln in his sage sent to con-
gress in December. 1861 said: mo men living
are more worthy to be trusted than those VINO
toll up from poverty; none less inclined 10
take or touch aught which they have not hon
estly earned" Irepeat his language with un-
qualified approval, and join with him In the
| warning which he added, namely: Let them
| beware OF surrendering political power whlch
| they already possess and which power, II sur
| rendered will surely be used TO close the doors
| of advancement against such as they, and TO NIX
| new disabilities and burdens upon them, II all
O., liberty shall be lost,
] w are not surprised, said Mr.. Bryan, to find
| arrayed against US those who are the Dene-
| hciaries OF government favoritism-they have
| read our platform--nor to learn that we must
| in this campaign face the hostility of those VINO
| find pecunary advantage in advocating the
| doctrine Of non-interferencc when great aggre-
| cations OF wealth are trespaSsing upon the
| rights OF individuals. Such opposition is the
| highest Endorsement which could be bestowed
| upon us. We are content to have the cooper
| alton OF those who desire to have the govern
| ment administered without fear or favor. It's
| not the wish cf the general public that trusts
| should spring into existence aud override the
weaker members Of society; it Is not the wish
of the general public that these trusts should de-
stroy competition and then collect such tax as
| they will from those who are at their mercy; nor
Is it the fault OF the general public that the in
| Strumentalities of government have been so
often prosttutcd to purposes Of private GAIN
The Chicago platform has been condemned
| by some because 1t dissents from an opinion
| rendered by the supreme court declaring tne
income tax law unconstitutional Our critics
Ntas nFanE EOhf q
10 those who stand upon that plank OF the
platform. 1t must be remembered that we ex-
pressly recognize the binding force OF that de-
cision so long as 1t stands as d part OF the law
OF the land There Is in the platform no sug-
geStion of an attempt to dispute the authority
of the supreme court The party Is simply
pledged TO ''use oil the constitutional power
which remains after that decision or whlcf
| may come from its reversal by the court as II
may hereafter be constituted Is there any
disloyalty in that pledgef
Then entering upon what he declared tnC
paramount question OF this campaign-tn'
| money aueStion--Mr. Bryan said; 1t is scarcely
necessary to defend the principle OF bimetal
lism No national party during the entir
Il history Of the United States has ever declares
> against 1t, and no party In this campaign ma
had the temerity to oppose It. Three parties
| the democratic, populist and silver parties
, have not only declared for bimetallism, bu
, have outlined the specific legislation necessar
! to restore silver to its ancient position by th
pressly declares that bimetallism is desirabl
r when 1t pledges the republican party to aid !
securing 1t as soon as the assistance OF certai
. foreign nations can be obtained.
The gold standard has been weighed In tn
balance and found wanting. Take from 1t N
| powerful support of the money owning ana IN
q money changing classes and 1t can not stan
/ | for one day in any nation In the world 1t wa
. fastened upon the United States without ois
oussion before the people, and its friends hav
[ never yet been willing to risk verdict 0eior
| the voters upon that issue.
The test of honesty in money must be plalnl
: shown In the purchasing power OF the dollal
= An absolutely honest dollar would not vary
its general purchasing power; 1t would be al
l. | solutely stable when measured by averal
h prices. A dollar which increases In purcha'
4 Ing power Is just rs dishonest as dollar whic
u y decreases in purchasing power
d 1t cannot be successfully claimed that mont
y metallism or bimetalliSm, or any other system
/, gives an absolutely Just standard OF valu
o Under both monometalliSm and b1metnllis
n the government fixes the weight and hnene
= of the dollar invests 1t with legal tender qua
10 tiles and then opens the mints to its unr
= stricted coinage, leaving the purchasing pow
d OF the dollar to be determined by the numb'
ID of dollars
Mr.. Bryan denied that "ffty-oent dolla
: could work disaster, claiming that such
a article was fiction. He finished his spec
u with an eloquent peroration in which he SO
IS that this nation should be beacon light to Z
a, other nations Of the world and not turn for
10 spiration to the financters OF Europe.
d During Mr. Bryans speech he was frequent
d interrupted by cheers OF applause. His rece
r ence 30 the income tax was loudly cheered,
'e also wns his reference to the sale Of bono
S The audience also manifested its approval
id various stages OF his free silver argume
IN When some OF the more telling points In IL
y discussion we're reached the audience yell
with oil its might and the speaker was col
t. pelled to wait until order was restored I
re speech was very well received. When tn CO
1t cluding Mr.. Bryan said he expected the coo
lie Grafton of all present, u voice cried: "Y
d. have it." and the audience again roLred
" unison.
re The peroration WAS spoken without CLAN
th at the manuscript, and for that reason 1t h
to greater effect The closing words approach
IS in eloquent feeling some Of the telling points
m the Chicago speech, but 1t was obvious that I
tn wonderful delivery was gone temporarily a
H. there was an unInistakable huskineSs In
cd Bryans tones.
Is Gov Stone, at the conclusion of thecheeri
turned to Arthur Sewall the vice president
s. candidate, and in few words formally notit
m him OF his nomination. Gov, Stones cemaI
e. were not audible eVen to those who sat M
Sc the platform. Mr.. Sewall was Obliged TO bel
In his speech amid noise that made 1t dime
re for him to be heard ten feet away. His remai
is were short and devoted to free silver art
nd ment and acceptance OF the nomination I
nd meeting then adjourned
nA |
Ill VIII Flock by Themselves.
d. WHEELING, w. Va, Aug. 1a-Seve
80 80 ty-fve prominent democrats, rep