The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-07-31
Seleft MisreIlanlJ.
BRYAN'S GREAT SPEECH
THE EFFORT THAT MADE HIM THE DEMO
CRATIC NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT.

In the Democratic National Conven-
tion, William j. Bryan, of Nebraska,
"The Boy Orator of the Platte" was
one of the speakers put forward by the
silver men to sustain the majority re-
port on the platform. He followed
Senator David B. Hill, of New York,
and below is his speech in full
"MR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF
THE CoNvENTIoN-I would be pre-
sumptuous, indeed, to present myself
against the distinguished gentlemen to
whom you have listened, if this were
but measuring of ability, but this is
not a contest among persons. The
humblest citizen in all the land when
clad in the armor of righteous cause
is stronger than all the whole hosts of
error that they can bring. come to
speak to yon in defence of cause as
holy as the cause of liberty, the cause
Of humanity. Loud applause.
"When this debate is concluded a
motion will be made to lay upon the
table the resolutions offered i'm COM
mendation of the Administration, and
also the resolution in condemnation of
the Administration. | shall object to
bringing this question down to level
of persons The individual is an atom;
he is born, he acts, he dies, but princi-
piles are eternal, and this has been a
contest of principle.
''Never before in the history of this
country ha: there been witnessed such
a contest 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 ma
tion asserting that the money question
was the paramount issue of the hour,
asserting also the right of a majority
OF the Democratic party to control the
position of the party on this paramount
issue, concluding with the request that
all believers in free coinage of silver in
the Democratic party should organize
and take charge Of and control the poll
cy of the democratic party.
"Three months later, at Memphis, an
organization was perfected, and the sill
yer Democrats went forth openly and
boldly and courageously proclaiming
their belief, and declaring that if sue
cesstul they would crystalize in Il plat
form the declaration which they had
made; and then began the conflict with
Il zeal approaching the zeal which in
spired the Crusaders who followed
Peter the Hermit. Our silver Demo-
Gratis went forth from victory unto vic
tory until they are assembled now, not
to discuss. not to debate, but to enter
the judgment rendered by the plain
people of this country. Applause
In this contest brother has been ar
rayed against brother and father gainst
father. The warmest ties of love and
acquaintance and association have been
disregardcd. Old leaders have been
east aside when they refused to give
expression to the sentiments of those
whom they would lead. and new lead
ers have sprung up to give direction
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. Why, as individuals
we might have been glad to compli-
ment the gentleman from New York
(Senator Hill) But we knew that the
people for whom we speak would never