The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-08-28
BOURKE COCHRAN
ANSWERS BRYAN.
Speech Delivered at Madison
Square Garden, New York,
Tuesday Evening, Aug. I8.

y
ing officer. Stripped, as he says, of all
verbal disguise, it is an issue Of common
honesty, an issue between the honest dis
charge and the dishonest population OF
public and private obligations. 1t is q
question as to whether the powers OF this
government shall be used to protect honest
industry or TO tempt the citizen to dishon-
esty.
On this question honest men cannot
differ. 1t Is one of morals and of Justice.
1t involves tho existence of social order. 1t
Is the contest for civilization itself. If it
be disheartening to Democrats and to low
ers of free institutions to find an issue of
this character projecting into presidential
campaign, this meeting furnishes us with
an inspiring truth of how that issue will
be met by the people. A Democratic con-
vention may renounce the Democratic
faith, but the Democracy remains faithful
to Democratic principles. Democratic
leaders may betray convention to the
Populists, but they cannot seduce tho foot
steps of Democratic voters from the path
way of honor and Of justice. A candidate
bearing the mandate of Democratic con-
vention may in this hall open canvass
leveled against the foundations of social
order, but he beholds the Democratic
masses confronting him organized for the
defense.
Fellow Democrats, let us not disguise
from ourselves the fact that we bear in
this contest a serious and grave and solemn
hI,r 1o Of Inf o;,, L., l.
against the nominee of our party, and we
must do 1t to preserve the future of that
party itself. We must oppose the nominee
Of the Chicago convention, and we know
full well that the success of our opposition
will mean our own exclusion from public
life, but we will be consoled and gratifled
by the reflection that it will prove that the
American people cannot be divided into
parties on a question of simple morals or
of common honesty. We would look in
vain through the speech delivered here ono
week ago to find true statement of the
issue involved in this canvass. Indeed,
believe it is doubtful if the candidate him
self quite understands the nature of the
faith which he processes. 1 say this rot in
criticism of his ability, but in justice to
his morality 1 believe that if he himself
understood the inevitable consequences of
the doctrines which he breaches, his own
hands would be the very first to tear down
the platform on which he stands.
A Soil Not Propitious to Revolution.
But there was one statement in that
speech which was very free from ambiguity,
with hope and confidence to the
lovers of order. He processes his unqucs-
toned belief in the honesty of the Amcri-
can masses, and he quoted Abraham Lin
coin in support of the faith that was in
him. Well, do not believe that the faith
of Abraham Lincoln was ever more sig
niflcantly justified than in the appearance
which Mr.. Bryan presented upon this plat
form in the change that has come over the
spirit and the tone of Populistic eloquence
since the Chicago convention.
We all must remember that lurid rhet-
oric which glowed as flercely in the west
ern skies as that sunlight which through
the past week foretold the torrid heat of
the ensuing day, and here upon this plat
form we find that same rhetoric as mild
as insipid as the waters Of q stagnant pool.
He is a candidate who was swept into the
by q wave of popular enthusi-
asm, awakened by appeals to prejudice
and greed. He Is n candidate who on his
trip homo and in the initial steps of his
trip eastward declared that this was q revo-
lutionary movement; who no sooner found
himself face to face with the American
feeling than he realized that this soil Is not
propitious to revolution.
The people of this country will not
change the institutions which have stood
the tests and experiences of century for
institutions based upon the fantastic
dreams of Populist agitators Tho Amer
lcan nation will never consent to substi-
tute for the republic of Washington, of
Jefferson and of jackson the republic of
IN Altgeld, Tillman or n Bryan. The
power of public opinion which caused the
vivid oratory of the Chicago platform to
burn low and soft as the moonlight out
side of this platform, which has already
shown its power to control Populistic elo-
luence, will show the full extent Of its
wisdom, will give Abraham Lincoln's
prophecy its triumphant vindication when
It brushes the seed of Populistic socialism
next November
Proposed Violation of the Constitution.
Now, my friends, have said there was
,ne statement of great significance in Mr..
Bryan's speech. There Is another portion
IF 1t which is singularly free from any OBJ
,curity, and that may be comprised within
,he two initial paragraphs where he talks
logically, consistently, plainly, the Ian
yuage of revolution. Whatever change
nay have come over his manner as can
lidate, however much Che vehemence Of
his eloquence may have been reduced, two
things for which he stands remain unal-
Iered.
On this platform he defended the most
evolutionary plank of the Chicago con-
,cntion In speech less vehement, but not
ess earnest, than that in which he sup
ported its adoption. On this platform he
the Populistic programme of
Dverthrowing the integrity of tho supreme
court. If there be any fruit which has
grown for the benefit of all mankind out
If the establishment of our republic, 1t has
been tho demonstration that It Is possible
BY the organization of an independent
tribunal to safeguard tho rights of every
,itizcn and protect thos9datural privileges
against any invasion froh whatever source
,r however powerful might be the antag-
onizing elements.
The very existence Of that power presup-
poses the existence Of an independent tri
Dunal. Yet we have this Populist conven-
ton, because Populist measure was con-
1eInned as unconstitutional proposing,