The advocate., 1897-02-24
BRYAN In TOPEKA.
Continued from page 81

granted that the people will appreciate
the work which we are trying to do. The
man in politics who makes up his mind
that the people can be fooled, will prove
that there is one person at least whe can
be fooled. The people cannot be fooled
all the time, and, my friends, in the
long run, there Is no sure way Of obtain
ing the confidence Of the people except
by deserving the confidence OF the people.
IhRve tried to impress upon the minds
Of those assembled in the various Legisla-
lures before whom have had the honor
and privilege to speak, and / want to
impress upon you the responsibility
which events have cast upon you. Those
who have control Of the Legislature are
responsible for all that is done. You can
not 90 out, If you have a majority of
nearly two-thirds,as we have in Nebraska,
and tell the people il they will make it
unanimous, you will try to do something.
It won't do, my friends. Those who
are the majority must bear the RESPONSE
bility, as they will be entitled to the
credit for what is done. want to urge
upon those who have been successful in
the local contests Of this csmpa gn the
necessity Of making these States which
they control the bright and shining
States OF the union, whose laws will be
an example for other States. | want
those in charge in these States which we
control, to make their laws'sO good that
even the Eastern brethren can take them
and 90 before the people and ask their
autfrages upon the laws which we have
enacted and put into operation.
"Let it be known to the nation that in
the States which we control, that we
expect to follow the motto Of equality
before the law; that we expect to protect
every dollar invested in the State, and
that while we protect the corporation
from injustice and hostility, we shall
protect the people from the greed and
Rvarice of those who refuse to recognize
the rights Of others besides themselves.
And IL we place ourselves upon this firm
foundation, and allow neither prejudice
nor favoritism to drive us from the strict
line of duty, believe, my friends, that
o start has been made that will spread
until throughout this union the people
will enjoy better laws than they enjoy
to-day.
"And just one thought in conclusion.
want ~ say to you, my friends, that not
only is il right for person to remember
the responsibility which he assumes, not
only is 1t right for the elected officer to
carry out the promises which he has
made, but [ want to suggest that the
people have been 80 awakened to the
study Of governmental questions during
the late campaign, that this is the worst
time in the world to forget to carry out
his pledges, and to betrsy the people
who elected him. When the people are
asleep, you can do anything; when the
people are awake, you had better watch
what you do. | am one OF those who
believes that man is better when he is
watched. In our State of Nebraska, and
I thlnk in yours, the constitution pro.
vides that no bill can become law un-
less it is voted upon, unless the roll ia
called, and unless majority Of all the
members elected vote for the law. That
is the law in our State. Now, the object
in calling the roll is simply to put man
on record. have seen it in Congress
where on rising vote, q man would vote
one way, and on a record vote he would
vote another way. Men are small boys
larger grown. do not believe that a
man ever gets too old to be the better
for being watched, and more than that,
\ believe that o man who means well
win DO glad 70 be watched, because he