The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-12
The Ballot Can be turned Against the Fec
re ''as an Engine of Destruction,"


/ beg YOU TO remember II is because Of
the startling and somewhat unusual ma
ture OF the announcement your commit
tee has just made.
I suppose the first thing In order, ana
according to custom with me- Is TO say
/ approve your action and again most
heartily endorse your nominee.
This IS about the first wave Of pros
perity. or evidence OF the restoration or
confidence / have had.
/ have been under promise for the last
eight years to make the kind Of speech
Won will expect OF me tonight: That II
has been postponed has been no fault
Of mine. ] have been asked If ! would
make al this time the speech I have
promised on former occasions. Wen. II
Is a very good one: better than the one
I am going to make. but ! will forego
tho pleasure. II has proved such a good
keeper. and 7 am in such charitable
frame OF mind. | believe | will turn II
over to my successor. and hope he VIII
keen IL as n talisman Of certain success.
If IS late. and you have other important
work 10 do therefore ! will consume but
little Of your time. in fact. IL Is dif1cult
for me TO find words even Tor "A snort
speech. ] can but family express my FEEL
ings. I realize more than ! have ever
feels what the lips cannot utter. This is
indeed one Of those occasions
1 rejoice that the friendly contest IS
over. and from this hour We will stand
together a united brotherhood, with our
banner waving over us, and a steady front
against any foe.
TRIBUTE TO THE FARMER.
I recognize that the honor you have
paid me is greatly due TO the fact that
the Democratic party Of virginia de-
sircs 10 make proper recognition 10 lnat
faithful band Of voters. the farmers VINO
have ever stood loyal and true 10 our
party. and 10 our State. In the name OF
my brother farmers, and in their behalf,
I make most profound and sincere ac-
knowl cdgments. and pledge for them
LOYALTY and devotion. only cquailed by
that they have shown In the past.
Then. too. ] feel that in some measure
this honor has come TO me as represen-
tative OF the great section Of our state.
I'm which 1 live and which meets ana
greets you at the gateway city with
such joyful welcome to-day. | pledge in
behalf of the brave, true-hearted men
from these mountains and valleys man.
Hesitation Of our appreciation Of the dis
tingushed recognition you have given us.
/ take the banner you have placed in
my hands. and with the commission YOU
have given me. and praying for the blcs-
sings Of Almighty God TO guide me. ] 30
forward I'm full confidence Of assured sue
cess. No selfish consideration Of ease
shall cause me TO fail to carry your ban
ner into every hamlet and village. every
mountain and valley. and every part and
section Of this grand old Commonwealth
and proudly will l proclaim TO all the no.
bic principles it represents.
l.. 10. rtIff a d
and burial Of every party that has ever
risen ND 10 confront IT, and that has. in
almost every conflict. received a majority
Of the peoples votes, who gladly recog-
nize II as their party, formed by them TO
mete out equal and exact justice to all
men with special privileges 10 none. a
marty which. I'm the last struggles with
a giant foe carried over one hundred and
fftv thousand votes I'm this State. and
over six and a half millions In the ma
ton. and which came within twenty
five thousand votes. II they had been pro-
perly distributed. Of carrying the Elec-
toral College. does not propose 10 lower
its creast or allow its banner TO tran In
the dust.
We make no apology for our adherence
20 the truths and principles 10 which we
are sacredly pledged for we believe the
welfare Of the countless millions Of earth
are concerned in the triumph Of these
principles.
TO BURST THE BANDS.
My views on the great and important
question Of the free and unlimited COIN
age Of silver and gold az the ratio of lG
10 l. without waiting for the aid or con-
sent Of any other nation. are so well
known that l need not reiterate them at
this time.
Who can fail to see that the tendency
Of the times is to drift away from ancient
mOmings and peTvcrt the very laws OF
God and nature. The individual and MS
interests are no longer valued. The sell
fish spirit of man. freed from the re-
straints Of personal responsibility Is com
bining In sOulless organizations, to crush
all private interests in its universal ana
all-emhracing arm Of greed. Even hu-
man life is regarded as worth but little
more than a baby's toy. The power OF
the Government itself and its fOstered
giants must and shall be minmizcd. the
dignity and the rights Of the individual
must be exalted.
We believe II to be our duty 10 burst
the bands and tear loose the letters that
bind us worse than tyrants' chains. 10
resist with all our might "a policy that
has well-nigh beltcd the globe in mourn
ing. and is fast putting the world in
tears. We want 10 drive away the clouds
that darken tho toilers home and put
sunshine and brightness there, as Wei
as in the abode of the rich. and let him
feel that what he has IS MS.
Politics. a lofty and noble science.
touching the people and involving most
momentous issues, has been left too long
TO the manipulations Of a few. The great
object-lessOn we have had of the bOasted
use of millions as campaign funds may
prove blessing in disguise. and may we
hone that this perVersiOn of the people
will, by such means, may arouse every
man TO feel as never before that the
privilege Of tho ballot Is a sacred trust.
to be used as a freeman dares. and not
as money wills. Thank Cod we are be
ginning TO see evidences that the people
are becoming aroused 10 their danger
that they are determined 10 take the
rcins in their own hands and look after
their own affairs They are beginning To
speak for themselves. and woe be the
party that dares TO trifle with their IN
tereSts.
Let us hope that we can educate our
people TO q high and proper appreciation
Of the privilege of American citizenship,
and show TO them that the ballot can be
used as "A weapon of protection and de-
fence. and turned against them as an
engine of destruction. This, i'm brief Is
true Democracy This was the object and
aim of the immortal founder of our party
when he breathed into il the spirit o.
liberty. These are the principles as
understand them. cOntcnded for ly the
great modern apostle Of human rights,
William Jennings Bryan.
STATE ISSUES.
But | am not going 20 discuss or elabo-
rate any subject that properly belongs to
the hastings. We may not all be agreed
on national questions, but there are sub
iocts about which there should be no
division. and on which we can all unite.
There are grave and responsible duties
resting upon us in the proper manage
IA aHnaHF