The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-03-19
The Great Leader of the People Dis
courses ElOquently Upon the
General Principles of
Government.
The Regulation of Railroads IA Special
Feature of the Address-The Rela-
ton of Corporations to the
Government Clearly
Defined.

AS stated in the HERALD of lasl
week, Mr.. Bryan addressed a mag
nificent audience Wednesday night
at the Tabernacle in Nashville on
the money question.
Thursday at IL o'clock, pursuant
to an invitation previously issued,
he addressed the General Assembly
in the hall of the House of Repre-
sentatives. In few happy words
he was introduced by Governor Tay-
lor. When the applause had died
away, Mr.. Bryan began his address,
which was discussion of the gen.
eral principles of government, and
especially of the relation of corpora
tions to the government. The
speaker never once touched upon the
money question, and eliminated the
issues of the last campaign from his
speech as much as possible. His
address was in the nature of lee
ture to the members of the legisla-
ture, in which he impaired some
very wholesome advice.
He thanked them for the courtesy
which was shown by the invitation
to address them, and expressed his
appreciation Of the kindness which
had been manifested to him since
his stay there. He came to speak to
them not in the capacity of a de-
feated candidate or future candi-
date, but rather as private citizen
interested in the welfare of his
country, talking to them about mat
! fnr hif.h
citizens of this, the greatest nation
on earth. He invited their atten-
ton to certain principles of govern
ment which underlie all govern
ment in order that they might apply
those principles to all kinds of legis-
lation when called upon to act. He
said that these great principles were
found in the Declaration of indie
pendence. IF you ask me-" said
the speaker, upon what principle
this government is founded, reply
that that principle is found in that
immortal document, and that is,
that all men are created equal
After an elaboration of this idea the
speaker continued:
1T is not our purpose to give to
the idler the fruits of the indus
trious it is not our purpose to give
to the spendthrift the same reward
, that the man who is industrious and
economical can secure. What we
mean is government which
accords equal justice to all man.
kind, that all citizens shall have ar
, equal right, that all citizens are
equal in law, no high, no low, nc
rich, no poor, in the making and ii
, the enforcement of the law
: (Cheers.) That is the teaching OF
Jackson as [ understand it. That is
the teaching of Jefferson as under
stand it, and that must be the teach
ing of every person who believes il
. our form of government and believes
J in the principles upon which it il
founded. All the abuses of Govern
ment comes from failure to apply
those principles and to enforce the
laws. Jackson said in that message
) that there are no injustices neces
, sary in Government, that they al
; come from failure to apply thu
fundamental principles underlying
the Government. Good govern
f ment is blessing with alloy, anC
3 we who in this campaign have beer
, called Anarchists were overpowered
not because certain people wer,
afraid of any laXity of the admins
4 tration of the principles and laws
: but were afraid of their enforcement
> against the great offenders as well a
against the small ones. CHEERS.
There are no better friends o
2 Government thar those who preacl
q equality before the law. 1t has al
WAYS been true that this has beel
: opposed by people who profited b.
l. abuses of Government. 1t has al
{. ways been true that when peOpl
n succeed in engraving upon Gov
eminent vicious legislation by whicl
y they profit that they oppose thi
q very fundamental principle of Gov
eminent, and when the specia
privileges of these parties are re
o Stricted or taken from them they ar
p the first to cry out against misgOv
. eminent and misrule. (Cheers.)
it not natural for people having a
e advantage over their neighbOrs t
# seek to have those advantages in
D creased? Is it strange that thos
mentally more powerful should see
advantages over those who are men
e tally weaker"
: He applied this same rule to tn
!. financially strong and weak, an
- said that it was the history of gov
= ernment that those who are finar
Il cially strong will take advantage {
# their strength and seek to Overrid
: and Cypress those who are finar
!, cially weaker, and that it was tn
u duty of the legislator to stand be
Y tween the few who seek to use tn
: instrumentalities they possess, an
: the masses, who are too busy tryin
: to pay their taxes, and who have n
i funds with which to send Lobbyist
J., to the capitol to protect their inteI
ests. He declared that man ba