Evening journal., 1897-03-03


piause was deafening. He said:
BRYAN'S GREAT SPEECH.
Members Of the Legislature and
Ladies and Gentlemen: | esteem il a
high compliment to be invited by the
members of the Legislature to speak in
their presence on this occasion and
the fact that you have a Constitutional
Convention in session at the same time
makes this occasion more gratifying to
me. In speaking to you l want you to
feel that do not come as an instructor
or as one who assumes any authority
Of speaking for others, but in the study
Of any O. estion truth comes out CT COM
p1rison IDEAS, and those who are de-
sirous c .oing that which IS best should
always mt to hear anyone who has
given attention to a subject in which
they are interested. This Is one of the
smallest states in the Union, and yet
upon the Legislature assembled here
rests as much responsibility as upon
any other Legislature, and the Consti-
tutiCnal Convention, which is to frame
your Constitution, may not only speak
for the people of this state, but. If it
speaks wisely, may speak also for the
people of other states, if there is that
when it is once launched forth il
spreads. When people consider what is
best. they don't care what state il
comes from. The only question is, is it
good? Delaware is small in population
as compared with many states, and still
smaller In territory, being. | guess, the
second smallest in size and the small
est in population; yet, Delaware has
been so well-known to the people of
this country that we who live in the
West were not ashamed to be connected
with Delaware. / remember when ]
belonged to a hov's Senate I was known
for quite while as the senator from
Delaware. ] did my best to renresent
'he peonle of Delaware, although thev
did not know ANYTHING about IT.. don't
remember exactly what | said when ]
was smoking for them as a member OF
that little Senate, but I say now that J
believe that the best interests Of the
neople of Delaware will be found side
nv side with the best interests OF the
neople Of the great West-both middle
and far West. In fact, whenever we
come to the question OF the best legis-
lation there Is no section. because the
hest LEGISLATION is not legislation which
gives one section or one person an adj
vantage over other sections or other
versions; but the best legislation is that
which recognizes the rights OF all and
protects every citizen with an equal
hand. Ny idea Of government is that II
should approach as nearly as possible
TO perfection. and that the nearer il
approaches to absolute justice. the
nearer does it approach to perfection.
The nroprieties of the occasion viii
preclude any discussion OF any national
questions or any particular measure
| hut I can. without improprietv. invite
YOUR attention 10 the science of govern.
ment. Now if I smoke Of some matter
affecting the merchant I might evper
| merchants 10 be interested. If 7 ad
vanced a legal proposition the lawver
might naturally be Interested If
'alked on medicine I might reasonably
evnect the interest Of doctors. But
want to discuss y question which is q
interest to all. ! shall discuss govern
ment because we must all live unde
some kind of government. Every citi
zen I'm a land like this. where every citi
zen is a sovereign and no one cares Il
wear a crown. every question whicl
concerns government ought to be inter
esting to every citizen in the land
While what 7 say TO you may not com
| mend itself to your approval. we vii
ocmr9re ideas. and If 7 say anythini
rood I want You to accent it. ever
though il ccmes from the West; and I
7 say anything had 7 don't want YOU q
| acCent It, In other words, what 7 sa'
J ought to stand upon the merits Of tn
| argument presented. Every person WIN
has to do with government: those VIII
stand in representative position; ough
20 be interested in getting the best gov
srnment. In order TO get the best gov
. eminent we must examine closely tn
machinery and methods of governmen
and the laws as they are enacted; an
If we are going to measure either tn
machinery of government. or the laws
we must have a rule. That is absOlutel
essential. If you want to measure
piece Of land you must understand tn
! rule by which it is done. If you hav
: a rule which enables you to measur
/ one farm, you have rule which en-
ables you to measure all farms. Whe
YOU learn the rule which enables yo
- to measure pound of any article. yO
know the rule which enables YOU {
Z measure any number of pounds. I wal
- to give you some rules of universal al
[ Dlication by which you can measul
legislation-rules you should love an
o apply. no matter what party you belon
|. to. My observation is that men diff
e not so much in general principles Z
= general principles. but in general prime
/ Dles as to particular legislation. "
l. those people will make the best appl
l. cation Of the rules Of legislation, an
$ support the best legislation who mo
e carefully investigate every proposed a
d Of legislation. This one rule lies III
: derneath all other ones. II is not
, new one. l don't expect to give you ne
rules. They are as old as the Ten Cor
mandments, but even the Ten Cor
mandments have to be repeated ofte
y and when repeated often are sometim
l. forgotten. This rule / want you to co
n slider and apply to every subject whi'
If arises in connection with governmer
= 1t is found in the Declaration of Ind
% pendence. II reads that ''All men a
le created equal" Now some peoI
If imagine that when we talk OF all pc
le pie being created equal we are tryil
z to cqualize worldly possessions. TIL
"A ;. xro,.tr ff,r,, mon t,,fcfolra Some no