Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-14
NIL WAUkEE DEMOCRATS
Are Told How TO Be Saved by Colonel William
Jennings Bryan.

Milwaukee. Wis, April l3.-The JEFF
fersou club of Milwaukee observed the
natal day of the founder of Democ-
racv ~ 4 banquet at the Plankinton.
tonioht Col. VIM. J. Bryan of Ne
hra ska was the guest of honor and de-
livered the principal address. The
hannuat nan was beautifully decorated.
He smoke on Democracy" and said in
part:
I'VE are now near enough to the
naxt cannaipn 10 be able to form some
idea of the lines along which the con-
tast will no fought and | am taking no
risk when | say that those VINO in 1896
gave their allegiance TO the chicago
platform are as united, today, IN the
determination that no step taken in
1896 shall be retraced. That platform
applied 10 the condition then existing.
the principles which have been Demo-
cratic from the beginning of the gov
ernment Suggestions that we aban-
don the money question sometimes
coma from those who deserted the par
~ in 1896. but those suggestions are
nor sllpported by evidence tending to
show that the position in 1896 was
wrong but was predicated upon the
theory that the issue upon which the
Marty once lost can never be revived,
and what seems most strange. this ar
gument is made by those who have fol-
lowed a different course in the past.
The test ought to be not whether
the issue has been presented before,
but whether the position taken is right
If the gold standard was unmerited in
4 r.. m n
tenance was a detriment TO the inter
ests Of the people of this country then
il is a detriment now. If in 1896 il was
SO hurtful that the Republicans prom
ised to put forth their best efforts to
substitute international bimetallism
for it and after the election was still so
hurtful that the President sent COM
mission TO Europe TO secure foreign
aid in abandoning it, what has hap
pened since then to make the Amer
can people accept it as blessing?
The trusts are now absorbing an in
creasing share Of public attention be-
cause of their rapid growth during the
last 2 years. We had a sugar trust
and an oil trust. some years ago. we
now have a biscuit trust and match
trust and meat trust, in fact trust
in almost everything that is used. The
milk trust reaches the infant as he en-
ters the world. the ice trust cools him
in the summer. the coal trust keeps
him warm in the winter while the COT
fin trust waits to receive him when
life's fitful dream is over. The people
are beginning to see what the princl-
BE Of monopoly really means and yet
the principle Of monopoly. 50 plainly IL
Illustrated by the industrial trusts, does
not differ lit all from the principle ot
monopoly which underlies both the
gold standard ana the paper money
trusts.
The Democratic party Is prepared
70 face the future ana meet new issues
without abandoning the old. The f'e-
publican party has demanded that the
standing army be increased TO looooo
men. If citizens born in the United
States are ignorant of the burdens Oh
n standing army they can receive IN
structi0ns from those born in European
countries Many Europeans who are
now worthy citizens of this great re-
public left their European homes be
cause Of the burdens imposed by the
enormous military esta bllShments. "A
great army may be a good thing for the
railroad companies. which VIII carry
them from place TO place, and Tor the
large contractors who will furnish
fnod and raiment for the soldiers, but
it is a distressing burden upon inc
plain people of the country and espec-
tally upon the laboring men ana the
farmers upon whom an unfair snare OF
the load has fallen.
Upon the subject of Imperialism |
need not add a word. The idea or for-
chile conquest and Of colonization al
ter the plan adopted by European
countries cannot receive the support OF
the peple of this country when the
principles involved are clearly under
stood. In spite of the promises made
70 the people of India, 40 years ago
the people of India, today. complain
that the offices are filled by the
Younger sons of English. The policy
Of imperialism is always defended on
the ground that it is for the good OF
the people governed, but we have never
recognized the right of any nation to
benevolently assimilate another ma
ton"
Ex-senator John L. Mitchell of Wis
consin, devoted his entire address 10
an euIogv of Thomas jefferson. John
= Dohertv. Lacrosse. answered to the
sentiment: The Young Democracy;
Thomas |. Cleary. Platteville, TO far-
ty Honesty is Party Duty Garter n.
Harrison. Chicago, to corruption III
Politics." Mayor David 5. Rose, MIL
vaukee. TO "Imperialism:' Judge HI
ram W. Sawyer, Hartford Wis, to Shall
Trusts and Corporations Rule; ana
George w Peck to IF Soldier Does
Not Like His Rations-Wh How
ard {. TAYLOR. Chicago. read an original
poem on jefferson.