The Van Buren press., 1899-04-22
On THE OLD PLATFORM.
Mayer Harrison Tells His ParfT Where
be stands-Silver Democrats
Gather At Milwaukee.

we're perhaps more deeply concerned -
70 the position Mayor Harrison Of Chi
c&go would take in his address than they
were in the uttsrsnces of Nr. Bryan.
The fact that il had been announced
that Harrison had about abandoned the
silver plank of the Chicago platform
and was eoquetting with Croker. gives
special interest 70 his speech.
Mayor Harrison did not refer TO Is
to in exact terms. bat he did laud
Bryan and declare thstthe campaign Of
1850 must be fought on the lines laid
down In 1895. He spoke as fellows:
1t lies in the power Of the young
Democracy Of the nation If it will but
set to work in the first trenches 10 carry
forward the crusade Of purity in politics
until corruption shall have been driven
from high places. until honesty shall
control in every department OF the
municipal. the state. the national gov
eminent. Stalwart young Democracy
need not look far for an incentive. The
example Is set for it in the person OF our
national leader. Two years ago the
party made its fight under a leader with
private life 80 stainless. with personal
character so blameless. the people fol-
lowed him and follow him still with
such zeal as the Crusaders displayed in
the Palzdins Of old.
Ours Is the party Of the people.
Uuless we serve the people honestly and
fairly We are faithless to our trust.
Duty requires us to strike the first blow
az corruption within our own party
ranks. Let the word 20 forth the
Democracy will not tolerate 4 man. no
matter how profuse his professei devo
ton 70 the party creed. who does not
place his obligation TO the public above
any and every personal consideration.
II Democracy means anything il means
the honest service of the people. No
man can Be Democrat whose integrity
is not above suspicion. He who seeks
public Office for private gain Is traitor
20 everything for which Democracy
stands. and for him there should Be no
place within the party ranks Il should
Be the duty Of every true Democrat TO
scourge him from the temple of the
party faith.
In 1890 bitter struggle awaits rs.
The old fight must Be made again. 8
fght along the lines laid down in the
platform OF the last Democratic eonven-
ton for the rights of the plain people ;;
fight against corruption and al lis
awful menace 20 the republic; fight
against the trusts that seek % make OF
this nation. founded upon the theory Of
absolute equality Of all men. a serfdom
submissive TO the power and the ar
rogznce o. wealth, fight for every
thing that will lift the p4Ople higher
= heht against everything that will re
strain the pubhc in the onward march
OF It's triumphant destiny II we re
main true TO the theory and the practice
Of what Democracy means and stands
for there Is 10 need TO doubt tbs sue
cessf1l issues Of the combat.
Col. Bryan attacked the trusts and
imperialism, and on the silver question
said:
I'VE are now near enough 70 the
next campaign TO Be able 10 form some
idea OF the lines along which the contest
viii be fought. and sm taxing no risk
when say that those who in 1896 gave
their allegiance TO the Chicago platform
are a. united today in the determination
that no step taken in 1896 shall be re-
traced. Suggestions that We abandon
the money question sometimes comes
from those who deserted the party in
1886, bat those suggestions are not sup
ported by evidence tending to show
that the position in 1895 was wrong.
but are predicted upon the theory that
the position which the party once lost
can never be revived. and it seems most
strange that this argument Is made by
those who have followed 3 different
course in the past.