Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-04-20
national democrats, although they did nol
expect to carry a precinct in the United

national democrats, although they did nol
States.
=. They talk to us about harmony.
There can be no harmony between those
whose opinions are as antagonstic as the
TORN and the Indianapolis PLATFORM All
mat we ask is that those who come into
me democratic party shall be a part of the
democratic party. We simply insist that
u man cannot be a political bigamiSt. We
simply ask that he shall ret "A formal d-
Norce either from our or IRON their prin-
ciples. Our democratic party has a plat
FORM; 1t does not dsmay those who stand
those those who denounced IT two years ago.
The democratic party Is satisfactory 10
those who supported it in 1896
mat platform was written by the repre-
most democratic convention that has been
held In quarter of century. 1t is a
compliment to receive Il presidential nomi-
nation from amy national convention, but
am proud that my nomination came
from a convention. not of bosses, but of
democratic citizens. cloud applauseD 1t
mas ,vindicated that platform and every
plank of it is stronger today than it was
when the platform was written.
ne day for ambiguity has passed. That
platform means something. II you ask
me why in the campaign of 1896 the hearts
of the people We're stirred as they have
not been lately stirred. i will tell you that
II was because the struggling masses
found in that, platform an inspiration,
and aggregated wealth found in ii a men
ace to every man who robs his neighbor
Tor his own benefit.
10 was those who have entrenched Them
selves behind abuses of government who
OBJECTED to that government. and we'll
they might object. because that platform
was aimed at every abuse of government,
and l was glad that ! was supported by
nose who would have only asked me for
Just laws. am glad that the six millions
and a half who voted for me simply
wanted me to get other peoples hands
out of their pockets (applause). and not
to get their hands into other people $
pockets.
He charged the republican party
with arranging the war tax so that the
telegraph companies can transfer the
les shoulders to those of senders, and
in all of Its politics of putting the dol
lar above the man.
Continuing, Mr. Bryan said:
The republican party is not trying to re-
store justice in taxation The war has
shown that when this government deals
with an individual its power is unlimited,
but that when it deals with property it's
power is limited. II can draft the citizen,
but 1T cannot touch the dollar. In the hour
of peril the nation cum take the son from
his mother and the husband from his wife
anu StiHtl tlelH up III 'front.' OIL am enemy
guns, but it dare not lay Its finger upon
the wealth of the rich and make them
contribute their share. tremendous APP
plause and cheering)
The income tax is stronger than it was,
and it is placed upon the shoulders of the
poor, who have to carry the burden, but
IN the democratic party you can say there
Is one man who is willing to pay his
share cloud applause.j
My friends why should not people be
willing to bear their share of the burdens
of government? III in time of war your
country needs YOU, you are willing to give
Your ife's blood, why deny the nation it's
just due in time of peace?
Tho democratic party is a protector of
the. rich and the poor, and the party
which makes the rich bear their share Of
man than the party that takes his money
and sells him exemption. cloud applause
When Bryan had finished there was
II great rush to him on the platform
He was almost sutfocated in the crush.
1t required five policemen to force y
way through the crowd for him. He
shook hands on all sides. He held a
few minutes reception in side room.
where he shook hands with a number
of persons, and then with great diff.
Guilty he went down stairs. There was
a very large crowd here and Mr.. Bryan
had to make a short speech to the
gathering. He was enthusiastically
cheered as he got into carriage,
which started for the Hotel Bartholdi.
OF the dinner Mr.. Bryan said:
"Fhis is the greatest dinner ever at
tended. think it is the greatest ever
held in the United States. The hearts
OF the people are all right
MI. Bryan then referred to the
money question, saying:
I'VE declared for the ratio of 16 to 1
in 1896, and no party has risen to advo-
cate amy other ratio but 16 to /. Until
some other party proposes some other
ratio and tries to secure bimetalism
at some other ratio there is no reason
why we should discuss ratio with
them. When people ask us to drop our
fight on the money question and fight
the trust, remember that the repub-
ican party is today preparing to CT
ganize trust more potent for evil
than all the industrial trusts COM
bined."
Mr.. Bryan concluded with a de-
nunciation of militarism, and his ref
erence to the United States as a bully
for striking down The Filipino natives
created the greatest enthusiasm of the
night There was a mighty demon
stration when he said that it was this
country that had inspired the Filipino
with love of liberty.