The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-03
THE SECOND BATTLE
Is ALREADY ON
Bryan Says the Spanish War Will
Be the Death of the Re-
publican Party.
oU1SvILLE, June 2-Several hun-
dr,d bimetallists from all parts of

TT OU1SVILLE, June 2-Several hun-
dr,d bimetallists from all parts of
N the United States broke bread to-
night with William Jennings
Bryan at the dollar-banquet at Fountain
Ferry. 1t was given by the executive COM
mittee in charge of the convention (Ohio
Valley League of Bimetalic clubs).
Joe Blackburn, as toastmas ter Introduced
with few well-ftting remarks, Mr.. Bryan,
who responded to ''The Second Battle" He
said in part as follows:
Have Fought One Battle
you have asked me to respond to The
Second Battle We have had one battle
and it was a great battle, fought on a hill,
in full view of the nations of the world.
Why was it that it was watched with such
suspense all over the earth? Was it merely
because it was a conflict between American
ideas? No, it was because we were fight
ing for a change in the very principles of
government We were working to make
a democracy. We fought a great battle
and we had a grand army. Some of you
have fought with little pay. For all that
l have done in life 1 have received the pay
as l went along. 1 received more than
you. But in every army there must be
privileges as we'll as gains.''
Mr.. Bryan then recounted the money in
fluenees which he said had brought about
defeat.
But I say to you that 1 had rather be
at the head of that army of six and one
half millions, God bless them, and go down
never to be known again, than to win
such victory that was won at the last
election
Mr.. Bryan then spoke al some length of
democrats who had left the party in 1896
and advised that all who wished to return
he warmly welcomed but no compromise
be made.
He then proceeded to a discussion of the
Chicago platform with the statement:
But destiny has come to our rescue with
new questions and new issues"
He declared that the republican party
had cast overheard as worthless ballast
the declaration of independence He quot
ed extracts from Abraham I.ncoln's
speeches and work as being against the
policy of expansion and then said:
Il believed in the Spanish war, which the
democratic party favored, although it
knew everything would accrue to the other
side. l believe the Spanish war will be the
death of the republican party.
I'm the first place it has done away with
all sectional feeling. The sons of those
who wore the blue nave mafcneu sue Dy
side with the sons of those who wore the
grey The question of federal or confed-
crate can no longer be raised. And fur
thermore the war has shown the people
the policy of the party in power When
the children of Israel were in bondage
their hearts were touched by the death of
first born and it would seem that parts OF
our financial Pharaohs would be touched
by the death of our children who are be-
ing slain in the Philippines to emphasize
the republican policy that dollar is worth
more than human life"
He concluded his address with the words;
MY friends, the second battle is already
on, and whether we win victory in 1900, or
four or eight or twelve years, or whether
we never win it, we must fight for prin-
ciples now and ever"