Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-04-14
BRYAN ON NEW AND OLD Is
SITES

The Jefferson Club, of Milwaukee,
observed the natal day of the founder
Of democracy by banquet at the
Plankinton House last night, attended
by over four hundred guests. Col.
VIM. J. Bryan was the guest Of honor,
and delivered The principal address.
Delegations OF democrats we're in at
tendance from many towns throughout
the State, and nearly all the democrats
from the State legislature were present.
Col. Bryan spoke on Democracy" He
said, in part:
1--WE are now near enough to the
next campaign to be able to form some
idea Of the lines along which the con-
test will be fought, and l am taking no
risk when l say that those who in 1896
gave their allegiance to the Chicago
platform are as united today in the de-
termination that no step taken in 1896
shall be retraced. That platform ap
piled to the conditions then existing,
the principles which had been demo
cratic from the beginning OF the gov
eminent. Suggestions that we aban
don the money question sometimes
come from those VINO deserted the par
" in 1896, but those suggestions are
not supported by evidence tending 10
show that the position in 1896 was
wrong, but was predicated upon the
i theory that the issue upon which the
party once lost can never be revived,
and what seems most strange, this ar
gument is made by those who have
followed different course in the past
In 1855 Mr. Cleveland was defeated
on the tariff issue, and yet the tariff
was made the main issue in 1892, and
Mr.. Cleveland was elected. Ia 1892
MIR. Harrison was defeated largely on
account OF the Mckinley bill, and four
years later the author OF the bill was
nominated on the platform reaffirmiDg
the belief in protection, and was sue
cessful, Thus it is seen that in two
instances recently losing issue in one
campaign because winning Is
sue in the campaign follow
ing. The trusts are now alb
sorbiDg an increasing share of public
attention because of their rapid growth
during the last two years. We had
sugar trust and an oil trust some years
ago. we now have biscuit trust and
match trust and meat trust, in fact
trust in almost everything that
is used. The milk trust reaches the in
FAINT a. he enters the world, the ice
| trust cools him in the summer. the coal
l., =, in, ha Ipf
while the coffin trust waits to receive
him when iife's ftful dream is over.
The people are beginning to see what
the principle OF monopoly really
J means, and yet the principle OF
monopoly, so plainly illustrated
by the industrial trusts, does not differ
at all from the principle of monopoly,
which underlies both the gold standard
and the paper money trusts. The
democratic party is prepared to face the
future and meet new issues without
abandoning The old. The republican
party has demanded that the standing
army be increased to 100000 men. If
citizens born in the United States are
ignorant OF the burdens OF standing
army, they can receive instructions
from those born in European countries.
Many Europeans who are now worthy
citizens Of this great rebublic left their
European homes because OF burdens
imposed by the enormous military es-
adjustments. A great army may be
good thing for the railroad companies
which will carry them from place to
place, and for large contractors who
will furnish feod and raiment for the
soldiers, but it is distressing
burden upon the plain people
OF the country especially upon the
laboring men and the farmers,
upon whom an unfair share of the load
mas fallen. The policy OF imperialism
il always defended on the ground that
it is for the good of the people govern
ed, but we have never recognized the
right of any nation to benevolently as
similate another nation"
Mayor Harrison, ofChicago, respond
ed TO the toast Competition in Poll
tics" and in the course of his speech he
eulogzed Bryan as the party's leader,
and sgid "in 1910 bite struggle
awaits US. The old fight must be made
again, fight along the lines laid down
in the platform of the last convention
for the rights of the plain people; t.
fight against corruption and all Its
awful menace u the republic, a fight
against the trusts that seek to make Of
this nation, founded upon the theory of
the absolute equality OF all men, serf-
dom submissive to the power and the
arrogance of wealth; fight for every
thing that will lift the people higher;
fight against everything that will re.
strain the republic in the onward |
march of its triumphant destiny"