Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-01-26
THE ELOQUENT BRYAN
Delivered Two Speeches In Dem
YER, Colorado.

yer, Colorado.
Denver, Col, Jan. 17.-COl. W. j
Bryan made two public speeches il
Denver today, both of which were list
ened to by audiences only limited b.
the capacity of the audltoliums- TIL
first was at O'Clock in the hall of tn
House of Representatives, to whicl
only those who held tickets were ad
mitted. The other was at 8 O'Clock
at Coliseum Hall, the largest room
in the city, where thousands struggled
for standing room, while other thou
sands turned away disappointed in no
even getting a glimpse of the grea
silver champion.
In his address before the Legislature
Mr.. Bryan devoted most of his time t.
a discussion of the duties of legislator
and other public officers whom he de
signated servants, not masters of th'
people.
After this address Mr.. and Mrs
Bryan repaired to the residence of Gov
Thomas, where they were entertained
at dinner, at which half dozen of the
leading Democrats in the State, in
cluding ex-Govs. Grant and Adams
and number of ladies, were guests
The crowds which greeted Mr.
Bryan at Coliseum Hall tonight began
gathering at o'clock, four hours be.
fore the time set for the meeting. AT
s o'clock, when Hon. Milton Smith,
chairman of the State Central Com
mittee, called for order, there were
5000 persons in the hall and as many
more on the outside pressing for ad-
mission.
Gov. Charles s. Thomas was pre-
scented as chairman of the meeting,
and in an eulogistic speech he intro
duced Col. Bryan, who was received
with prolonged applause. Mr.. Bryan
spoke, in part, as follows:
THE Bible tells us that Ahab, the
King, wanted the vineyard of Naboih
and was sorely grieved because the
owner thereof refused to part with
the Inheritance of his fathers. Then
followed plot and false charges were
preferred against Naboth to furnish an
excuse for getting rid of him.
{. hnl
shalt not bear false Witness Thou
shalt not kill-three commandments
were broken, and still fourth, Thou
shalt not steal to be broken, in order
to get little piece of ground. And
what was the result ? When the King
went forth to take possession, Elijah,
that brave old prophet of the early
days, met him and pronounced against
him the sentence of the Almighty, In
the place where the dogs licked the
blood of Naboth, shall dogs lick thy
blood, even thine
Neither his own exalted position
nor the loWly station of his victim
could save him from the ayenging hand
of outraged justice. His case was
tried in a court where neither wealth
nor rank nor power can shield the
"Wars of conquest have their origin
in covetousness, and the history of the
human race has been written in char
acters of blood because rulers have
looked with longing eyes upon the
lands of others. Covetousness is prone
to seek the aid of false pretense to car
ry out it's plans, but what it cannot
secure by persuasion it takes by the
sword.
Senator Teller's amendment to the
intervention resolutions saved the
Cubans from the covetOusness of those
who are so anxious to secure posses
sion of the island that they are willing
to deny the truth of the declaration OF
our own Congress that the people of
Cuba are and of right ought to be
free. -
Mr. Bryan then proceeded to apply
the story of Naboth to the Philippine
question and argued that a war of con
quest would be wrong IN principle, az
we'll as expensive. and as harmful te
the people of the United States as tt
the Filipinos. He spoke at considera'
BILE length, and concluded as follows
"lmpel ialism might expand the ma
ton Is territory, but it would contract
the nations purpose. 1t is not a stel
forw ard toward broader destiny; it i
step backward toward the narroy
views of Kings and Emperors.
"Dr. Taylor has appropriately ez
pressed it In his creed Of the flag
| when he asks:
Shall we turn to the old world agai
With the penitent prodigal's cry?
81 answer, never. This republic
not wayward son; it has not spent il
substance in riotous living. 1t is nc
ready to retrace it's steps, and wit
shamed face and trembling voice solic
an humble place among the servants
royalty. 1t has not sinned again
heaven, and God grant. that the crow
ed heads of Europe may never have o
casion to kill the fatted calf to con
lmemorate it's return from reliance u
on the will of the people to dependent
upon the authority which flows fro
regal birth or superior force.
1--WE cannot afford to enter upon
Icolonial policy. The theory upt
which government is built is ma
| ter of vital Importance. The nation
Idea has been a controlling influen
upon the thought and character of t
} people. Our national idea is one
/ self-government and unless we
ready to abandon that idea forever, '
cannot ignore it in dealing with t.
Filipinos.
"That idea is entwined with o.
, traditions; it permeates our history;
is a part of our literature. That id
t has given eloquence to the: orator al
inspiration to the poet. Take fro