The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-08-16

or explanation to the people who are to
listen, for the fact that l must read
what am going to say. 1t would be
more pleasant to me and more agreea-
be to you to speak without notes. but
want to address the larger constitu-
ency which we reach through the news
papers, for it is a thousand times as
numerous as any crowd that could as
semble here; and, therefore, in order
that | may speak to ell througout the
land, have committed to writing what
1 desire to say and will ask for you"
Indulgence while read my speech"
He then read his address In part as
follows:
Mr.. BRYAN'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Chairman and Members of the No
tifcation Committee:
| shal at an early day and in a
more formal manner, accept the nomi
nation which you tender. and shall at
thnt Il. q discuss the various ques-
tions covered by the Democratic plat
form. 1t may not be out Of place, how
ever, TO submit a few observations at
this time upon the general character Of
the contest before US, and upon the
question which IS declared to be OF par
amount Importance in this campaign.
When | say that the contest Of 1900
10 contest between demccr.cy On til:
one hand and plutocracy on the tier
do not men to say that all of our op:
ponents have deliberately chosen tS
give to organized wealth a predominant.
i,or ,y,a &C..
ernment, but do assert that on tla
important issues of the day the Repub,
lican party is dominated by those in-
huences which constantly tend to ele,
vate pecuniary considerations and fg,
more human rights.
The Democratic party is not making
war upon the honest acquisition OF
wealth; it has no desire to discourage
industry, economy and thrift On the
contrary, it gives to every citizen tho
greatest possible stimulus to honest
toll, when it promises him protection
in the enjoyment of the proceeds OF
his labor. Property rights are most
secure when human rights are respect
ed. Democracy strives for civiliZa-
tion in which every member Of society
will share according to his merits.
No one has right to expect rom
for the service which he renders to So
ciety. If he secures more, it is at the
expense of some one else. 1t Is no in
justice to him to prevent his doing in
justice to another. To him who would,
either through class legislation or in
the absence Of necessary legislation.
trespass upon the rights of another.
the Democratic party says, "Thou
shalt not"
Against us are arrayed compare
lively small, but politically and finan,
cilly powerful number who really
profit by Republican policies; but with
them are associated larege number
who, because of their attachment to
the party name, are giving their sup
port to doctrines antagonistic to the
former teachings OF their own party.
Republicans who used to advocate BIZ
metallism now try to convince them
selves that the gold standard is good;
tached to the greenback areTnow seek
ing an excuse for giving national
banks control Of the nations paper
money; Republicans who used to boast
that the Republican party was paying
off the national debt, are now looking
for reasons to support perpetual and
increasing debt; Republicans who for
meTly abhorred a trust, now beguile
themselves with the delusion that
there are good trusts and bad trusts,
while in their minds. the line between
the two is becoming more and more OBJ
scure; Republicans who. in times pas,
congratulated the country upon the
small expense of our standing army
are now making light Of the objections
which are urged against Ia ,ge In.
crease in the permanent military fs-
tablishment; Republicans who sloried
in our Independent, when the nation
was less powerful, NV look with favor
upon a foreign alliance; Republicans
who three years ago condemned "for-
chile annexation" as immoral and
even criminal, are now re that it Ia
both immoral and criminal to oppose
forcible annexation. That partisan
ship has already blinded many to pres
ent dangers is certain; how large
portion Of the Republican party can
be drawn over to the new policies re-
mains to be SEEN"
For time Republican leaders were
inclined to depy to OppOnentS the right
to criticise the Philippine policy Of the
administration, but upon investigation
they found that both Lincoln and Clay
asserted and exercised the right to
cr;t;o;co precident during the DrO-