The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-08
Says Contest is Between Democ-
racy and PIutocracy.
ANTI-IMP ERIALIS
Democratic Party Advocates
Peaceful Expansion of Trade.
Partisanship Blinds Republicans
to Present Dangers.

nomination for president, William J.
bryan spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Members of the
Notification Committee:
I shall at an early day, and in more
formal manner, accept the nomination
which you tender, and I shall at that
time discuss the various questions COW
cred by the Democratic platform. 1t
may not be out of place, however. to,
submit a few observations at this time
upon the general character of the con-
test before u.s. and upon the question
which is declared to be of paramount
Importance in this campaign.
When 1 say that the contest of 1900
is a contest between democracy on the
one hand and plutocracy on the other,
! do not mean to say that all our OPP
pOnentS have deliberately CHOSEN TO give
to organized wealth a predominatlng in
huence in the affairs Of the government,
but do assert that on the important
issues of the day the Republican party
Is dominated by THOSE influences which
constantly tend to elevate pecuniary
considerations and ignore human rights.
In 1883 Lincoln said that the Republi-
can party believed in the man and the
dollar. but that in case of conflict it
believed in the man before the dollar.
This is the proper relation which should
exist between the two. Man, the hand1-
work of God, comes first; money, the
handiwork of men, is of inferior import
ance- Man is the master; money the
tions today, Republican legislation tends
TO make money the master and man the
servant.
The maxim of Jefferson, Equal rights
to all and special privileges to none"
and the doctrine Of Lincoln that this
should be a government ''Of the people,
by the people, and for the people, are
being diSreSarded and the inStrum entail
tiles Of government are being used to
advance the interests of those who are
in a position to secure favors from the
government.
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 the
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 respected. Democracy
strives for a civilization in which every
member of society will share according
to his merits
No one has a right to expect from
society more than fair compensation
for the service which he renders to So
ciety. If he secures more it is at the
expense of someone 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, tres
pass upon the rights of another, the
Democratic party says. 'TThou shalt
not
BLINDED by RarrlSanSh1p.
Against US are arrayed a COMPARE
lively small, but politically and finan-
cially powerful, number who really
profit by Republican policies; but with
them are associated a large number
who, because of their attachment to the
party name, are giving their support
to doctrines antagonistic to the former
teachings of their own party. Republi-
cans who used to advocate bimetalliSm,
now try to convince themselves that the
gold standard is good; Republicans who
were formerly attached to the green
back are now seeking an excuse for Civ
ing national banks control of the ma
tion's paper money; Republicans who
used to boast that the Republican party
WAS paying off the national debt, are
now looking for reasons to support a
perpetual and increasing debt; Republi-
cans who formerly 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 obscure; Republicans who. in
times past, congratulated the country
upon the small expense of our standing
army, are now making light of the OBJ
5ections which are urged against a large
increase in the permanent military
establishment: Republicans who glOried
an our Independence when the nation
was less powerful, now look with favor
upon a foreign alliance; Republicans,
who three years condemned ''fOrci-
BILE annexation as immoral and even
criminal are now sure that it is both
immoral and criminal to oppose forcible
annexation That craftsmanship has al
ready blinded many to present dangers
is certain; how large a portion of the
Republican party can be drawn over to
the new policies remains to be seen.
For a time Republican leaders were
inclined to deny 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 crit
fcise a president during the progress of
the Mexican war.
Instead of meeting the issue boldly
and submitting clear and positive
plan for dealing with the Philippine
question, the Republican convention
adopted a platform. the larger part of
which was devoted to boasting and self
congratulation-
In attempting to press economic ques-
tons upon the country to the exclusion
ture of our government the Republican
leaders give new evidence of their
abandonment of the earlier ideals of the
party and of their complete -subserviency
to pecuniary considerations
Responsibility Must Be Recognized.
But they shall not be permitted to
evade the stupendous and far-reaching
issues which they have deliberately
brought into the arena of politics. When
the president, supported by practical
~ unanimous vote of the house and SEN
ate, entered upon a war with Spain for
the purpose of aiding the struggling
QalA4OtS VI &upds the country W1InOuI
regard to party, applauded Although
the Democrats recognized that the ad-
ADMINISTRATION would necessarily gain a
political advantage from the conduct of
q war which, in the very nature of the
case, must soon end in a complete vic
tory, they WED with the Republicans in
the support which they gave to the pres
1dent- When the war was, over and the |
Republican leaders began to suggest the |
propT1ety of a colonial policy, opposi- |
ton al once manifested itself. When the |
president finally laid before the senate a |
treaty which recognized the independ- Il