Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-07-11
THE OPENING GUN.
It Is Fired by the Democrats at
Lincoln.

opening OF the QeIlOCTdlC pOiillSdi SdAA-
paign took place in Lincoln today.two rat
ifcation meetings, one in the afternoon,
conducted by the populists and silver re-
publicans of Nebraska, and one this even
ing, conducted by the democrats. w. }.
Bryan, C. A. Towne, General }. b. Weaver
and other leaders of the parties outlined
the work of the campaign in the interest
Of Bryan and Stevenson.
Probably 1900 people, a gooa portion
from distant oints in the state STATE .. ii st 4sa
leaders OF the parties to which they owed
allegiance, nearly 5000 people filling the
Auditorium in the afternoon, while 1000
gathered in the capitol grounds in the
evening. Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Towne spoke
at both meetings, although it was their in
tention to deliver addresses only at the
evening meeting, and their remarks, fore
casting, as they did, the fusion of the three
parties on the democratic national ticket
MIR. Stevenson, who is Mr.. Bryan's guest,
was somewhat indisposed and did not ap-
pear at the afternoon meeting. He was
present at the evening meeting, however,
and received an ovation.
At the afternoon meeting the speaker
Of Colorado, Cyclone Davis of Texas.
former Assistant Secretary of the Interior
M snsrs Df a wes Charles A. Io"ne and
Mr.. Bryan spoke last and only in re-
Spouse to repeated calls. He was wildly
cheered as Chairman Edmiston introduced
him as Mr.. Bryan of North America"
II feel almost as if 7 ought to apologize
for not being able TIC call myself a former
TSpuDilCaI, odtu MI ID Ill, oAiu ioAoA-
ter.
Mr.. Bryan then paid eloquent tribute to
General Weaver, c. A. Towne and Web
ster Davis, former republicans, saying that
''he wondered how the republican who Is
not tied to his party by office could reIuse
to leave the party and cast his lot with
those who believe in the Declaration Of
Independence here and in South Africa
also.
paign is begun so far as the tickets and
the platforms are concerned Mr.. Bryan
continued, land from now until election
day it will be the duty of every citizen to
take these issues before the country and
weigh them. 1t will be the duty of every
citizen to see where his duty lies. There
is a privilege in being an American citizen
and there is a responsibility commensurate
with the privilege. If we lived in a land
feel no responsibility for the action of that
king. But we live in a land where the peo-
pie determine the policy. We live in a land
where the citizen impresses his own opin-
ion upon the government, where the policy
of the government may be determined by
the vote of one citizen: And want 70
vote this fall. l want every citizen to SO
vote as he would vote if he knew that his
applause.) Remember what it means. You
vote in Nebraska and your vote may de-
termine the vote OF his state on the presi-
mine the result" Applause.) - -
When you go to the polls to tote re-
member that You are an American citi-
zen. - (Great ~applauSe.) Remember that
your vote may determine this nations
position and THAT this nation in a large
of the world. (Great a%pplause.) For 1874
years this nation has held before the
world the light of liberty. For more than
a century it has been an example to all
the world. You tell me that We can now
be Indifferent to what is going on? You
tell me that a man who lifts his voice
against the doctrine of imperialism lis
pleading the cause of the Filipino? I tell
you he lis pleading the cause of 20, 900, 900
American citizens, aye, he is cham
pioning the rights of the struggling
masses of the world. who look to Amer
ica for example. (Great applause and
cheeling.) If every Filipino We're to
Gle, the world would go on, but if this
nation, the greatest republic of the
worlds history, puts out it's lights: if
his republic turns its back to the doc
trines which we loved a century and a
quarter ago, then to what nation of the
world cam the people look for hope and
inspiration? So you ought to be proud
that you are an American citizen and
are able to say, If the republic goes
down, l ann not to blame for its down
fall
At the afternoon meeting Mr.. Bryan
and Mn. Stevenson We're given ire
mendous greeting by the crowd. Both
were eheered again and again as they
appeared ON the platform.
Mr.. Towne delivered the most ex-
tended speech of the evening meet
ing, outlining the campaign arguments
On which the democratic party viii
fight the campaign Of 1900. Mr.. Town
gave his first attention to the monetary
question. admitting that the issue had
chEa'nged i'm Importance since 1896, buj
insisted that it was still a live issue
and that the principles of bimeta,tsn
are as true now as in 1896. Trust:
were denounced as an inherent part O
the republican administration. accumu,
lated wealth a already inaugu.atet