The Portland daily press., 1900-07-11
BRYAN BEGINS TO TALK.
S tream Will Flow Un-
ceasingly Now.
Informal Opening Democratic Cam
paign al Lincoln.
"Vice President" Stew
enson Speaks.
.'Vice President TOwne Also
Lends His Voice.

Lincoln, Neb., July 10.-The informal
opening of the Democratic Presidential
campaign took place in Lincoln today.
In ratification meetings, one in the after
noon, conducted by the Populists and
Silver Republicans of Nebraska, and
one this evening conducted by the Demo
Gratis, William J. Bryan, Charles A.
ToWne, General James b. Weaver and
other leaders of the parties, outlined the
work of the campaign in the interest of
Bryan and Stevenson. Probably 10, 600
people listened to the speeches. Mr..
Bryan and Mr.. Towne spoke at both
meetings. Mr.. Stevenson who is Mr..
Bryan S guest, was somewhat indisposed
and did not appear at the afternoon
meeting. He was present at the evening
meeting however, and received an ova-
tion. At the afternoon meeting the
speakers were Mr.. Bryan, Congressman
ShafTorth of Colorado, Cyclone" Davis,
of Texas, Former Assistant Secretary of
the Interior Webster Davis, Charles A
Towne and General James b. Weaver.
Mr.. Bryan spoke last and only IN response
to repeated calls.
Il feel almost as if I ought to apollo
gize for not being able to call mys elf
former Republican" said Mr.. Bryan
amid laughter. Mr.. Bryan then paid
eloquent tribute to General Weaver,
Charles A. Iowne and Webster Davis,
former Republicans
Il simply want to say now that the
campaigning is begun so far as the tickets
and the platforms are concerned, Mr..
Bryan continued, and from now until
IL
citizen to take these issues before the
country and weigh them. If we lived in
a land where a king thought for us, we
would feel no responsibility for the ac
tion of that King. But we live in a land
/ where the people determine the policy.
We live in land Wbee he citizen I'M
presses his own opinl0n upon the gov
ernment where the policy Of the govern
ment may be determined by the vote OF
one citizen. And l want to leave q
thought with those who are to vote this
fall. I want every citizen to SO vote as
be would vote If be knew that his vote
wouli determine this next election. Gap
plause.)
When you get to the polls to vote re-
mem Der that you are an American citi-
zen. (Applause. Remember that your
vote may determine this nations policy
and that this nation, VIII, ID a large
measure determine the public opinion Of
the world on the doctrine that govern
me nts come up from the people (Great
, applause J For 124 years this nation has
held before the world the light of liber-
ty. For more than century it has been
an example to all the world. You tell
me that we can now be Indifferent to
what is going onf You tell me- that a
man who lifts his voice against the doc
trine of Imperialism is pleading the cause
of the Filipino? 1 tell you he is pleading
the cause OF seventy millions of Ameri-
can citizens, aye, he is champion1ng the
rights the strug Cling masses OF the
world who look to America for example
(Great applause. If every Filipino were
to die the world would go on, but this
nation, the greatest republic Of the
WOrld'S S history, puts out its light. If
this republic turns its back to the doc
trine which we loved a century ago, then
to what nation of the world can 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 I am not to
blame for its downfall. (Great applause. y
At the evening meeting Mr.. Bryan
and Mr.. Stevenson were given q tremen-
dous greeting by the crowds.
IoWne delivered the most extended
speech of the evening meeting, outlining
this campaign arguments on which the
Demo cratic party will fight the cam
paign Of 1900. Mr. Iowne gave his first.
attention to the monetary question, in
sisting that it was still live issue
Trusts were denounced as an inherent
part of the Republican administration.
Continuing he said; We stand upon
the threshold of the campaign OF 1900
wherein the allied reform forces of the
country hope and intend to restore the
action of the federal government to the
principles OF Washington and Jefferson
No alliances or entanglements abroad
and at home, equal rights for all, special
privileges to none
tt4hn rpnHhIlC is in OTpaf NqnUnT
the midst Of social questions OF gravest
complexion to whose solution are re-
quisite the best intellect and loftiest pa
triotism of this country, the vigilance OF
the people is re-taxed by the occurrence
of war whose noble inception has dis
gutsed It's consequences until, within the
little space Of two years, we have tray
elled further and further from our old
ideals Already we are in the very
shadow OF the empire"
Mr.. Iowne criticised the attitude of
this government toward the people of
Porto Rico and the Philippines.
We are plliDg up expenditures by the
hundreds of millions on land and sea ia
order to make commercial returns in
thousands.
Mr. Towne was followed by Mr.. Bry-
an who was introduced amid tremendous
applause. He spoke as follows:
/ =" On GhreesOccasiOns since 1896 the peO-
pie Of Nebraska have declared their ad-
herenoe to the political principles for
which I have been contending. II ac-
cept this as an evidence of their sbeadrast
devotion to the principles to which have
been welded. ! do not care to enter at
the present time upon discussion OF the
issues presented by the platform. I can
say, however, that it is In my judg- |
ment, the greatest platform adopted In
recent years, If nat In the history of the
country. It is a gTeatera platform than
the Chicago platform, for it endorses the