The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-11
FIRST GUN OF THE
CAMPAI OPENS
Bryan on Privilege and Duty
OF the Citizen.
WHAT 0NF VOTE MANS
WHAT ONE VOTE MEANS
Upon it Sometimes Hangs the Fate of
the Nation.
THO RATIFICATION MEETINGS HELD
One by the Populists and Silver Republicans Of
Nebraska, One by the Democrats. Re-
marks Force sting Fusion Of the
Three Parties Cheered.
(By the Associated Press. 5

(By the Associated Prass.)A
Lincoln, Neb., July 1O.-The informal
opening of the Democratic Presidential
campaign took place in Lincoln today At
two ratification meetings, one in the af-
ternoon conducted by the populists and
Silver Republicans of Nebraska, and one
this evening conducted by the Democrats.
William Jennings 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 thirteen
thousand people, good proportion from
distant points in the State, Listened 20
the speeches and raid homage to the
leaders of the parties to which they own
ed allegiance, nearly 5000 people packing
the auditorium in the afternoon while
10000 gathered in the capitol grounds in
the evening. Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Towne
spoke at both meetings, although it was
their intention to deliver addresses only
at the evening meeting, and their re-
marks, forecasting as they did the fusion
of the three parties on the Democratic
national ticket were received with un-
bounded enthusiasm. Mr.. Stevenson, who
disposed, and did not appear at the af-
ternoon meeting. He was present at
the evening meeting, however, and re-
ceived an ovation.
The afternoon speakers were Mr.. Bry-
an, Congressman Shafroth of Colorado,
Cyclone" Davis of Texas, former AS
sistant Secretary of the Interior Webster
Davis, Charles A. Towne and General
nv Ia q
and only in response to repeated calls.
He was wildly cheered as Chairman Ed
mission introduced him as Mr.. Bryan of
North America"
81 feel almost as if l ought to apollo
gize for not being able to call myself
a former Republican" said Mr.. Bryan
amid laughter. Mr.. Bryan then paid elo-
quent tribute to Gen. Weaver, Charles A.
Towne and Webster Davis, for Republic
cans, saying that he wondered how the
Republican who is not tied to his party
by office could refuse to leave the party
and cast his lot with those who believe
in the Declaration of independence here
and in South Africa Also
81 simply want to say now that the
campaign is begun so far as the tickets
and platforms are concerned Mr.. Bryan
continued, land from now until election
day twill be the duty of every citizen
to take those before the country and
weigh them 1t will be the duty of every
citizen to see where his duty lies There
is privilege in being an American citi-
zen, and there is a responsibility COM
mensurate with the privilege. If we liv-
ed In a land where a king thought for us,
we would feel no responsibility for the
action of that king. But we live in a
land where the citizen impresses Lis own
opinion upon the Government, where the
policy of the Government may be deter
mined by the vote of one citizen And
l want to leave thought with those
who are to vote this fall. / want every
citizen to so vote as he would vote if he
knew that his vote would determine this
next election. (Applause.) Remember
what it means. You vote in Nebraska
and your vote may determine the vote
of this State on the Presidential ticket
and your State may determine the re-
suit. (Applause).
when you get to the polls to vote,
remember that you are an American
citizen. "Applause). Remember that
your vote may determine this nations
position and that this nation will, in a
large measure, determine the public opin-
ion of the world on the doctrine that
Governments come up from the people.
Great applauSe). For 124 years this
nation has held before the world the
light of liberty For more than a GEN.
fury 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 is
pleading the cause of the Filipino? ]
tell you he is pleading the cause OF
10000 900 American citizens, aye. he Is
championing the rights of the struggling
masses of the world who look to Amer
lea for an example. Great applause).
If every Filipino were to die the world
would go on but if this nation, the
greatest republic of the worlds history
puts out it's light, if this republic turns
back to the doctrine which we loathed
a century and a quarter 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 Amer
lean citizen, and are able to say IF the
Republic goes down, l am not to blame
for its downfall. Great applause).
At the evening meeting Br. Bryan and
Mr. Stevenson were given tremendous
greeting by the crowds. Both were
cheered again and again as they appear
ed on the platform. Mr.. Towne deliver
ed the most extended speech of the even
ing meeting, outlining the campaign ar
guments on which the Democratic party
will fight the campaign of 1900 Mr.
Towne gave his first attention to the
monetary question, admitting that the is
sue had changed in Importance since
1896, but insisting that it was still a
live issue, that the principles of bi-met-
allism are as true now as they were in
1896 Trusts were denounced as an in
herent part of the Republican Admins
tration.
Mr. Towne devoted considerable atten-
tion to Imperialism, condemning the
course of the Administration.
Mr.. Towne was followed by Mr.. Bryan,
who was introduced amid tremendous ap-
plause. He spoke as follows:
81 am deeply grateful to the good peo-