The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-08-14
CAMPAIGNS KEYNOTE
Sounded by the Democratic Lead
er in His Speech at
indianapolis.
PARAMOUNT ISSUE IS IMPERIALISM
Policy in the Philippines Exhaustive
ly Discussed by Bryan.
PEOPLE GOVERNED MUST CONSENT
Or the Government Is Not on Lines
Authorized by the Principles
of the American Reppb'
Iic--Appeal to the
Fathers.
PARAMOUNT ISSUE IS IMPERIALISM
PEOPLE GOVERNED MUST CONSENT

Following Is the speech delivered
by Mr.. Bryan at Indianapolis to the
committee which notified him Of his
nomination. for the presidency by the
Democratic convention at Kansas
City:
Mr.. Chairman and Members Of the
Notification Committee
shall, at an early day, and in a
more formal manner, accept the nom
inati0n which you tender, and shall
at that time discuss the various ques'
tions covered by the Democratic pla;-
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
paramount Importance in this cam
paign. .
When 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 an our
oppOnents have deliberately chosen TO
give to organized wealth predominat-
ing influence in the affairs of the gov
ernment, but l do assert that on the
important issues Of the day the Re
publican party is dominated by those
Influences which constantly tend to eie-
vate pecuniary considerations ana lg-
more human rights. In 1893 Lincoln
said that the Republican party be
lieved in the man and the dollar Dut
that In case of conflict 1t believed in
the man before the dollar This is the
proper relation which should exist be
tween the two. Man, the handlWOrk OF
God, comes first, money, the handl-
work Of man, is of inferior Importance.
Man is the master, money the servant
but upon all important questions today
Republican legislation tends to make
money the master and man the sery-
ant.
The maxim Of Jefferson, equal
rights to all and special privileges to
none" and the doctrine OF Lincoln
that this should be a government "OI
the people. by the people and for the
people" are being disregarded, and
the instrumentalities Of government
are being used to advance the inter
ests Of those who are in a position 10
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 1t 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 a civiliza-
ton in which every member Of society
will share according to his merits.
No one has a right to expect from
society more than a fair compensation
for the service which he renders to
society. If he secures more 1t 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 a compara-
lively small, but politically and iinan-
cially powerful. number who really
r->4t nv ReDrLlicsp poljeios but with