Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-07-12
CAMPAIGN IS OPENED.
Democratic Leaders Forecast the
Work at Lincoln, Neb.
The SPEECH OF WILLIAM ]. BRYAN.


Lincoln, Neb., July 1.-THE infor
NAL opening of the democratic presi
Dental campaign took place in Lon
coin yesterday. In two ratification
meetings, one in the afternoon con
Quoted by the populists and silver re
publicans of Nebraska and one in tn
evening conducted by the democrats
W. j. Bryan, Charles A. Towne, Gen
j. B. Weaver and other leaders of thu
parties, outlined the work Of the cam
paign in the interest Of Bryan ant
Stevenson. Probably 10000 people, I
good portion from distant points il
the state, listened to the speechel
and paid homage to the leaders Of thu
parties to which they owed allegiance
Nearly 1900 people packed the Audi
torium in the afternoon, while 10000
gathered in the capitol ground in thu
evening. Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Town'
spoke at both meetings, although Il
was their intention to deliver adj
dresses only at the evening meeting
and their remarks, forcasting as they
did the fusion Of the three parties or
the democratic national ticket, wer.
received with unb0unded enthusiasm
Mr.. Stevenson, who is Mr.. Bryant
guest, was somewhat indisposed ant
did not appear at the afternoon meet
ing. He was present at the evening
meeting, however, and received ar
ovation. At the afternoon meeting
the speakers were Mr.. Bryan, Con
gresham Shafroth, Of Colorado; ICY
clone" Davis, of Texas; Former As
sistant Secretary of the Interior Web
ster Davis, Charles A. Towne and Gen
J. B. Weaver.
II feel almost as II ought te
apologize for not being able to cal
myself a former republican, said Mr.
Bryan, amid laughter. Mr.. Bryan
then paid eloquent tributes to Gen
Weaver, c. A. Towne and Webster
Davis, former republicans, 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. sim
ply want to say now that the cam
paign is begun so far as the tickets
and the platforms are concerned,
Mr.. Bryan continued, "and from now
until election day it will b. 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 IL
privilege in being an American citi-
zen and there is a responsibility com
mensurate with the privilege. If WI
lived in a land where king thought
for US we would feel no responsible.
ity for the action of that king. But
we live in a land where the people
determine the policy. We live in a
land where the citizen impresses his
own opinion upon the government,
where the policy of the government
may be determined by the vote of one
citizen. And want to leave a
thought with those who are to vote
this fall. | want every citizen to SO
vote as he would vote if he knew his
vote would determine this next cleo
ton"
At the evening meeting Mr.. Bryan
and Mr.. Stevenson were given a ire
mendous greeting by the crowds
Towne delivered the most extended
speech of the evening meeting, out
lining the campaign arguments on
which the democratic party will fight
the campaign of 1900. Mr.. Towne
gave his first attention to the mon
etary question, admitting that the
issue had changed in Importance since
1896, but insisting that it was still
a live issue and that the principles OF
bimetallism are as true now as in
1896. Trusts were denounced as an
inherent part of the republican adj
ministration, accumulated wealth had
already inaugurated period of ma
tional decay, and to the reform
forces of the country must the peo-
pie look for relief.
Mr.. Towne was followed by Mr.
Bryan, who was introduced amid tre-
mendous applause. He spoke as fol-
lows: 81 am deeply grateful to the
good people Of this city and state for
their very cordial approval OF my
nomination. -Four years ago the state
gave me about $4,000 plurality and on
three occasions since that time the
people of Nebraska declared their adj
herence to the political principles for
which | have been contending. | am
not vain enough to believe that their
support is meant as a personal COM
pliment. accept it as an evidence OF
their devotion to the principles to
which | have been welded. We enter
this campaign under conditions far
more favorable to success than those
which surrounded us in 1896. But
whether we win this year or not, the
fight must be continued until or
ganized wealth ceases to control the
:, No;,, 80 tho nation md IL nuain be-