Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-27


Kern. Defeated Candidate for
Governor of Indiana, Made n
Ringing Address to the Guests.
LINCOLN, Neb., December 26.-The
annual banquet of the J%effersonian
Club, of Lincoln, tonight. at the Lin
coin Hotel, brought together nearly
three hundred representative men of
the Democratic and Populist parties of
Nebraska, together with a number of
leaders from other States. William j..
Bryan made his first appearance at a
public gathering since the election and
the greeting accorded him was never
more hearty and spontaneous in his
home city. His address received the
closest attention and the applause was
frequent. Aside from the remarks of
Mr.. Bryan the event of the evening was
the speech or John w. Kern, defeated
Democratic candidate for Governor of
Indiana, who aroused the banqueters to
a high pitch Of enthusiasm, not only
by his l8udation of Mr.. Bryan, but by
his outspOken criticism OF those Demo-
Gratis whom he accused of contributing
to his (Bryan's) defeat. His denuncia-
ton Of Democrats who
Offered "~Gratutious Counsel
to the Democratic party" though he
mentioned no names, was accepted by
the crowd as a reference TO former Pres
ident Cleveland.
1t was after 10 o'clock when the din
fner was finished and the speaking be-
: gan.
Mr.. Bryan, whose subject was
Principles Live" said in part:
"At this banquet, surrounded by
neighbors who have been my friends
for ten years, may De ~pardoned for
saying a word OF a personal nature.
Five times you have voted for me
for public ofice-tWice for Congress,
once for the United States Senate and
twice for the PTesidency-and no can
didate ever received more loyal sup
port than you have given me.
whether l shall ever be a candi-
date for Office again is a question
which must be
Determined by Events
No n can speak with certainty of
the future, Tor ones destiny is not
known until his life's work is com
plete. l shall be content ii it is my
lot to aid in the triumph of the prin-
ciples while others enjoy the honors
and bear the responsibility of Office.
1.-THE holding of public Office should
be an incident and not the extreme aim
of the citizen. 1t should not be an
end, but the means for the accomplish
ment Of a purpose.
The Presidency seemed desirable
because it would have enabled nc %
give effective aid to certain reforms
which believe to be necessary to the
public welfare, but defeat, even a sec
ond defeat-does not lessen my inter
ests in this reform, and time may
prove that
My work is to
rather than to execute.
The Commoner will give me an op-
portunity to participate in public dis
cussions and | am sure that an editorial
pursuit will furnish as much inteIlec-
tuaf enjoyment as | could have found in
the White House, and in addition there
to will give me more time for home
pleasures.
The principles for which we con-
tended in the last campaign still live
and we who believe in them must con-
tinue to fight for them. An election
does not change principles; it only de-
termines what principles shall be for
bhe time being applied.
THE believers in tariff reform
Did Not Abandon Their Faith
when the high tariff doctrine was en-
dorsed at the polls, neither did protec-
tionists when their u suffered loss.
The advocates of the gold standard con
tinued the fight for monometallism for
twenty-five years in spite of the plat
form declarations of all parties in favor
of a double standard. Shall We who
believe ri bi-metallism lose courage be-
cause Jul opponents have profited by an
increased volume of money. thus admit
ting the economic principle for which
we have been c~ontending.
The defenders of trusts did not
lose heart when all parties denounced
combinations in restraint of trade.
Shall we give up the fight because
monopoly has triumphed by stealth?
Must We now
Advocate An Imperial Policy
because our opponents have won a
victory by denying that they are i'm
perialists? A colonial system in
wolves a surrender of our theory Of
government and the people will und-
erstand this as soon as the system is
put into operation. If We were 10
consult our immediate convenience
and comfort we would never oppose
wrong of any kind, for all warfare in
wolves a temporary sacrifice, but this
is u government and must be trans
United unimpaired Il posterity. We
have no choice, therefore, but to stand
steadfast, come what may.
IF w are successful in diyertirg
tendencies and in carrying the govern
ment to its old foundations we shall
rejoice in the victory and profit by
the reforms secured. l am confident
that We shall ultimately win, but if
the trend toward %plutocracy cannot be
checked, it is still better that we
should be defeated in a righteous I'M
dertaking than that We should Join
HANDS with those who are ignoring
the6 inalienable rights Of man"
Decision Reserved.