The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-11

which any particular person might
think to be true. He was at once on
the best of terms with the student au-
dience. the applause being frequent and
hearty.
Mr.. Bryan said that if future events
should prove that he was wrong in this
campaign he would rejoice at his own
defeat. So he said, If events should
prove that those who differed from him
were wrong and the verdict of 1896
should be reversed in 1900, they, too,
ought to rejoice. He added: THAT
which is good for the majority of one
party will be good for the majority of
all parties Take out the postmasters
and a few who hold the offices, who
the triumph of some party-take these
out. and we must all rise or fall to-
gether,~ and therefore we ought to COM
pare our ideas and as far as possible lay
aside the prejudices which we may have
in order that we may arrive at a cor
rect conclusion
Then Mr.. Bryan entered into a dis
cussfon of the issues of the campaign,
announcing as his text the command
ment Thou shalt not steal
II want to tell you," he said, that
you can no more afford to steal when
stealing is respectable than you can
afford it when it is dishonorable. That
you can no more afford to steal directly
than you can afford to steal indirectly;
that you can no more afford to steal
through legislation than you can in
spite of legislation fApplause) The
moral character of the act is found in
the intention of one man to take what
belongs to another man.
Here Mr.. Bryan took up the question
of taxation, arguing against tax dodg-
ing and declaring that the rich man
who lodges his taxes indirectly robbed
the poorer man who paid his full quota
Incidentally he referred to the tariff
levied upon consumption, declaring his
belief that it was unjust to compel men
to pay taxes upon what they must have
rather than upon what they possessed.
Next the speaker turned the attention
of his audience to the money question. dis
cussing the. gold standard, bimetaIlism
much as he has in other recent speeches.
He then took up the question of trusts
belief that a monopoly meant the closing
of the door of opportunity before the
Discussing the question of a large army
Bryan said:
a country like this can take possession of
the country and change its form of gov
eminent, and I say no, not if the rs. 200, 900
doctrine of government. But the very
fact that a people like ours viii permit
army by four indicates change in pub
lie sentiment that 9odes no good TO Amer
in thousand who can terrify the thous-
and 1t is that a thousand men will per-
init four men to live professional sol
diers where. one is enough (Applause.)
What does 1t mean to change our ideas
substitute new ideas for the ones we held
up before the young people OF this land?',
with his first interruption. He had de-
clared that now for the first time we were
subjects, those capable of self government
and those not capable of self-government.
whether a man is capable of self-gov-
Hamilton" shouted voice from the
Mr.. Bryan met his questioner with this
statement: IT do not know what the gen
b 5as1 my frends The isa Of Hamilton on
this subject was at variance with the idea
lieved that the people could be trusted TIC
govern themselves. Hamilton believed
fittedsto govern others who were not so
well born. Great laughter and applause)
Now / deny the right of any nation to |
decide that another nation is not capable |
of self-government- (Applause-)
,,,,,ls We ~ se,f ~ how
can we prove that that right IS a right? |
l ~ navang an army pig ant r. we :. can de-
clare the Filipinos incapable OF Sei1-goy- |
righf declare us Incapable of self-govern-
ment, and if she can prove her right Dy /
force, what answer have we to make?
Then when Mr.. Bryan asserted that !
God never made a race so low down in |
admit it's incapacity for government"
there was marked applause, in the midst /
lina-Southern states
In reply Mr.. Bryan said: My friends |
let the race question in this country and /
the trouble it has brought warn you Il
against bringing into this country another
race question that is not necessity
There were prolonged cheers and a voice /
shouted Hit 'em again.
my friends it win require all the in /
telligence and the patriotism Of the peo- (
pie white and black. north and south, to /
solve the race problem that we have. and /
you do not have to go 70 North Carolina
to learn about the race problem you
plause1
Every one recognizes what race preju- /