The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-08-17
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 Repub.
Hc-ApDeal to the
Fathers.

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:
MI. Chairman and Members of the
Notification Committee
shall, at an early day, and in a
more formal manner, accept the NOM
lnatlon which you tender, and l shall
at that time discuss the various uues-
lions covered by the Democratic plat
form. 1t may not be out of place, how
ever, to submit 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 cain
paign.
When l say that the contest of 1900
is Il contest between Democracy ON
the one hand and plutocracy on the
'Other do not mean to say that all our
opponents have deliberately chosen to
give to organized wealth predominant
ing influence ia 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 toele-
vate pecuniary considerations and ig-
more human rights. In 1859 Lincoln
said that the Republican party be-
lieved in the man ana the dollar. but
that in case of conflict it believed in
the man before the dollar. This is the
A)per relation which should exist be-
Seen the two. Man, the handiwork OF
God, comes first. money, the handi-
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 serv-
ant.
The maxim of jefferson. 'edual
rights to all and special privileges to
none" and the doctrine of Lincoln
fhat this should be Il government "of
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 to
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 it 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 it is ut 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 finan-
cially powerful, number who really
profit by Republican policies, but with
them are associated a large number
who, because of their attachment to
their party name, are giving their sup
port to doctrines antagonistic to the
former teachings of their own party
Republicans who used to advocate BIZ
metallism, now try to convince them
selves that the gold standard is good;
Republicans who were formerly at
taehed to the greenback are now seek
ing an excuse for giving national banks
control of the nations paper money;
Republicans who used to boast that
the Republican party was paying off
the national debt, are now looking for
reasons to support Il perpetual and in
creasing debt: Republicans who for
merely abhorred n trust, now beguile
themselves with the delusion that there
are good trusts and bad trusts, while
In their minds the line between the
two is becoming more and more OBJ
scure; Republicans who in times past
congratulated the country upon the
small expense of our standing army
are now making light of the objections
which are urged against large increase
in the permanent military establish
ment; Republicans who gloried in our
independence when the nation was less
powerful now look with favor upon a
foreign alliance; Republicans who three
years ago who condemned ''fOrcible an
neXation" as Immoral and even Grim
inal, are now sure that it is both i'm
moral and criminal to oppose fOrcible
annexation.