The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-04
THE SPEECHES COMPARED.
Governor Mount ON the Addresses of
RoOseyeIt and Bryan.

On account of Governor Mounts WELL
known attitude of friendliness towards or
ganized labor, he was asked last night TO
give an expression of opinion concerning
the addresses delivered by Governor Roose-
Welt and Colonel Bryan at the Chicago
Labor day celebration yesterday.
with the alertness of the astute dema-
gogue." said the Governor. Mr.. Bryan at
tackled the present gold standard and none
tary legislation which is supposed to have
settled for the time a sound basis the
Nations finances I do not think / ever
heard of a more cowardly thing than Mr..
Bryan's reference to Mr.. Gompers in which
he said: Mr.. Gompers. the chief executive
of the Federation of Labor, has in his cor
respondence with the secretary of the
treasury so ably presented the laboring
mans reasons for opposing a gold stand
ard and a national bank currency that it
is not necessary to discuss those questions
at this time In this way Mr.. Bryan not
merely injected politics into a meeting
which was TO have been nonpolitical, but
committed a gross breach of propriety in
dragging Mr.. Gompers into such meet
ing in purely partisan argument. He was
not satisfied with imposing his financial
fallcies at other times upon the working
people who are enjoying unparalleled pros
perity under the gold standard, but dis
regarded all the proprieties for the sake
of discussing his hobby on an occasion
which should have been held aloof from
political discussion. Mr.. Bryan also dis
cussed militarism and imperialism-ques-
tions which are wholly irrelevant and out
of place at a Labor day celebration. He
quoted from the immortal Lincoln in an
Fort f~nre he dc of hot
patriot to the base purpose of making
political gain for his cause Mr.. Bryan
and his party who are now opposing Pres
fdent Mckinley in the midst of his arduous
and trying duties, occupy precisely the
same position that the Democratic party
did in 1864. In their platform promulgated
that year-on the very threshold of victory
they declared: After four years of fail
ure TO restore the Union by the experiment
of war. during which, under the pretense
OF military necessity, of a war power
higher than the Constitution, the Consti-
tuition itself has been dlSregarded in every
part and public liberty and private right
alike trodden down and the material pros
per1ty OF the country essentially impaired,
justice, humanity, liberty and the public
welfare demand that immediate efforts be
made for a cessation of hostilities. Further
along in the same platform the Democratic
party of that day said we hereby de-
clare that we consider the administrative
usurpation of extraordinary and danger
Gus power not granted by the Constitution
the subverson of the civil by the military
law in States not in Instruction.
IF Mr.. Bryan would study more care
fully the condemnation which was heaped
upon President Lincoln when he was seek
ing to uphold the Constitution and save
the Nation. said the Governor, "he would
forbear his odium and abuse of President
Mckinley. who is as truthfully and faith
fully endeavoring to uphold the Constitu-
ton and meet the grave responsibilities
resting upon him was President Lincoln
in 1854 And these responsibilities and
duties now weighing heavily upon Pres
ident Mckinley were forced upon him in
large measure by the men who are now
foremost in their condemnation of the re-
suits which have followed from the war
they encouraged.
Il have also read Governor Roosevelt S
Labor day address," continued the Cover
nor land his clear, forcible, manly ar
gument seems to me to present the laboring
men their duties and responsibilities, their
rights and privileges-all the while holding
up before them the rights and privileges
of other men well. Governor Roose-
welt seeks to exalt the idea of independence,
that which unites the various interests of
great nation into one bond of union,
thereby creating the highest respect for
each others rights and the Hottest patriot
ism towards the country. Mr. Bryan's
speech, in the main, savors of the spirit
of a demagogue'