The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-08-16

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:
Mr.. Chairman and Members of the
Notification Committee
l shall, at an early day, and in a
more formal manner, accept the nom |
lnatiOn which you tender, and shall
at that time discuss the various ques- |
tions covered by the Democratic plat
form. 1t may not be out of place, how
ever, to submit a 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 cam
paign.
When l say that the contest of 1900
Is contest between Democracy on
the one hand and plutocracy on the
other l do not mean to say that all our
opponents have deliberately chosen to
give to organized wealth predominant
ing influence in 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 to ele-
vate pecuniary considerations and ig-
more human rights. In 1859 Lincoln
said that the Republican party be-
lieved in the man and the dollar, but
that in case of conflict it believed in
the man before the dollar. This is the
proper relation which should exist be-
tween 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, equal
rights to all and special privileges to
nOne," and the doctrine of Lincoln
that this should be a 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
4 ~ RlNco W CNCly SftiACh thC
| 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-
tion in which every member of society
| will share according to his merits.
No one has right to expect from
society more than a fair compensation
for the service which he renders to
! society. If he. secures more 1t is at 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 shaJ
not"
Against us are arrayed a compare
lively small, but politically and finan
cially powerful, number who reall!
profit by Republican policies, but witt
them are associated a large numbe
who, because of their attachment t
!, their party name, are giving their sur
port to doctrines antagonistic to tn
: former teachings of their own party
, ! Republicans who used to advocate b
metallism, now try to convince then
selves that the gold standard is good
Republicans who were formerly a.
tached to the greenback are now seel
ing an excuse for giving national bank
control of the nations paper money
Republicans who used to boast tha
the Republican party was paying o.
the national debt, are now looking fO
! reasons to support perpetual and II
creasing debt; Republicans who fol
merely abhorred trust, now beguil
themselves with the delusion that ther
are good trusts and bad trusts, Will
in their minds the line between til
: two is becoming more and more ol
2 scure; Republicans who in times pas
congratulated the country upon til
small expense of our standing arm
are now making light of the objection
! which are urged against large increas
in the permanent military establish
ment; Republicans who gloried in OIL
independence when the nation was lie.
e powerful now look with favor upon
foreign alliance; Republicans who thrt
7 years ago who condemned "forcible a
= nexation" as immoral and even Grin
u inal, are now sure that it is both in
v moral and criminal to oppose forcib
Y annexation.
POLICY IN THE PHILIPPINES