The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-27

IT was after 10 o'clock when the dinner
was finished and the speaking began. Mr..
Bryan, whose subject was principles
Live" said In part:
AT this banquet, surrounded by neigh
bors. who have been my friends for ten
years, i may be pardoned for saying a
word OF a personal nature Five times you
have voted for me for public office-twice
for Congress, once for the United States
Senate and twice for the presidency-and
no candidate ever received more loyal sup
port than you have given.
Whether i shall ever be a candidate for
Office again is a question which must be de-
termined by events. No one can speak
with certainty of the future, for ones des-
tiny Is not known until MS nfe's work Is
TO aid in the triumph OF the principles
while others enjoy the honors and bear the
responsibility Of office.
THE holding OF public position should be
IN incident. and not the aim, for
the citizen. 1t should not be an end, but
the means for the accomplishment Of a
purpose.
ssThe presidency seemed desirable because
II would have enabled me to give effective
aid To certain reforms which / believe to
be necessary to the public welfare. but
lessen my interest in this reform, and time
may prove that my work Is TO advocate,
sJhe Commoner win give me an oppor-
tunity to participate in public discussions.
and am sure that an editorial position will
furnish as much intellectual enjoyment as
! could have found In the White House.
and. IN addition thereto, give me more time
for home pleasures.
The principles for which we contended
In the last campaign still live. and we who
believe in them must continue TO fight for
them. An election does not change princi-
ples: IL only determines what principles
shaIl be for the time being applied
abandon their faith when the high-tariff
doctrine was indcrsed at the polls. Neither
did the protectonists when their cause
suffered loss The advocates OF the gola
standard continued the fight for mono
metallism for twenty-five years, in spite
OF the platform declarations of all parties
An favor OF double standard. Shall we
who believe in bimetallism. lose coura ge
because our opponents have profited by an
Increased volume of money. thus admit
ting the economic principle for which We
1.-The defenders OF trusts did not lose
heart when all parties denounced combina-
tions 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 imperialistse a
colonial system involves a surrender of our
theory OF government, and the people will
understand this soon as the sysfem is
put into operation. III we were 10 consult
our immediate convenience and comfort
we would never oppose wrong OF any kind,
for all warfare involves a temporary sac
r!fice; but this Is our government and IL
must be transmitted unimpaired 20 poster
tty. We have no choice. therefore. but to
stand steadfast. come what may
IF we are successful ia diverting present
tendencies and IN carrying the government
10 its old foundations We shall rejoice i'm
the victory and profit by the reforms Sc
cured 1 am confident that we shall uItf-
metely win. but II the trend toward MIN
tocracy cannot be checked IL is still better
that We should be defeated in a righteous
undertaking than that we should join hands
with those who are ignoring the inaliena Bile
rights OF men,"