The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-11
DECLARED OPEN.
Col. Bryan Says the Campaign
Has Begun.

Lincoln, Neb, July 1.-THE informal
opening of the Democratic campaign
took place in Lincoln in two ratification
meetings, one in the afternoon conduct
ed by the Populists and Silver Republi-
cans of Nebraska and one in the even
ing conducted by the Democrats. w. ].
Bryan, Charles A. Towne Gen. J. B.
Weaver and other leaders of the parties
outlined the work of the campaign in
the interest of Bryan and Stevenson.
Probably $4,000 people, good portion
from distant points in the state, listen
ed to the speeches and paid homage to
the leaders of the parties to which they
owed allegiance, nearly 5000 people
packing the auditorium in the after
noon, while ten thousand gathered in
the capitol ground in the evening. Mr..
Bryan and Mr.. Towne spoke at both
meetings, and their remarks, forecaSt1ng
as they did, the fusion of the three par
ties on the Democratic national ticket
were received with unbounded enthus-
iasm.
Mr. Stevenson who is Mr. Bryan's
guest, was somewhat indisposed and
did not appear at the afternoon meet
ing. He was present at the evening
meeting, however, and received an ova-
ton. At the afternoon meeting the
speakers were Mr.. Bryan, Congressman
Shafroth of Colorado. Cyclone" Davis
of Texas, Former Assistant Secretary
A. Towne and Gen. J. B. Weaver.
Mr.. Bryan spoke last and only in re-
Spouse to repeated calls. He was Wild
ly cheered as Chairman Edmiston intro
duced him as Mr.. Bryan of North
America"
Il feel almost as if ought to apollo
gize for not being able to call myself
a former Republican" said Mr.. Bryan.
amid laughter. Mr.. Bryan then paid
eloquent tribute to General Weaver, c.
A. Towne and Webster Davis former
-f,,-r hot 10. n ~ad
how the Republican who is not tied to
his party by office could refuse to leave
the party and cast his lot with those
who believe in the Declaration of indie
pendence here and in South Africa also.
IT simply want to say now that the
campaign is begun so far as the tickets
and the platforms are concerned Mr..
Bryan continued, land from now until
election day it will be the duty of every
citizen to take the issues before the
country and weigh them. It will be the
duty of every citizen to see where his
duty lies. There is a privilege in be-
ing an American citizen and there is
responsibility commensurate with the
privilege. If we lived in a land where
king thought for us, we would feel no
responsibility for the action of that
king. But we live in a land where the
people determine the policy. We believe
in a land where the citizen 1mpreSSeS
his own opinion upon the government,
where the policy of the government may
be determined by the vote OF one citizen.
L
those who are to vote this fall I want
every citizen to vote as he would vote
if he knew that his vote would deter
mine the next election. CApplauSe). Re
member what it means. You vote in Ne
braska and your vote may determine
the vote of this state on the presidential
ticket and your state may determine
the result applause and cheering.)
when you get to the polls to vote,
remember that you are an American
citizen. Great applause). Remember
rr@+1 dafr fr70 h &c
tons position and that this nation will.
in a large measure, determine the pub
lie opinion of the world on the doctrine
that governments come up from the
people. Great applauSe).
For 124 years this nation has held
before the world the light of liberty. For
more than century it has been an ex-
ample to all the world. Your tell me that
we can now be Indifferent to what is
going on? You tell me that man who
lifts his voice against the doctrine of
imperialism is pleading the cause of the
Filipino? I tell you he is pleading the
cause of 20 900 600 American citizens,
aye, he is championing the rights of the
struggling masses of the world who look
to America for example. Great ap-
plause and cheering). If every Filipino
were to die the world would go on, but
if this nation, the greatest republic of
the worlds history, puts out its light, If
this republic turns its back to the doc
trines which we loved a century ago,
then to what nation of the world can
the people lOOk 1OT uOpe dIO IIlSplTd-
ton? So you ought to be proud that
you are an American citizen and are
able to say, If the republic goes down,
1 am not to blame for its DOWNFALL
Great applause and cheerS).
II am deeply grateful to the people
of this city and state for their very cor
dial approval of my nomination Four
years ago the state gave me about 49,
900 plurality, and on three occasions
since that time the people of Nebraska
declared their adherence to the polit-
contending. / am not vain enough to
believe that their support is meant as
a personal compliment. I accept it as
an evidence of their devotion to the
principles to which 1 have been welded.
We enter this campaign under cOndi-
tions far more favorable to success than
those which surrounded us in 1896. But
whether we win this year or not, the
fight must be continued until organized
wealth ceases to control the affairs of
the nation and it again becomes a ma
ter at the present time upon a discus
sion of the issues presented by the plat
form adopted at Kansas City. I can
say, however, that it is, in my judg-
ment the greatest platform adopted in
recent years, if not in the history of
the country. 1t is a greater platform
than the Chicago platform, for it in
dorses the principles set forth in that
platform and in addition thereto pre-
sents the party's position upon several
new and vital questions There is no
evasion about the platform, no am
biguity, no double-dealing. 1t is as
clear as the tones of a bell-as clear as
the tones of q liberty bell.
Tt deals honesty with the American