Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-07-19
CAMPAIGN Is OPENED
Democratic Leaders Forecast the
Work at Lincoln, Neb.
Bryan and TOwne Deliver Extended
Speeches at the Evening Meeting OUT
lining Campaign Arguments-Gen-
james B. Weaver Also Speaks.

Lincoln, Neb., July 1.-THE infor-
NAL opening of the democratic presi-
Dental campaign took place in Lon
coin yesterday. In two ratification
meetings, one in the afternoon con
| Quoted by the populists and silver re-
pubhcans of Nebraska and one in the
evening conducted by the democrats,
W. J. Bryan, Charles a. Towne, Gen
J. B. Weaver and other leaders of the
parties, outlined the work of the cam
paign in the interest of Bryan and
Stevenson. Probably $4,000 people, n
good portion from distant points in
the state, listened to the speeches
and paid homage to the leaders of the
parties to which they owed allegiance
Nearly 5000 people packed the Audi
forum in the afternoon, while 10000
gathered in the capitol ground in the
evening Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Towne
spoke at both meetings, although it
was their intention to deliver adj
dresses only at the evening meeting,
and their remarks, forcasting as they
did the fusion of the three parties on
the democratic national ticket, were
received with unbounded enthusiasm
guest, was somewhat indisposed and
did not appear at the afternoon meet
ing. He was present at the evening
meeting, however, and received an
ovation. At the afternoon meeting,
the speakers were Mr.. Bryan, Con-
gresham Shafroth, of Colorado; 'sCy-
clone" Davis, of Texas; Former As
sistant Secretary of the Interior Web
Ct Ion,
j. B. Weaver.
81 feel almost as if I ought to
apologize for not being able to call
myself former republican" said Mr.
Bryan, amid laughter. Mr.. Bryan
then paid eloquent tributes to Gen.
Weaver, C. A. Towne and Webster
Davis, former republicans, saying that
he wondered 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 Independence
here and in South Africa also. sim
ply want to say now that the cam
paign is begun so far as the tickets
and the platforms are concerned
Mr.. Bryan continued, ''and from now
until election day it will be the duty
of every citizen to take these issues
before the country and weigh them.
1t Will be the duty of every citizen to
see where his duty lies. There is a
privilege in being an American citi-
zen and there is a responsibility COM
mensurate with the privilege. If we
| lived in land where a king thought
| for us we would feel no responsible
ity for the action of that king. Bat
we live in a land where the people
determine the policy. We live in a
land where the citizen impresses his
own opinion upon the government,
where the policy of the government
may be determined by the vote of one
citizen. And I want to leave a
thought with those who are to vote
this fall. I want every citizen to SO
vote as he would vote if he knew his
vote would determine this next cleo
| tion'
At the evening meeting Mr.. Bryan
and Mr.. Stevenson were given a ire
mendous gEeeting by the crowds
| Towne delivered the most extended
| speech of the evening meeting, out
lining the campaign arguments on
which the democratic party will fight
the campaign of 1900. Efr. Towne
gave his first attention to the mon
etary question, admitting that the
issue had changed in Importance since
1896, but insisting that it was still
live issue and that the principles of
bimetallism are as true now as In
1896
Mr.. Towne was followed by Mr..
Bryan, who was introduced amid ire
mendous applause. He spoke as fol-
lows: 81 am deeply grateful to the
good people of this city and state for
their very cordial approval of my
nomination. Four years ago the state
gave me about 5000 plurality and ON
three occasions since that time the
people of Nebraska declared their adj
herence to the political principles for
which I have been contending. I am
not vain enough to believe that their
support is meant as a personal COM
p1iment. I accept it as an evidence OF
their devotion to the principles to
which I have been welded. We enter
this campaign under conditions 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 or
gained wealth ceases to control the
affairs of the nation and it again be-
comes nation of the people. I do
not care to enter at the present time
upon a discussion of the issues pre-
scented by the platform adopted at
Kansas City. can say, however, that
it is in my judgment the greatest
platform adopted in recent years, If
not in the history of the country"
Gen. James B. Weaver also spoke at
some length outlining the work to be
done by the democratic. silver repub-