Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-08-09
BRYAN'S PLAIN TALK
Discusses Paramount Questions Of
the Democratic Platform
EVILS OF REPUBLICAN = POLICIES.
Rights of the People in United States
and Acquired Territories-Dsn-
gers OF Imperialism and Mill
tnrism-The True RepubIic.N -

tnrism--Tbe True Republic.N
In response to the tender of the nom
ination for the presidency by the'not-
fication committee of the democracy, at
Indianapolis, Wednesday,, August 8,
William j. Bryan said:
Mr.. Chairman and Members of the Not
ncation Committee: ] shall, at an early
day, and in more formal manner, accept
the nomination which you tender. and /
shall at that time discuss the various ques-
tions covered by the democratic platform.
1t may not be out of place, however, 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 campaign,
When 1 say that tho contest of 1900 is
contest between democracy on the ono hand
and plutocracy on the other do not mean
to say that all our opponents have delib-
erately chosen to give TO orgatized wealth
a predominating Influence in tho affairs of
the government but / do assert that on
the important issues uf the day the rcpuh-
lican party isdoniinated by those Influences
which constantly tend toelevate pecuniary
considerations ard ignore human rights.
In 1859 Lincoln said that the republican
party believed ir the man and the dollar.
but that in case of con1ict 1t, believed In
the man before the dollar. This Is tho
proper rcla ton which should exist between
the two. Man, the han6iworlk of God,
comes first money, the handiwork of mar.
is of inferior Importance, Man is tho mas
ter, money the servant; but upon all inn
| portant questions to-day, republican legis-
lation tends to make 'Inoney the master
and man the servant. no 81
The maxim of jefferson. "equal rights to
all and special privileges to none" and the
! doctrine of Lincoln that this should be
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 interests OF
| those who are in q position to secure favors
| from the government.
The Desire of Democracy.
| The democratic party is not making war
| upon the honest acquisition of wealth; it
| has no desire to discourage industry, econ
| omy and thrift. On the contrary, ii gives
| to every citizen the greatest possible stim-
ulus to honest toll, when 1t promises him
| protection in the enjoyment of the pro-
ceeds of his labor Property rights are
most secure when human rights are re-
| spected. Democracy strives for civiliza-
ton in which every member of society
will share according to his merits.
No one has right to expect from So
ciety more than 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 injustice to him
to prevent his doing injustice to another.
To him who would, either through class
| legislation or in the absence of necessary
| legislation. trespass upon jthesrights of an
other, the party says. "Thou
| shalt not" M Wtil y S1,%
Republican Excuses.
Against us are arrayed comparatively
small, but politically and financially pow
| prfIil number w bp renlll- nrOfit hy h
lican policies; but with them are associated
| large number who, because of their at
tachment to their party name, are giving
their support to doctrines antagonistic to
the former teachings of their own party.
Republicans who used to advocate bimet-
alism, now try to convince themselves
/ that the gold standard is good; republicans
! who We're formerly attached to the green
back are now seeking an excuse, for giv-
ing national banks control OF the nations s
paper money republicans who used to
boast that the republican party was pay
ing off the national debt, are now looking
for reasons to support perpetual and in
creasing debt; republicans who formerly
abhorred a trust, now heguile Themselves
with the delusion that there are good trusts
and bad trusts while, in their minds, the
line between the two is becoming more
and more obscure; republicans who, in
times past congratulated thdcountry upon
the small expense Of our standing army,
which are urged against large increase
In the permanent military establishment;
republicans who gloried In our independ-
ence when the nation was less powerful,
now look with favor upon a foreign al
lance; republicans who three years ago
condemned "forcible annexation as i'm
moral and even criminal are now sure
that 1t Is both immoral and criminal to
oppose forcible annexation. That PARTISAN
ship has already blinded many to present
dangers Ia rprtatp hnuy "a
or the republican, party can be drawn over
to the new policies remains, to be seen.
For n time republican leaders were in
clined to deny to opponents the right to
criticise the Philippine policy of the ad-
ministration, but upon investigation they
found that both Lincoln and Clay assert
ed and exercised the right to criticise a
president during the progress of the Mex
lean war, @,,
Instead of meeting the issue boldly and
submitting a clear and positive plan for
dealing with the Philippine question. the
republican convention adopted a platform
the larger part of which was devoted to
/ boasting and self-congratulation. ~ :
In attempting to press economic aues-
\ tions upon the country to tho exclusion
of those which Involve the very structiirS
of our government. the republican lead
ers give new evidence of their abapdon-
4 ment of the earlier ideals OF the party and
of their complete subserviency TO pecun-
iary considerations. r.t s
| no Evasion.
II But they snail not be permitted TO evadC
| the stupcndous ard far-reaching issue
| which they have delibera tely brought into
| the arena OF politics When the president
supported by n practically unanimou:
| vote of the house ana senate, entered
| upon war with Spain for the purpose OF
( aiding the struggling patriots OF Cuba
| the country, without regard 10 party ap
| plauded. Although the democrats recog
| nised that the administration would neces
| sariy gain a political advantage from
| the conduct of Il war which, In the very
I nature of the case. must soon end in {
\ complete victory, they Wed with the re
A publicans In the support which they gav'
4 to the president. When the war wal
4 over and the republican leaders began t
suggest the propriety OF colonial policy
| opposition at once manifested itself
When the president finally laid before tn,
senate. n treaty which recognized the in
dependence OF Cuba, but provided for tn
= cesson OF the Philippine islands to. tn
United States, the menace of imperialism
4 became so apparent that many preferre'
a TO reject the treaty and rsl. the ills tina
might follow rather than take the chanc
OF correcting the errors of tho treaty b!
the Independent action Of this country.
= Trust in the People.
was among the number of those VIII
believed 1t better to ratify the treaty AM
md the war, release the volunteers. re
f-,, "A tttrA M