Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-01-02
BRYAN SPEAKS.
At Banquet in Lincoln He Says
Events Must Determine His
Future Policy. ,;

Lincoln, Neb., Dec. 27.-The annual
banquet of the Jeffersonian club of
Lincoln Wednesday night at the Lin
coin hotel brought together nearly
300 representative men of the demo-
cratic and populist parties of Nebras-
ka, together with number of
leaders from other states. The
dinner afforded an opportunity to
Hon. w. J. Bryan to make his first
appearance at a public gathering since
the election, and the enthusiastic
greeting accorded him was never
more hearty and spontaneous in his
home city. His address received the
closest attention and the applause was
frequent
Mr.. Bryan, whose subject was
principles Live" said in part:
AT this banquet, surrounded by neigh.
bors who have been my friends for ter
years, l may be pardoned for saying word
of personal nature. Five times you have
voted for me for public office-twice 70.
congress, once for the United States senate
and twice for the presidency-and no can
didate ever received more loyal support
than you have given.
whether I shall ever be a candidate for
office again is question which must be
determined by events. No one can speak
with certainty of the future, for ones des-
tiny is not known until his LIES work is
complete. I shall be content if it is my
lot 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
an incident and not the aim for the citizen.
1t should not be an end, but the means for
the accomplishment of a purpose.
1.-THE presidency seemed desirable be-
cause it would have enabled me to give
effective aid to certain reforms which be-
lieve to be necessary to the public well
fare, but defeat-even second defeat-does
not lessen my interest in this reform, and
time may prove that my work is to advo-
cate rather than to execute.
1.-THE Commoner will give me an oppor-
tunity to participate in public discussions,
and I am sure that an editorial position
will furnish as much effectual enjoyment as
l could have found in the white house, and
in addition thereto give me more time for
home pleasures.
1.-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 prin-
ciples; it only determines what principles
shall be, for the time being, applied.
1.-THE believers in tariff reform did not
abandon their faith when the high tariff
doctrine was Endorsed at the polls, neither
did protectionists when their cause suf-
fered loss. The advocates of the gold stand
ard continued the fight for monometallism
for Is years in spite of the platform dec
larations of all parties in favor of a double
standard Shall we who believe in BIZ
metallism lose courage because our OppO-
nents have profited by an increased volume
CT money, thus admitting the economic
] Z,
ing? The defenders of trusts did not lose
heart when all parties denounced combina-
lions in restraint of trade. Shall We give
up the fight because monopoly has tri-
umphed by stealth? Must we now advc-
cate an imperial policy because our oppo-
nents have won a victory by denying that
they are imperialiSts? A colonial system
involves a surrender of our theory of gov
eminent, and the people will understand
| this as soon as the system is put into op.
Grafton. If we were to consult our imme.
| date convenience and comfort we would
| never oppose wrong of any kind, for al
| warfare involves a temporary sacrifice
| but this is our government and must be
transmitted unimpaired to posterity. We
| have no choice. therefore, but to stand
| steadfast. come what may.
IF we are successful in reversing present
| tendencies and in carrying the government
| to it's old foundations we shall rejoice il
cured I am confident that we shall ulti.
| mately win, but if the trend toward plu.
tocracy cannot be checked it is still bet.
ter that we should be defeated in a right.
eous undertaking than that we should joir
| hands with those who are ignoring the
| inalienable rights of man."
The other speakers and their toast
were: "Commercialism Menace t,
Liberty w. NJ. Morning, Lincoln; 9Th
Press" r. L. Metcalfe, Omaha; 'Wha
Fusion Has Done for Nebraska" Go,
w. A. Poynter; "Our Friends at HON
and Abroad" Rev. T. w. C. Cheeseman
Ashland; ''The Drama of Politics,
Congressman A. C. Shallenberger; eth
Rank and File" John W. Kern, Ind
ana; Reorganization" David Ove1
meyer, Kansas; "The Reorganizatio
Hypocrisy" j. r. Laid. Illinois.