Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1902-08-06
BASIS OF HARMONY.
Subject of Speech Delivered by Hon.
VIM. ]. Bryan.
Addresses Democrats of New Eng
land at BOstOn-Says Party Must
Always Fight for the
People.

SpOnded to the toast, "Ihe Basis or
Harmony" and spoke as follows:
I'm view of numerous harmony dinners,
and the discord they have created, it may
not be out Of place to consider the basis
of harmony The word harmony Is
euphonious, and the idea which it conveys
is a delightful one Harmony! How 1t
soothes the ear and calls up visions of peace
and love and joy. Harmony, Whether
among the heavenly bodies, whose move
ments make the music of the spheres, or
among the bodies terrestrial, with their
conflicting interests and varying moods,
who can resist its claims or dispute its
sway? Harmony is but synonym for or
der, and is not the result OF chance put a
product of memorable law. The musician
must learn the scale and properly arrange
the notes, or harmony, no matter how
earnestly wooed, can never be won.
Harmony in government is likewise the
result of fixed and Interchangeable rules.
Jefferson states two of these rules-name-
ly, absolute acquescence in the will of the
ma jority and frequent elections-the sec
ond aids the first by giving hope of rem
edy from present ills, however grievous
If he were living to-day his observation
would probably suggest third rule, name
ly, the ascertainment of the will of the
methods so direct, so fair and so honest
that the minority cannot doubt that that
will has been actually expressed.
Jefferson also laid down the rules by
can be secured, within a party. l say real
harmony, for that harmony cannot be con-
stdered worthy of the name which, like the
harmony temporarily existing between the
confidence man and his victim, is purpose
ly employed for deception and injury.
The great founder of the democratic
party whose profound philosophy sounded
all the depths of human nature and meas
ureoi the height and breadth of human gov
eminent not long before the end of his
nU m mi ifn old IN 1ntt
that there were but two permanent parties,
the aristocratic and the democratic; that
these two parties existed in every coun-
try, and that where there was freedom to
think, speak and write, these parties would
become apparent With the aristocratic
party he classed those who fear and dis
trust the people and wish to draw all
power from them into the hands of the
higher classes With the democratic party
he classed those who identify themselves
with the people, have confidence in them,
cherish and consider them the most
honest and safe, though not the most wise
depository of the public interests Every
we'll informed student of history will rec
| ognize this distinction. In every commun-
| ity you can draw a line separating the
| aristocrat from the democrat. 1t will not
| be a perpendicular line nor will it be a
horizontal one; it Will not separate those
| of Illus trious lineage from those of humble
| birth; it will not separate the rich from the
| the uneducated; it will not be along lines
| OF vocation or occupations; but 1t will sep
| arate those with the tastes, spirit, as
sumption and Traditions of the aristocracy
| from those who believe in a government
controlled by the people and favor political
| and legal equality
Democracy of Jefferson.
Jefferson was born of refined and we'll
| TODD parents; he was even rich for one of
| that period and he was educated far above
| the most of his associa tes; he was a lawyer
| and his social connections were favorable
| to aristocratic ideas, but he was demo-
| crat. He believed in the brotherhood of
man; he asked for no privileges that could
not be granted to ALL he claimed no rights
| that all did not enjoy, and he sought for
| himself no governmental care that he did
not Gemand for others. He believed in the
| rule of the people, in their capacity for
| self government and in their right to the
| control of their own affairs. He did not
| doubt that they would make mistakes but
he knew that they would bear punishment
| for their own mistakes with more COM
| placency than they would endure punish
ment for the mistakes of Others and he
| was certain that their errors would be
| unintenuonal ones. He knew that, as they
! found profit in bad laws, they would
strive TO correct them and would profit
by experience. He was a friend of every
| thing that helped the people, and the un-
| relenting foe of everything that injured
them. He was identified with the masses,
and considered that insofar as by inherit
| ance or by his own efforts he possessed
any advantage over others. he held that
| advantage as a trustee for those less for
| tunate. The people loved him because he
first loved them. He organized a party
that has lived for more than century. and
he so impressed his ideas upon the party
| that 10 defeat, however overw helming. has
been able to crush its spirit or disintegrate
| it.
| There can always be harmony among
| democrats who have the purpose that JEFF
| ferson had and are willing to employ the
methods that Jefferson employed. There
can always be harmony among democrats
| who believe in a government of the peo-
| pie and are willing that all the depart
| ments of the government shall be operated
| by the people ard for the benefit of the
| people Differences of the mind can be rec
| onciled; differences of purpose cannot Be-
| tween one who is at heart an aristocrat
and one who is in reality democrat there
| is great gulf fixed. And, 1t may be added.
| among the aristocrats there will be found
| the same division that exists among the
| beasts of prey-some have the courage of
the lion, anCi others the cunning and treac h-
| cry of the fox, but they can hunt together
If their. object is spoil, whether it be
| avowed or concealed. Between those real
| ~ democratic in purpose there can be no
| personal or permanent alienation because
| having no Interior motives they are ops r
| to arguments and amenabe to reason: be
| ing honest in purpose, they have confidence
In the triumph of their cause and are cor
| tent 10 employ honest methods They will
| neither conspire against others nor agains (
each other. If they make mistakes in jud g.
ment. as all are liable to Go, they are not