The Irish standard., 1902-01-18
BRYAN AT A BANQUET
Takes the Principles of jackson az
His Tepic.


William ]. Bryan spoke in Wooster,
o., at the Jackson day banquet, which
was held at his suggestion, in order
that he might keep engagements at
New Haven and Boston later. His
subject was "Steadfastness, and he
said in part:
among the traits of character which
distinguished Andrew Jackson, no
trait was more prominent or more
helpful to his country than his stead
fastness. When he believed thing,
he believed it, Where duty led he
followed without questioning. When
he decided that anything ought to be
done, he did it, and no power could
OveraWe him. He did not have in
his veins a single drop of anything
to win blood.
"When Nicolas Biddle declared that
through the national bank he could
make and unmake Congress, jackson
replied that that was more power
than any man ought to have in this
country, and he then began his war
against Riddle and his bank. which re-
suited in the overthrow of that great
tinancier and the institution which he
so automatically controlled. Others
were afraid that Biddlc's influence, il
antagoniZed, would defeat the Dem
ocratic party, but jackson saw in it
Il menace to his country and he did
not stop to consider what effect an at
tack on the bank would have on him
self or OH his party. He won, and
we revere his name and celebrate his
day.
Benton. in reviewing Jacksons
work, said that, as Cicero overthrow
the conspiracy Of Catalina and saved
Rome, so Jackson overthrow the bank
and saved America. We shall observe
this day in vain if we do not gather
from the life Of jackson inspiration
and encouragement for the work
which lies before us. Today the Dem
ocratic party needs to learn from the
hero of New Orleans the lesson Of
steadfastness; it needs to learn from
him not only that to- be right is more
important than to be successful, but
that to he right is the best way to in
sure success.
"a party must have principles or
it can have no claim upon public con-
fidence; and how can it commend it's
principles better than by standing by
them? Who will have faith in the
creed of party if the party stands
ready to barter away it's creed in ex-
change for the promise Of patronage?
A hating, vacillating course not only
fails to invite recruits, but it alienates
and drives away veterans.
Another reason for steadfastness is
found in the fact that no one can tell
until the attempt is made what OBJ
stacles courage can overcome. The
bold and fearless triumph where the
tfmid fail. The victories which live
and light us on to noble deeds are the
victories snatched from the jaws of
defeat by intrepid spirits, who prefer
red death to retreat.
There is a profound philosophy as
we'll as a religious truth in the words:
He that saveth his life shall lose it,
The party that has no higher purpose
than to save it's own life will die be.
cause it deserves to die, but one that
will die if need be, for the sake of
great cause will live because It de-
serves to live.
who says that we cannot afford to
measure strength with the great mon
opolies which now arrogantly assume
to control the domain of politics as
well as the field of industry? Not
until we can gather good fruit from
an evil tree and figs from the thistles
can we expect a private monopoly to
bring forth public blessings. The
water that has been poured into the
stocks of our great corporations has
for the most part been drawn from
the agricultural regions, and the
drought that is sure to follow will
teach the farmer the meaning of the
trust system.