The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-18
Col. Bryan Again Attacks the
Former President
In His Speech at Carter Harri-
sons Picnic.
FIFTY TROLLEY CARS
Filled With Enthusiastic Demo-
Gratis in Attendance.
Mayor Reed, Of Kansas City,
Among the Speakers.

Chicago, July 1S.-William Jennings
Bryan addressed several thousand en-
thusiastic Democrats at the Chicago
Democracy picnic at Brands Park to-
day. he was received with cheers and
waving of hats when he stepped off
the platform. After short introduce
tory speech, by Mayor Harrison, Mr..
Bryan spoke and was frequently inter-
rupted by applause. In his address he
made special reference to the possible
candidacy of Grover Cleveland in 1904
and the latter and his supporters were
excoriated by the speaker.
Mr.. Bryan arrived in Chicago early
in the day and was escorted by the
Chicago democracy marching club to
the Auditorium where a reception was
rendered all the speakers of the day.
After luncheon and a parade through
the streets fifty trolley cars bore the
Democrats to the picnic grounds. other
speakers who followed Mr.. Bryan were
Mayor Reed of Kansas City, jeremiah
B. Sullivan, of Iowa, d. j. CRmpau of
Michigan and T. E. Ryan of Wiscon~
sin. Charles A. Walsh of Iowa, was
absent and his address was read by
City Clerk Edward NJ. Lahiff. Mr.,
Bryan said in part:
Surely if there ever were a time
when the preaching of the Democrs ito
gospel ought to be oppOrtune now is
the time. The character of our party is
to be determined by the manner irs
which 1t meets an opportunity, and the
manner in which it meets an opportun-
lty will be determined by the ideal that
dominates it. Will our party hesitate
or take counsel of it's fears? Will il
abandon its championship of the peo-
pies interest in the hope of conciliat-
ing relentless foes or of purchasing a
few offices with campaign contributions
that carry with them an obligation to
be made good out of the pockets of the
''The Democratic party must appeal TO
| the Democratic sentiment of the coun-
try and this sentiment is far wider than
any party. Wherever the question has
been submitted in such a way that it
could be acted upon independently there
has always been an overwhelming ma
jority in favor of that which was Dem
ocratic, and our party can appeal sue
| cessfully to this Democratic spirit if we
but convince the people of our earnest
ness and of our fidelity to those princi-
pies.
We are handicapped just now by the
fact that the last Democratic adminis-
tration that we had was more subservi-
ent to corporate dictation than any Re
publican administration that had pre-
ceded it, and the record of that admin
istration has been a milestone about the
party's neck ever since. The influence
I
istrations policy, the use Of patronage
to reward those who betrayed their con-
stituentS and the employment of the
most reprehensihle of Republican meth
DDS, made the administration stencil
in the nost1ils of the people and kept
in the Republican party many who were
disgusted at that party's course. The
odium which Mr.. Cleveland's second ad-
ministration brought upon the party
which elected him did more to defeat
the party than any one plank of the
Chicago platform or even than all the
planls that were most severely critics.
ed But for the reputation of the ad-
miniStration, it would have been impoS-
sible to make any campaign at all, and
even the reputation, thorough and
complete as it was, could not complete
ly disinfect the party.
1.-The greatest menace that the party
has to meet today is, not the proba-
bility, but the possibility of the party's
return to the position that it occupied
from 1892 and 1896 This danger Is not
so imminent as the corporation con-
trolled papers make ii appear, but in
so far as it threatens. 1t paralyzes the
energies of the party and nullifies its
promises. Such a return would indicate
a degradation of the party's ideals and
a perversion of its purpose.
IF the Democratic party will stand
erect, face the future with confidence,
defend the rights of the people and pro-
tect their interests wherever attacked
whether the attack comes from the
fnanciers, the monopolists, the tariff
barons or from the imperialists-ft can
look with confidence for a revolution of
sentiment that will give us a victory
worth having and this victory when 1t
comes will not end. as the victory of
1892 did, in the Generalization of sthe
party, but in the building up Of Dem
ocratic organization which will deal ag-
gressively with all of the evils Of gov
ernment and find its bulwark in the
affections and confidence of the masses"