The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-01-20
BRYAN INSISTS on
KANSAS CITY PLA7FORM-
Free Silver Leader Delivers Sia-
nidcant Address at Compliment
tary Banquet.

Lincoln, Neb., Jan. ls.-A formal
welcome to VIM. J. Bryan on his re-
turn from Europe, taking the form Of
a dollar dinner.' vas held tonight
and was attended by nearly 700 Demo
Gratis. The dinner was intended as
testimonial of regard and sympathy
with Mr.. Bryan's political policies
and to mark his entry into active
participation in the pre-conventicI
campaign. MI. Bryan spoke to "The
Moral Issue.'' His speech was heart
lily applauded
Mr.. Bryan said:
" Instead of talking of concessions
and compromises, it is time for honest
and aggressive action. We are con-
fronted with a condition that NAV well
alarm the thoughtful and patriotic
We ind corruption everywhere. Voters
are bought at SO much head, repre-
sentatives in our city governments are
profting Dy sheir positions and ever
federal officers are selling influence.
What is the cause? The CONNER ercial
spirit that puts price on everything
and resolves every question into will
it pay?' This Commercial has given
popularity to that theory Of govern
raent which permits the granting OF
privileges to favored few and defends
the theory by an attempt to show that
the money thus given directly finds it's
way Indirectly back into the pockets
Of the people If a party makes GER
tain classes rich by law will it not
naturally turn to these classes for con-
tributions during the campaign? II
congress votes millions of dollars
annually to tariff barons, money
magnates and monopolists, is it not
natural that aldermen should traffic
in The small legislation of city coun-
Gil, and if officials, high and low, use
the government as if it were priyats
asset, is it surprising that many in
| dividuals who are without official posi-
| tion yield to the temptation to sell.
the only political influence they have
namely, the ballot9 What is the
remedy? There is only one remedy,
an appeal to the moral sense of the
country, an awakening of public coz
science:
And how can this appeal be nader
Not by showing greater desire for
the spoils Of Office than for reforms,
| but by turning deaf ear to the con
temptible cry of anything to win anG
by announcing an honest and straight
forward position on every public cues
tion
"Shall we accept imperialism as an
accomplishd fact in order tx appease
those who are willing to endorse .goy-
ernment without the consent of the
governed?' There can be no thought
of such surrender, for who would
| trust US to deal with other questions
if we prove false to the fundamental
principls Of self-government?
"Shall We change our position OF
the trust question in order to secure
the support of the trust magnatess
Not for a moment can we think Of it.
We want the trust magnates against
us, not for as.
"Shail we abandon our advocacy OF
bimetallisn n in order to conciliate
campaigns? Never. Some phase of
the money question is always before
congress, and no one can predict when
tie coinage phase Of the money cues
tiion will again become acute. Nc
reform of any kind would be possible
with the money changers in contro.
of the party.
"Shail We change our position oR
the tariff question in order to win
over Democrats who are enjoying the
benefits of protection? It is absurd to
suggest it, for the same vicious pria
ciple runs through all of the abuses
from which the people suffer.
"The Kansas City platform is sound.
on every plank, and the first act of the
next Democratic convention shonld
be to reafhrm it in its entirety and its
next act should be the adoption Of new
planks in harmony with it and cover
ing such new questions as demand
consideration.