Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-27
MORAL ISSUES"
Hot Shot from the Lips Of
Hon. W. J. Bryan.
Goes After Some Democrats and All
Other Political Parties.
mot a Candidate" but Speech Re.
sembles Bid for Nomination.

New Ork, Jan. lb.-EVery seat in the
Madison Square concert hall was
taken, tonight. when William J. Bryan
began his speech on Moral Issues" In
the audience there We're many women
and the body of the hall was more than
half filled with clergymen.
There was no presiding officer, Mr.,
Bryan being escorted to the platform,
where he was greeted with prolonged
applause. He said in part:
Il have preferred to speak independ-
emily of any organization because 1 do
not care to embarrass any friends or
supporters who may differ from me in
opinion.
Il do not speak with authority; am
only u private citizen.
''But think not that this prospective
obscurity has been forced upon me by
unfortunate circumstances or by cruel
fate. 1 can prove by an interview
which appeared in yesterday mornings
papers that have recently renowned
Il prominence that was within my
grasp, if l had only followed the ad-
vice of one of your distinguished finan-
ciers, Mr.. Joseph c. Hendrix, who is
quoted as saying:
If Mr.. Bryan had come here from
Europe and said that he had learned a
great deal in his trip abroad and de-
ciarcd that he was convinced that it
would be Il desirabl thing for all DEM
ocrats to get together, he would be q
great man, and his influence would
have greatly increased. BY his present
course. he is killing himself
Surely if Mr.. Hendrix is to be be-
your attention and arouse that interest
which, usually attaches to an ante
norton statement when the speaker is
sobered by the thought of impending
dissolution.
why have I flung away ambition?
Why have l been deaf to the entreates
of those who talk only of getting to-
gether?' l want to know what they are
getting together for. whether to defend
rights or enter upon a course of pill
lage.
THE trouble with~our government
today, is that it is too much Influenced
in it's operations by men whose only
loyalty is loyalty to the moneybags.
Twill it pay" have been substituted
for Is it right?' and as a consequence
our legislative assemblies, city, state
and national are becoming auction
rooms in which governmental privi-
leges are knocked down to the highest
bidder.
You ask why I am opposed to the
reorganization of the Democratic par
y? Because l want my party to de-
hn rio of ho 7
to be the fearless champion of their in
terests; want it to present moral is
sue involved in public questions and to
appeal to the public conscience.
In dealing with the labor question.
neral principles only are applicable.
Capital and labor cannot be recOnciled
by high sounding platitudes about law
and order and vested rights.
when the next Democratic conven-
ton undertakes to write a new plat
form il will find the last one a model of
clearness and concisencss and of
square dealing; and I hope that the
delegates to the convention will be in
structed by the various states to en-
dOrSe it.
1T does not matter much what the
but it does matter what he stands for
and in what direction he is going to
lead the party. Let the Republican
party be challenged to meet the moral
issue presented. Let this be done and
unless reason and love of country have
fled, we shall fight without being
ashamed. If we lose it will be but Il
temporary defeat and will bring no dis
grace with it. If we win, the victory
will mean much for the country and for
the world"
Referring to the comforting of gov
errment favors on great corporations,
Mr.. Bryan said:
Il want to cali the attention Of the
clergy to this and I want to ask them
what they are doing to warn their
congre cations CT the degradation of the
moral cause which is now going on.
I want 10 have their attention called to
the corruption existing in high places"
Abiding to open sale OF votes, which
hs. said existed in Delaware, Mr.. Bryan
said:
at is this commercialism that is de-
bauching our nation and betraying our
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