The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-20
THE MORAL ISSUE
Time for Honest and Ag-
qressive Action.
Let Public Conscience be Awakened
to Need of Reform. Cries Bryan.
in a Speech at a Public
Dinner.
(By the Associated Press.)

Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 1S.-A formal wei
come to w ]. Bryan on his return from
Europe, taking the form of Dollar Din
ner'' was held tonight, and it was attend
ed by nearly 700 Democrats. The dinner
was intended as 4 testimonial OF regard
and sympathy with Mr.. Bryans political
policies and to mark his entry into active
participation in the pre-convention cam
paign.
Mr.. Bryan spoke on 1.-The Moral Issue. Z
His speech was heartily applauded Mr..
Bryan said:
Instead of talking OF concessions and
compromises, It is time for honest and ag-
gressive action We are confronted with
a condition that may well alarm the
thoughtful and patriotic. We find corrup-
ton everywhere. Voters are bought at
SO much Il head, representatives in our
city governments are profiting by their
positions and even Federal officers are
selling influence. What is the cause?
The commercial spirit that puts price
on everything and resolves every ques-
ton into Will it pay?. This CONNER
calism has given popularity to that
theory of government which permits the
granting of privileges to q 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 tax payers.
eff 4 party makes certain classes rich
by law, will II not naturally turn to those
classes for contributions during the cam
paign? If Congress votes millions OF
dollars annually TO tariff barons, money
magnates and monopolists, is it not nat
ural that aldermen should traffic IN the
small legislation of a city council, and II
officials high and low use the govern
ment as if it were Il private asset. is 1T
surprising that many individuals, who are
without official position yield TO the
temptation TO sell the only political IN
fluence they have; namely the ballot?
What is the remedy? There is only one
remedy, an appeal to the moral sense OF
the country, an awakening Of pubic con-
science.
"And how can this appeal be made?
Not by showing greater desire for the
spoils of office than for reforms, but by
turning deaf ear to the contemplate
cry OF anything TO win and by aiNounc-
ing an honest and straightforward posi-
ton On every public question.
Shall we accept imperialism as an ac-
complished fact in order to appease those
who are willing to endorse government
without the consent of the governed?
there can be no thought of such surren-
der, for who would trust us to deal with
other questions if we prove false to the
fundamental principles of self-govern-
ment.
"Shall we change our position on the
trust question in order to secure the sup
port of the trust magnates? Not for a
moment can we thing of it. We want the
trust magnates against US, not for US.
Shall we abandon our advocacy OF bl-
metallismb in order to conciliate those
who defeated the party in other cam
paigns? Never Some phase of the
money question is always before Con
gress, and no one can predict when the
coinage phase of the money question will
again become acute. No reform of any
kind would be possible with the money
changers in control of the party.
"Shall we change our position on the
tariff question in order to win over Dem
ocrats who are enjoying the benefits of
protection? 1t is absurd to suggest it for
the same vicious principle runs through
all of the abuses from which the people
suffer.
1.-THE Kansas City platform is sound on
every plank. and the first act of the next
Democratic Convention should be to re-
affirm in its entirety and its next act
should be the addition of new planks in
harmony with it and covering such new
questions as demand consideration"