The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-28
HEDRAWS THE BEST
Bryan's Audience Largely
Composed of Clergymen
and Ladies.
(By the Associated Press.)

New York, Jan. 26.-Every seat IN the
Madison Square Concert Hall was taken
tonight when William ]. Bryan began his
speech on moral issues" In the au-
dience there were many women, while the
body of the hall was more than hair
Allied with clergymen There was no pre-
siding officer, Mr.. Bryan being escorted
TO the platform where he was greeted with
prolonged applause He said in part:
"Why have l flung away ambition?
Why have 1 rejected this proffered great
ness and been deaf to the entrcaties of
those who talk only of getting together
want to know what they are getting
together for, whether to defend rights or
to enter upon a course of pillage.
THE trouble with our government to-
day is that it is too much influenced in
ITS operations by men whose only loyalty
Is loyalty to the money-bags. Will it pa"
has been substituted for Is it right? and
as a consequence our legislative assem-
blies, city, State and national. are be-
coming auction rooms in which govern
mental privileges are knocked down to
the highest bidder.
"One evidence that our party was hon
estly seeking to secure justice to the
masses in 1895 and 1900, is to be found in
the fact that our campaign funds were
insignificant IN both campaigns In 1892,
the Democratic party collected large
campaign fund, from the corporations
It spent more than 81 600 900 in the two
State of New York and Indiana alone
and what was the result? The most pluto
cratic administration this country had
ever known. We witnessed a surrender
to organized and predatory wealth so alb
ject and so complete that seven years of
exile from power have not entirely re-
moved the stain from the party. You
ask why l am opposed to the re-organlza-
ton of the Democratic party. Because I
want my party to define the rights OF
the people; I want it to be the fearless
champion of their interests. / want it to
present the moral issue involved in pub
tic questions, and to appeal to the public
conscience.
when the next Democratic convention
undertakes to write new platform, II
will find the last one model of clear
ness and conciseness, and of square deal
ing; and / hope that tho delegates to
the convention will be instructed by the
various States to endorse it.
land how about candidates? II does not
matter much what the name OF the Presi-
dental candidate is, but it does matter
what he stands for, and in what direction
ne is going to lead the party. Let the
Republican party be challenged TO meet
the moral issue presonted--this is demo-
cratic, this is patriotic
Mr.. Bryan deserted frequently the text
Of the address as previously given out.
Speaking of the comforting OF govern
nicnt favors on great corporations ho
said:
Il want to call the attention of the
clergy to this and T~'Want to ask them
when they are doing TO warm their con
gegations OF the degradation OF the
moral sense which is now going on.
Il don't want you by your applause
to seem to rebuke the ministers for their
past lapses of conduct. But / want to
have their attention called to the corrup-
ton existing in high places. Those de-
b3sers of the moral sense have grown
more and more defiant of the people,
Abiding to open sale of VOTES which he
said existed in Delaware Mr. Bryan said:
TT is this commercialism that is de-
bauching our nation and betraying our
ountry. l beg you to thunder out against
this vicious principle and not to try anu
stop it in some little way
III spedhlAS VI me oo4l uptloh W WINS
he said:
You can't stop corruption. I believe
that in stead of giving man IS to vote
the ticket you should take branding
iron and brand him. 1t should be done
to the counc Imam who sells a franchise
that belongs to the city, to the members
OF the State Legislature who betrays
his people for the rights of gains the
Congressman and Senator who allows
corporation to wreck the laws OF TIE
land" the laws,