The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-04-27
sRYlR UABURDERs HIMSELF.
Hires a Hall in Chicago and Tells
a Crowd What He Thinks of
the Chicago Plan.
a Goes not Meet With His Approval and
leWeuFd Have Democrats Repudiate it.

eL2Es%aA aOQISSSOO 4o4SO ouO@OGSO
sonight in the armory of the Sd
iafantry at the corner of Curtis street
and Washington boulevard. The place
vas packed to its utmost capacity,
and a large number Of people we're
unable to get through the doors.
The meeting was entirely an affair
Gf Mr. Bryan's, he having rented the
armory, and paid all Of the expenses
Of the meeting. He was particular
30 have it understood that his ad-
-5dress was not in favor of or against
any particular aspirant to the Demo
cratic nomination for the Presidency.
His subject vas sThe New York
Platform, and he repeated several
Times during the course OF his address
shat he was discussing measures only,
aad not men.
In order that his address might not
have the appearance Of being deliy-
cred under any particular political
iaGuence, or in the interest OF any
special faction, Mr. Bryan was his
0wn presiding officer, and introduced
himself to his hearers.
Ar. Bryan said all doubts as to
sJadge Parkers' views had been dispell-
81 by the adoption of the New York
-gzaESorm, and he thought he could
1roye Parker's un6tness for nomina-
s6sOn by she Democratic party or any
B&rsy that stands for honesty and fair
dealing in politics.
He then proceeded to review Of
stEhs issues How before the country, In
c.ading the trusts. imperialism, the
labor question, the tariff, the money
Hsaestion. income tax, election OF Sena-
-tSocs by the people, and declared the
Eaw York platform was silent upon
atS these issues.
sS g The New York platform Mr..
8yan continued, sis dishonest
psssform, fs only for dishonest party.
10 one but an artful dodger would
saad upon it. The submission Of such
platform 60 the voters Of State is
I'm insult TO their intelligence, for it
IS INTENDED TO deceive, especially so
clumsy an attempt as this platform is
lis q reflection upon the brains OF
those TO whom it IS submitted.
Can any one doubt that with such
q platform as was signed in New York.
and With a candidate whose conscience
zUnld permit him TO run upon such a
p2atform-does any one Doubt that with
q platform and candidate the party
Would be mortgaged beforehand to
$as corporations that are now using
Ene. Government as q private asset and
the people at wills
But there, is another reason wlly
ae Democratic party cannot afford TO
70 before the county with an ambig-
-Enls platform and an uncertain can
dsdate. No matter how people may
Fer as to the relative Importance
5e issues, all nnust recognize that the
Enst question today presents an i'm
pacsant phase >of tbe great conflict
besWeen plutocracy and democracy.
a have recently had Supreme Court
decision on the merger case. This
decision was rendered by bare major
~ OF one, and that one (Judge
eswer. In a separate opinion, has
stated his position in such a way as
70 leave no doubt that in the first
csse iayolving a trust he may join the
naiority and defeat the Sherman law.
: The President TO be elected this
9aai will doubtless have the appoint
1aeut OF one or two, and possibly three,
Sapreme Court Judges. II his SYM
pashies are with the corporations he
viii doubtless appoint Judges satis-
factory to the corporatlons-espe specially
cf obligated to the corporations by
3aggs campaign contributions-and
saese Judges can make it impossible to
secure any remedial legislation for
years TO come.
The issue presented today in the
zrRst question and in all the other
questions with which we have to deal,
is the question between human rights
and the so-aclled property rights or,
more properly. speaking, between
ordinary people and the great corpora
lions. Those who believe that property
rights are supreme take the side Of
the trusts. II we have President
Ehois in sympathy with this theory,
Is means that the dollar will be given
consideration before the mar. 1t
means shat Organized weslth can
continue to trampee upon the rights OF
sshe people, it means that the instru
msntallties Of the Government Can be
-Hsed for the protection of every scheme
Of exploitation that the capitalist can
conceive.
1--WE ought to appeal to the con-
science of the public and arraign Re-
pablican policies as hostile both to the
principles OF free government and the
principles CT morality. We have an
opportunity to make the Democratic
party power in this country, not
oniy a power. but power for good.
Jet us arraign the party against every
abuse Of government aud against
every policy that is hurtful to the
psopie Let Us drive ont OF the party
every Democrat who betrays his trust,
every official vino would administer
she Office for his private advantage
9. g. The New York, platform is ambig
uous, uncertain. evasive and dishonest
1T would disgrace the Democrats of
the ration to adopt such a platform,
and it ought to defeat as an aspirant
for Democratic nomination any man
wbo would be willing to have it go
forth as declaration of his views on
-sublic questions In Illinois, in Wis
ceusin, IN Michigan, in Minnesota, in
Iodiana, in Ohio. and i'll every State
4saat has rot acted, it behOoveS the