The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1904-01-27
MORAL ISSUE HIS SUBJECT
Mr.. BRYAN TOOK HIGH GROUND IN HIS
SPEECH AT DOLLAR BANQUET.
Democratic Principles and Democratic
Duty in Coming Campaign. The Old
Platform With Up.to-Date Planks.


A formal welcome to w. j. Bryan
on his return from Europe, taking the
form of dollar dinner" was held at
Lincoln Neb., and attended by nearly
i 700 Democrats. The dinner was in
tended as testimonial of regard of
sympathy with Mr.. BrYan's political
policies and to mark his entry into
active particl patton in the pre-cOnven-
ton campaign. Mr.. Bryan spoke to
"The Moral Issue" His speech was
heartily applauded.
Mr.. Bryan said; "Instead of talking
of concession and compromises, it is
time for honest and aggressive action.
We are confronted with d condition
that may well alarm the thoughtful
and patriotic. We find corruption
everywhere. Voters are bought at so
much head, representatives in our
city governments are profting by
their positions and even federal officers
are selling their influence. What is the
cause? The commercial spirit that
puts price on everything and resolves
every question into will it pay This
commerciaIism has given popularity
to that theory of government 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 its way in
directly back into the pockets of the
taxpayers.
at party makes certain classes
rich by law will it not n aturally turn
to those classes for contributions dur
lug the campaign? If congress votes
millions of dollars annually to tariff
barOns, money magnates and mOnopO-
lies is it not natural that aldermen
should traffic in the small legislation
of city council, and if officials, high
and low, use the government as if it
were private asset is it surprising
that many individuals, who are with
out official positions, yield to the
temptation to sell the only political in
fuence they have; namely, the ballot?
What Is the remedy? There is only
one remedy, an appeal TO the moral
sense of the country, IN awakening OF
public conscience.
"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 con-
temptible cry of anything TO win and
announcing an honest and straight
forward position on every public
| question.
"Shall we accept imperi alism as an
accomplished fact in order to appease
those VINO are willing to indOrse gov
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
ii we prove false to the fundamental
principles of self-government?
"Shall we change OR positions on
the trust question in order to secure
the support of the trust magnates?
Not for moment can we think of it.
| We want the trust magnates against
US, not for US.
"Shall we abandon our advocacy of
bimetallism in order to cOociliate those
who deserted 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 ques-
ton will again become acute. No re
| form of any kind would be possible
with the money changes in control of
the party.
"5hall we change our position on
the oaey question in order TO win
over Democrats who are enjoying the
benefits of protection? 1t is absurd TO
suggest it, for the same vicious prln-
| ciple runs through all of the abuses
| from which the people suffer.
"The Kansas City platform is sound,
and the first act of the democratic con-
vention should be to rsaffirm it in it's
entirety, and it's next act should be the
adoption of new planks in harmony
with it and covering such new ques-
tions as demand consideration"
The prevention of consumption is