The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-01-22
SAYS W. j. BRYAk
A DOLLAR Dinner h Given in In
oofn TO Welcome Bryan Back Home
He Discusses The Moral Issue"
lie Asserted That the Kansas City
Platform Is Sound and Should be
Reanirmed and New P1anks Added
Covering Such Questions q Should
he Considered.

16HOD1ng NED. january 1O.-A lOI
mal welcome to William ] Bryan on
his return from Europe, taking the
form OF a dollar dinner" was held to-
night and it was attended by nearly
TOO Democrats. The Inner was in
tended as q testimonial OF regard and
sympathy with Mr.. Bryan's political
policies and to mark his entry into
active participation in the pre-conyen-
ton campaign.
Mr.. Bryan spoke on The Mora Is
sue" His speech was harti ap
plauded. Among other things he said:
"Iastead Of talking of concessiol rs
and compromises. it is time for honest
and aggressive action. We are con-
fronted with a condition that may well
alarm the thoughtful and patriotic.
We find corruption everywhere. Voters
are bought at so much a head, repre-
sentatives in our city governments, are
profiting by their positions and ever
federal officers are selling influence.
What is the cause? The commercial
spirit that puts a price ON everything
and resolves every question into Will
it pay?' This cOmmercialism has
given popularity to that theory of gov-
m which permits the granting
of privileges to a favored few and de-
tends the theory by an attempt to
show that the money thus far given
directly finds it's way Indirectly back
into the pockets of the tax payers.
IF a party makes certain classes
rich by law. will it not naturally Turn
49, 49, -I@--1- f0- 4nn4rthtr 4 ! - N Q
during the campaign? If Congress
votes millions of dollars annually tc
tariff barons, money magnates and
monopolists, is it notnatural that al
dermen should traffic in the small ieg-
islation of a city council, and if of
Gals high and low use the govern
ment as if it were a private asset, i il
surprising that any individual. W {
are without official position, yield tt
the temptation to sell the only politi-
cal influence they have; naTely tie
ballot What is the remedy ?There Is
only n remedy, an appeal to the
moral sense of the country. an awak-
ening OF public conscience.
And how can this appeal me made
Not by showing a greater desire for
the spoils OF office thar reforms, buI
by turning a deaf ear to the con,
temptibie cry of anything to win and
BY announcing an honest and straigh
forward position on every public
question.
Shall we accept Imperialism as ar
accomplished fact in order to appeasa
those who are willing to endorse 'gov
eminent without the consent OF the
governed?' There can be no thoug1'
OF such remedy for who would trust
us to deal with other questions If We
prove false to the fundamental prin 4.
pies Of self government.
Shall We change our position vi
the trust question in order to ecure
the support Of the trust magnates
MOI for a moment can we think Of il
We want the trust magnates against
us. not for us.
shall We abandon u advocacy OF
~bimetallism in order to conciliate those
who defeated the party in other cam
padgns. Never. Some phasa of tn
money question is always before CON
q 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 changers IN control ot
the party.
Shall We change our position on the
tariff question in order to win over
Democrats who are enjoying the bene
fits Of protection? It is absurd to sug
gest It. for the same vicious principl.
runs through all of the abuses from
which the people suffer.
The Kansas City platform is SCUM
on every plank. and the first &C o
the next Democratic convention Shouts
be to re-affirm it in its entirety and
it's next act should be the addition q
new pianks in harmony with it and
covering such new questions as demant
consideration