The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-31
Great Oupouring of Genuine Enthusiasm For the Chosen
 Leader of Democracy

breast to the bullets of a public enemy In time of war. The highest patriotism pie are commencing to appreciate the fact that the Government of city, Stats. and nation belongs to them, and that they can take the Government into their own hands whenever they wish. No Government was ever better than the people made 1t, or worse than they suffered 1t to become. The public life private life. This Government IS no better than any other except as the virtue and patriotism of the people make 1t so. The people are beginning take to be their Kings, they assume the responsibilities as well as the privileges of sovereignty. This awakening will go on for a while reforms sometimes die, revolutions never go backward. and this is revolution that is being wrought in the hearts of men.
 This movement against wrongs IS not a crusade against wealth. Wealth in itself Is blessing; the abuse of wealth Is a curse. Wealth gained by honest industry Is commendable. The poverty of incidence is contemptible. This Government does not rest upon the idle rich nor the idle poor, but upon the in dustry and patriotism of the middle classes There can be no objection to honest riches, but there is objection to the crimes and privileges out of which sition to infure. corporations that obey the law. but the demand is that cor porations even the greatest, obey the law just like anyone else. Special in terests should be made to respect tho law regulating their conduct as they ask others to respect the law protect ing their property: The need Is no. so much for new jaws, as to enforce those laws we have. There has been too much of making of laws to please all the people. and too little of enforce ment of those laws. to please special interests.
 The regenerated conscience of the people has been assailing these abuses one by one and has now commenced to attack the deeper evil of privileges Graft is a privilege which is exercised either against the Nlaw. or one which the law itself may give. No one ever heard of a legislator being bribed to give equal rights to all the people. It Is always for the purpose of obtaining privileges for the few. Graft cannot be fully done away with until special privileges are exterminated and the doctrine, of equal rights becomes the matters not whether this privilege be in the form of tariff so arranged as to foster monopoly, or a trust to con- trol the price of the necessities of life, or rebates to favored shippers, Ne protection for monopoly is the battle cry of the newborn patriotism. As monopoly Is founded on privilege, with platform of privileges for the few Is opposed by the platform of privileges for none. The doctrine of protection for monopoly az agalnst the people, a,ds is for the people as against monopoly.
 The light is breaking and good meD and true will say, let there be light and yet more light. that we may escape the snares set for our feet. and walk in safety along the highway of a larger freedom to a more equalized national existence and higher life.
 cal nor conservatibe. Rather let us be conservative in charging wrong-do- . ihg, lest injustice be caused in chary sure fthe evil. let us be radical in it's extermination. Let us have neither the conservatism of stagnation nor the radicalism of indiscriminate destruc- lines. States and nations, like men. should ever be satisfied, but ever strive for higher development,
 In this epoch so important to Ameri- no new gods; we ask them to follow no new paths which may lead into the quicksands of dishonor and despair Our safest and surest guide is still the old maxim, that there shall be equal rights to all, special privileges to 'lone With this axiom as our chart, we can" not lose our course; with this rule for our guidance. the infamies of privileges in every form will be destroyed and unto all men there will be restored the equal right that belongs to each. the fair and equal opportunity i,p of each the earth which God has given to all, and to enjoy. untram, meled and unrestricted, the gains of
 The gospel of equal rights sounds the death knell of privilege and means the uprooting of monopoly throughout the land. This gospel teaches that 1t pie be prosperous, than that few be very rich; that 1t is better that all of the people should have all of the should be in the hands of few peo- ple. The other republics that have liv- ed and died during the flight of time upon the rock of privilege. But the hope for the perpetuality of this gov ernment was never brighter than 1t is today, because the people are awak- ened to the dangers ahead. As long as the people are aroused. thert) will be only safety lights for the popular government
 The ideal republic is one of charity equal rights for all mankind. We may not achieve the ideal at any time soon. but we can strive for 1t with the assurance that this endeavor will lead us up the heights of attainment until we are face to face with the ideal and the true.
 movements are going on. a few men stand out holding the light to guide the footsteps of the seekers after truth. The great torchbearer of right ness is the guest we welcome home to- night. Another. the relentless foe of privilege in every form. the leader of a Democratic Democracy, your perma- nent chairman, the Honorable Tom L. Johnson of Ohio. whom I now pre- sent to you.
 Governor Folk concluded by intro ducing Mayor Johnson of Cleveland. as chairman of the meeting The ap- plause was deafeining as Mir. Johnson came forward. At this same moment reserved box. For two minutes the crowd cheered. Many rose and waved hats and handkerchiefs in tho direc- tion of Mir. Hearst's box. Then her" were more cheers for Mayor Johnson Then MT. Bryan entered.
 Crowd Goes Wild.
 The crowd which had been so free in its cheering before was now fairly beside itself The men shouted and Jumped on seats, cheered and threw their hats into the air, apparently car ing naught as to the ultimate fate of the headgear
 The women waved handkerchiefs and cheered as loudly las they could. Five minutes after Mir. Bryan appeared on the platform the crowd howleG and cheered, but eventually chairman Johnson secured comparative quiet and introduced Augusta Thomas. whose every reference to MT. Bryan called for additional cheers.
 AntI-TFust Leagues Welcome.
 Colonel Bryan, the Anti Trust League of the Commercial Travellers of Amer lea, joined by this representative con- course of your eountrymen and theirs, welcome you home. The commercial