The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-07
WILLIAM ], BRYAN
GUEST 'OF HONOR
Nebraskan touches on Politics
AT Banquet
DIFFERENCES ON ISSUES
Bryan Declares That Moral Sentiment
Is Manifesting Itself In Many
Ways and People Return
To Simple Ways.
DIFFERENCES ON ISSUES

Omaha. Neb.. January 6.-Four hundred
guests were present at the annual gath
ering Of the Jacksonian club of Nebraska
at its celebration tonight of the
occasion when "old Hickory and his
host routed the British from New Or
leans.
William ]. Bryan was the guest of hon.
or and other democratic leaders of more
or less prominence in national and state
politics had places at the speaker 5
table.
The Moral Elements in Pending Is
sues was the subject of Mr.. Bryan's ad-
dress. He spoke in part as follows
mo question Is ever settled until the
moral element in the question is dis
cussed and decided; nothing but a moral
issue-that is an issue involving justice,
stirs the heart Andrew jackson ad-
dressed himself to the moral nature and
aroused a moral enthusiasm that out
lived his period. The time Is ripe for
another appeal to conscience and indica-
tlons point to a greater study of public
questions from an ethical standpoint. The
corrupting influences which have flowed
from mercenary politics have at last ex-
cited attention and there is a searching OF
men and of measures such as has not
been known In recent times.
THE Presidents popularity is largely If
not entirely due to the belief among the
masses that he wants TO do what is right
and he is trying to secure justice to those
who have been unjustly dealt with. He
has made many mistakes and great ones.
but these mistakes have 20 a large extent
been overlooked by those who believe that
his heart is right and that he means
well. This is only an indication of pub
lie attitude. Another indication is to be
found in the influence OF the voters.
mot since the war have party lines
hung so loosely and this is the national
result when the voters become earnest
in their desire that wrong shall be over
thrown and right be vindicated.
People differ as to the relative i'm
portance of the different issues, some
placing trusts first, some regarding the
tariff question paramount and others
believing the railroad question more i'm
portant But the fact is. they all point to
the same issue and that those who take
the peoples side on one of these ques-
tions is likely to take the peoples side on
each of the other two. The issue pre-
sented in each and all of these questions
is whether the government shall be ad-
ministered in the interests of a few
favorites or in the interest of the whole
people-whether all the people shall be
taxed that few may be enriched.
For years the republican leaders sup
ported their policies by appeals to the in
terests of different classes and with q
press subservient to predatory wealth.
they have deluded many voters. = They
are not prepared to defend their position
on any public question before the bar of
the public conscience.
In a multitude of ways the moral
sentiment is manifesting itself and un-
less the signs of the times are mislead-
ing there Is going to be return to
the Jeffersonian and Jacksonian doctrine.
equal rights to all and special privileges
to none.
A feature of almost every speech of
the evening was praise for President
Roosevelt, who it was claimed. had been
carrying out many of the principles OF
the democratic platform in 1906 in spite
OF opposition In his own party.