The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-09
BRYAN AT PEORIA
A Great Crowd Greets the Dem.
Ocrat Candidate.
Whistles Blow and the People
Loudly Cheer.
HE MAKES 3 SPEECHES.
Principal Address on 1.-THE
States and the Nation"
Journey to His Hotel Was a Con-
tinuous Ovation.
HE MAKES 3 SPEECHES.

candidate for president, arrived here
today shortly, before noon in the pri-
yate car of Vice President jackson of
the Rock Island railroad. He was
accompanied by members of the ma
nonal committee and a number of
delegates to the state convention. At
the station to meet him were AdIai
E. Stevenson. candidate for governor
and other prominent Democrats of
the state.
Mr.. Bryan and the special party
were conveyed to, the hotel in auto
mobiles preceding which was large
reception committee on foot headed by
hotel was a continual. ovation.
Yielding to the demands of an inn
mense throng. Mr.. Bryan appeared on
the balcony of the hotel and de-
livered a shortss speech. Later he
spoke to another great gathering,
taking for his subject THE State and
the Nation
Tonight he again will speak at the
Coliseum. ..-.
In his address on 1.-The State and
the Nation" Mr.. Bryan said in part:
The success of our system of govern
ment rests upon the careful observance
of the constitutional division of power
between the state and the nation. A
number of expressions have been coin
ed to describe the relations existing
OCAMCCh TIE ISQSTdl government ana
the several subdivisions, but no one
has been more feHcitous in definitions
than Jefferson or more accurate in
drawing lines of demarkation. He
presented the historic position of the
Democratic party when he declared
himself in favor of 'tthe support of the
state governments in all their rights,
as the most competent administrations
for our domestic concerns and the
surest bulwarks against anti-repub-
lican tendencies" and the preserva-
ton of the general government in its
whole constitutional vigor, as the sheet
anchor of our safety at home and
peace abroad" The Democratic plat
form, adopted at Denver, quotes the
language of jefferson and declares
that it expresses the party's position at
this time.
1t would be almost as difficult to
maintain a free self governing repub-
lie over large areafand with a large
population without 1state governments
as it would be 70 maintain such a re-
public without a general governme nts
The sinterests- Of the different parts Of
matters requiring legislative attention
SO numerous, that it would be impos-
sible to have all of"the work done at
the national capitol. One has only to
examine the bills introduced in each
congress, and then add to the number
sessions of each of the forty-six states,
to realize that 1t would be beyond the
power of any body of men to legislate
intelligently on the multitude of ques-
tions that require consideration.
Importance of State Governments.
Not only would national legislators
lack the time necessary for investiga-
tion, and therefore lack the informa-
ton necessary to wise decision, but the
Indifference of representatives in one
part of the country to local matters in
other parts of the country would invite
the abuse of power. Then, too, the seat
of government would be so far from
the great majority of the voters as to
prevent that scrutiny of public conduct
which is essential to clean and honest
government. The union of the separate
states under a federal government Of
fers the only plan that can adapt itself
| to indefinite extension.
Our constitution expressly reserves
to the states and to the people
respectively all powers not delegated
to the federal government, and only
by respecting this division of powers
can we hope to keep the government
within the reach of the people and
responsive to the will of the people.
| Because in all disputes as to the reIa-
tive spheres of the nation and the
states the final decision rests with the
federal courts. the tendency is
naturally toward Capitalization, and
greater care is required to preserve
the reserved rights of the states than
to maintain the authority of the gem
eral government.
In recent years another force has
been exerting an increasing influence
| in extending the authority of the cen
trail government. l refer to the great
corporations. They prefer the federal
courts to the state courts, and employ
every possible device to drag litigants
| he TT1ft nd "a I'D y,
also prefer congressional regulation to
state regulation, and those interested
| in large corporations have for years
been seeking federal Incorporation.
The Democratic party will resist every
\ attempt to obliterate state lines,
whether the attempt is made through
| legislation or through judicial in
depreciation. Amendment of the
organic law by judicial in
depreciation would be destructive of
stitution can be amended by the peo-
pie in accordance with the terms of
the document itself, and no group of
men, however honorable or high
| minded. can usurp this power without
violating the fundamental principles
| of our government.
Rights of the States.
1t has been suggested that the
| rights of the states can lapse through
non-use and that congress is justified
| in usurping the authority of the state
| if the state fails to make proper use
| of II. While this doctrine has been
| advanced in the pretended interest of
| the people, it is as insidious and as
dangerous an assault as has ever been
made on our constitutional form of
| government. The people of the state
| can act with more promptness than
the people of the nation, and if they
| fail to act. it must be assumed that
| the people of the state prefer inaction.
The real purpose that those have
| in view who complain of the inaction
| of the state. is not more strict regula-
/ ton of the corporations, but the re-
| lief of corporations from state regula-
! ion