The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05
STRONG LETTERS
 FROM TWO LEADERS Bryan and Johnson Send
 Greetings to Tammany FIGHT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS
Letters Are Sent on the Occasion of Fourth of July Celebration and
 Speak of Conditions That
 Prevail In United States.

New York, July 4.-Letters from Will Minnesota were read at Tammany hall s celebration of the signing of the Declara- tion of Independence today. After ex- pressing regret at their inability to be there, each urged the organization to do all in it's power to continue to fight tor 'equal rights against special privileges. " The letter follows;
 ''Lincoln Neb., June 25, 1908. ''Mr Daniel F. Cohalan, Chairman of Fourth of July Committee, Tammany Society, New York:
 My Dear Sir-I am in receipt of your committees invitation to participate in Tammanys annual celebration of the nations birthday I regret that engage ments already made to meet delegates en route to the Denver convention will prevent my acceptance. I trust that your meeting may not only stimulate those present to renewed devotion to the fun damental principles of free government, but to an active effort to apply those principles to the problems which confront this generation.
 Our forefathers secured for the col ones an opportunity to exercise the rights of self-government and we are now en- toying the fruits of their efforts. A mon- arch no longer menaces us; no foreign foe threatens our independence. But we have dangers to meet which call for in telligence, courage and patriotism. Priv ilege has usurped the throne and its ex- fOrr,a anfslx required to support a royal family; favor itism asserts a divine right to rule and resents any interference with its pre- negatives Our task is scarcely less in- portant than that which confronted our ancestors for the despotsm of plutoc-acy may become as cruel as the despotsm of a king.
 Back to the people, may well be the motto of those who believed, with Lin- coin, that a government of the people, by the people and for the people should not perish from the earth, and with Jef- ferson that such a government should be administered according to the maximum, equal rights to all and special privileges to none. Very truly yours,
 .'w. J. BRYAN"
 Johnson's Letter.
 St. Paul, June 30 190S.-Hon. Thomas H. Smith, secretary Tammany Hall, New York City:
 My greetings to the members Of your society, the oldest and best known, De- lieve political organization of the republic. May your celebration of Independence Day comport with the best traditions of the day and of Tammany Hall.
 ''The old story of the war of revolution is ever new, will be told again and again, but new problems are confronting the na- ton and while rejoicing in the victory Of our arms in the past we must not lose sight of the perils of the present. We know of the struggle between equal rights on the one side and special privi- leges on the other. Freedom so dearly purchased must be preserved in it's fullest sense for our children. We hear much or the conservation of our national resources. We hear more of the conservation Of hu- man energy of the right of every child to the heritage of health, happiness and education, that blessed institution, the American home and for the vote the sared right of a free and unpurchased hallot. JOHN A. JOHNSON,
 Governor"