The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-09-14
BRYAN TO LABOR MEN.
Labor Day Turned Into Bryan
Day in Chicago-An Except
From His Speech.


William Jennings Bryan ad-
dressed a multitude of laboring
men in Chicago last Monday, |
Labor Day in that city being
made Bryan Day. Among other
things he said:
According to the Declaration
of Independence, governments
are instituted among men to Sc
cure to them the enjoyment of
their inalienable rights. Among
these inalienable rights, three
are specifically enumerated-life,
liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness. The second and third,
however, are really parts of the
first, for life means nothing to
the individual if it is confined to
mere animal existence. Man is
distinguished from the brute in
that the latter merely eats and
sleeps and dies, while man is en-
dowed by the Creator with inf
mite possibilities. Liberty is
necessary for the realization of
mans possibilities. His con-
science must be left free that he
may fix for himself the relation
between himself and his God.
His mind must be left free that
he may devise and plan for him
self, for his family and for his
fellows. His speech must be
free that he may give to the
world the result of his investiga-
tions and present to others the
ideal which he is trying to realize
in his work. His pen must be
free that he may scatter seed
thoughts to the uttermost parts
of the earth and leave to poster
ity a record of his work. He
, finds in government the cheap
est, as we'll as the surest, protec-
ton Of this liberty, to be, to
think, to speak, to act.
And what constitutes the pur-
suit Of happiness? Man must
have home and friends family
and society. He must have fooC
or he will starve. He must have
clothing and shelter; he mus
q have books, he must have instru
! ments with which to work. He
. must provide during the perioC
of strength for the years wher
age dulls his energies and be
numbs his hands. He may have
e ambition, he may have willing
ness to work and an cAviron
! ment that spurs him on; but tn
. government may encourage or i
may discourage his efforts. Gov
d ernment may bid him hope O
>, leave him to despair.
" When visited the valley O
" Jordan l learned that it is fertil
and productive, and yet, instea
of being cultivated like the va
. ley Of the Nile, vast stretches G
territory lie untitled. Why?
p, was told that under the reign c
J, the Sultan the toiler is not pro
= tected in the enjoyment Of tn
fruits of his soil. If the farme
plants and tends his crop, tn
rowing Bedouins will sweep dow
from the hills at harvest tim
- and carry away the fruits of h
industry.
? If the government does not a
\ sure to the Individual the enjo,
ment of the result of his effor
there is no stimulus to industry
We have the best governmel
on earth. 1t gives the large
liberty, the greatest hope an
the most encouragement to tt
citizens, and yet, even in tn
s, country, it is always necessar
to be on the watch to keep tt
k. instrumentalities of governor
from being turned to priva
gain.
A MODERN PROBLEM.
One of the greatest problem
of today is to secure and equi
able distribution Of the procee'
n of toll. The material wealth
7 this country is largely a joi
- product; in factories few peop
work along, and on the farm
certain amount of cooperation
necessary. Where men work t
! gether, the army organizatiC
- applies to some degree; that
some direct, others are directe
The difficulty has been to divi'
the results fairly between tt
captains of industry and the pl
Yates in the ranks. AS the divi
res ing is done largely by the ca
= tains, it is not unnatural tn
they should magnify their ps
- and appropriate too large shal
neither is it unnatural that the
I should be complaint on the p;
of the toilers who think tt
their recompense is insufficiel
The labor question, thereto
as it presents itself at this tin
is chiefly a question asked for
legislation which will secure
each that to which his servi,
e entitle him. AS legislation
secured through the ballot eve
one should use the ballot to
tain the legislation necessa
The Democratic platform p
sents the ideal toward which
Democratic party is strivi
a. namely, justice in the distri
W ton of rewards. The Democrs
party proclaims that each IL
- How to Get Strong.
P. J. Daily, of 1247 W. Cong
Ct, Chicago, tells of way to
A = ocrno o+rOnr. Ho aava. ''Mv mr.