Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-08-20
MIR. BRYAN'S SPEECH.

In his speech of acceptance Mr..
Bryan presents to the country a strong
case FOR pure democracy government
by we'll settled public opinion against
any limitation of the same, whether
called federalism, toryism, or by any
other name. His words are words OF
power, and are bound to reach the
hearts of the people. How they will
be received in Wisconsin is we'll illus
trated by the following editorial arti-
Gle from that great independent news
paper the Milwaukee Journal;
''Bryan can well afford to rest his
case with the people. His speech OF
acceptance is strong and complete.
He cannot add to its force no matter
how much he may talk or write; in
fact, the danger is that he may in
some way mar its effect.
Bryan has never before done any
thing that is at once quite, so timely,
temperate and well sustained as is his
speech. 1t confirms the impression,
current for some time, that the years
have made him wiser. From every
reasonable point of view his speech is
almost perfect. 1t is forcible and
logical. 1t is markedly progressive
In it's tendency without being ultra
radical. 1t is neither demagOgic nor
sensational. II is necessarily partt-
san, but it's partisanship is not mar
row nor bigoted.
'Bryan is at last sailing on an even
keel. His course is as straight as it
ever was, so far as one may Judge
and his determination to finish is as
strong as ever. The change that has
come lies in the adoption of less dan
gerous methods of navigation.
SIN style, that is in force, clearness,
in simplicity of utterance and the
knack of driving things straight home
it is superior to Mr.. Tafts speech OF
acceptance.
bryan counters heavily upon Taft
and the Republican party. He quotes
.
abuses" that exist; he quotes President
RooseVelt's January message regard
ing the wrongs committed by "preda-
tory wealth." then he cites the fact
that the Republican party has been in
power during the last twelve years
and he asks why it has not stopped
these abuses, why it has not remedied
these wrongs. Republicans presided
in the executive department, filled the
cabinet, dominated the senate, con-
trOlled the house of representatives
and occupied most of the federal
judgeships. Having drawn the sal
aries; having enjoyed the honors;
having secured the prestige, let the
Republican party accept the RESPONSE
bility," Bryan asserts.
1t is true indictment. The few
haH-hearted reforms inaugurated by
the Republican congress do not consti-
tute anything like an adequate defense
to it. The rule of Standard Oil Aldrich
in the senate and usurpation of the
by Cannon, Payne Dalzell and other
representatives of the Special Interests
prove the Indictment and convict the
management of the Republican party
before the bar of public opinion.
Bryan has hit the weak spot, the vital
ly weak spot, of his adversaries. If the
Republican party, staggering under
this blow, succeeds in reaching the
White House again, it will be because
of popular confidence in the motives
and integrity of Taft, of faith in the
honesty, patriotism and intelligence
of the Republican party, outside of its
bosses, and of recognition of the ten
dency of the party itself to put its
house in order.
Failure of the Republican party to
remove the evils of the tariff; refusal
to enact the antitrust law which Pres
ident Roosevelt favored; the action of
the senate in defeating railroad legis
lation proposed by LaFollette, partic-
ularly the physical valuation provis-
ion; neglect to stop the oyerissue of
railroad stocks and bonds and the de-
feat of the bill for publicity of cam
paign contributions, all these points
are dwelt upon by Bryan, who in tell
ing style forces them upon the atten
ton of the public.
Bryan scores again, so far as the
management of the Republican party
is concerned, when he attacks the
reactionary character of the Chi
cago convention, as illustrated by its
repetition of progressive and reforma-
tory measures and its nomination for
president of one of Cannon's
chief henchmen, one of the ring that
has de-Americanized the lower house
of congress. He mentions in detail
the planks which were defeated, those
that declared for publicity of cam
paign contributions and expenses, the
popular election of United States sem
ators and for physical valuation of
railroads, and he makes point by
citing the fact that Taft, in order TO
meet the shortcomings of the platform,
has in some measure expressed him
self as being in favor of these reforms.
He clincbes the argument by declaring