The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1908-01-15
MORAL ELEM ENT'
SUBJECT Of TALK
BY WIN. J. BRYAN

1.-The Jacksonian Club of Omaha
Nebraska, at its celebrat o Mon.
day William Jenning Bryan who
was the guest of honor and Other
democrat leaders of more or less
prominence in national and state
politics hadplaces atthe speakers
table. G. j. Smythe, tnrmersec.
'etary of state, was toastmaster
He predicted the election of MIR
Bryan to the highest otficein the
gift of the people.
"rhe moral element in the
pending issues" was the subject
of Bryan's address, which, in
part, tollows:
mo question is ever settled
until the moral element in the
question is discussed and decided.
Nothing but moral Issues, that is.
an issue involving justice, stirs
the heart. Andrew Jackson ad
dressed himself to moral nature
and aroused moral enthusiasm
that outlived his period. The
time is ripe for another appeal
TO conscience and indications
point to greater study of public
questions from an ethical stand
point.
"The corrupting in fl u en- cen
which have flowed from mer
cenary politics have at last excit,
I'd attention and there 10 q search.
ing of men and measures Such ae
.has not been known in recent
Zines. The presidents populari
y is largely if not entirely due
10 the belief among the masses
hat he wants to do what is righ,
md he is trying to secure justic'
70 those who have been unjustly
iealt with. He has made many
mistakes and great ones, but
these mistakes have to a large cN
tent been overlooked by thost
who believe that his heart is right
and that he means we'll.
"This is only un indication OF
public attitude. Another indica
ton is to be found in the ihes
fluence of the voters. Not sine,
the war have party lines hung so
loosely, and this ls natural re-
suit when the voters becomt
earnest in the desire that wrong
shall be overthrown and right
vindicated. People differ as t.
the relative importance of IT,,
different issues, some placing
trusts first, some regarding th'
tariff question as paramount and
others believing the railroad
question most important.
"But the fact is they all point
to the same issue and those wht
take the peoples side on one OF
these questions are likely to take
the peoples side on either of the
other two.
"The issue presented in each
and all OF these questions is
whether the government shall be
administered in the interests of .
few favorites or in the interests OF
the whole people, whether all the
people shall be taxed that few
may be enriched. Tho trusts tax
the entire people for the benefit
ofa comparatively small number
of stock holders, the protected
manufacturers tax the entire peo.
pie through import duties and
the railroads levy tribute upor
the whole country through ex,
tortionate rates. We have had
selfshness enthroned in law ol
selfshness deEying the law unit
the average man has become the
victim of unjust practices OF
every hand. For years the re
publican leaders supported theii
policies by adroit appeals to th'
interest of the different classes
and with the press subservient t.
predatory wealth, they have de
ceived and deluded many voters
"They are not prepared to de
fend their position on any publi
question before the bar of publ,
conscience. Some of the NOR
independent of the republican
realize this and are utterinl