The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-01
DECLARES DANIEL
Continued from First Page

who had rolled away the stone from
the sepulchre in which Democracy
had been buried
In speaking of his former life and
activities, Mr. Bryan spoke brieny on
his former campaigns. especially the
campaign of 1896 when he advocated
free silver. He said that people could
never see anything except a silver sur
face to this campaign. but there was
the beginning Of progressive iegisla
ton, doing away with federal DONNA
ton. and the giving special privileges
to the big corporations and interests.
In discussing government, he
said Il was a very simple thing. that
the art Of government was the art OF
being honest and the problems of
government were only the problems
If life. the whole thing being a moral
question. MIR. Bryan said that people
did not understand government be-
cause 1t was not put clearly, but If it
was put 10 them as a moral question
they would very quickly understand.
The bill of rights came in for dis
cussion, the speaker basing his theory
on two points of representative gov
eminent: The first, the government Of
society. and the second. the govern
ment of the masses. The later. ne
said, was built on the firm basis on
the bottom, and legislation permeated
10 the top, while the former was susr
pended from the top and what legis-
lation trickled through. the masses be-
low caught the drippings In draw
ing his distinction he showed that
II was a choice between democracy
and aristocracy, the one thinking and
choosing the man they trust to rep
resent them and the other, not think
ing but choosing a man to think for
them in the making of laws.
Conscience For Public.
He arraigned the man who would
accept an office. whether legislative
judicial or executive. and not consider
himself a servant of the people, say
Ing that such n man should be rele-
gated TO private life until he could
think over the matter. Conscience
was anoher thing which Mr.. Bryan
declared should be followed absolutely
In public life. that no public servant
should do that which his conscience
dictated not to do.
Il believe that when man is called
upon to do a thing by his constituents.
which he cannot conscientiously do,
then that man should resign his Of
fee and permit his people to send
someone who can do as they wish"
This he said was not always done. the
salary and the honor being too often
too great a temptation.
The initiative and referendum was
strongly advocated, by the speaker He
illustrated tho working OF this great
law for the good of the people, and
how 1t had been adopted In the plat
forms the various parties in the diff
ferent States, and people who had
denounced the initiative and referen-
dunn some years ago were now Its
ardent advocates He also advocated
the presidential primary declaring
that the ballot should have n first.
second and third choice. He further
said that the time was coming when
the campaign funds in such an cleo
ton would be limited by law.
Mr.. Bryan aroused the general as
senhly to enthusiastic applause many
times during the course of his speech,
and he was given a tremendous ova--
ton at the close. Members and visi-
tors all crowded around him in an eff
fort to shake his hand.