Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-09-21
The Voice OF Bryan.
jackson (Miss.) News.l

This is William Jennings Bryan speak
ing. 1t is Madison Square Garden in 1924,
with the religion" plank Of the platform
under debate-his last word" to a con-
vention of his party. Mr.. Bryan said
In this country it is not necessary to
protect any church. have such confidence
in the Catholic Church, which was for
1900 years my mother church as well as
yours. that deny it needs political aid.
1t was the Catholic Church that took our |
religion from its founders and preserved |
tit was the only custodian-for over
fifteen centuries. When it did this for
Catholics it did it for me and every Prot
estant. The Catholic Church. with its
legacy Of martyrs blood and with the |
testimony Of its long line of missionaries
who went into every land. does not need
a great party to protect it from million
| Klansmen.
| The Jews do not need this resolution.
They have Elijah, and they have also
Elisha. who drew back the curtain and
revealed upon the mountain tops an invisi-
bic host greater than thousand Ku Klux
klans. The Catholic Church and the House
Of lsreal have their great characters today
who plead for respect for them whose
/ pleadings are not in vain.
am not willing to bring discord into
my party. The Democratic party is united
on all the economic issues We have never
/ heen az unifad ainca I haua kno.,r rol;,io.
and nobody has more reason than to regret
/ past discord Now. when we are united
and face our political foes with dauntless
courage and with enthusiasm never ex-
celled. these people tell us that we must
turn aside from this titanic task divide
our party on religious issue and cease
to be great political force.
/ The Democratic party has never taken
the side Of one church against the other !;
the Democratic party must remain true to
its traditions; il cannot surrender its rights
to exist: 1t cannot be false to the mission
that 1t had in the days of Jefferson, to
which 1t remained true in the days of
Jackson and to which il was still loyal 10
tne Gays OF WOODROW wilson.
My last objection is that am not willing
to divide the Christian Church. because II
II Is destroyed there is nothing TO take its
place. We must stand together to fight
our battles Of religion against materi alism.
There is only one who can bring peace
to the world. and that is the Prince Of
Peace-the One at Whose coming the angels
sang. "0n earth peace. good will toward
men,"
Jew and Gentle. Catholic and Protest.
ant stand for God. on whom all religion
rests. and Protestant and Catholic stand
for the Christ Is it possible that now.
when Jesus-the hope of the worlds
more needed than ever before-is it posi-
BILE that at this time, in this great land,
we are to have religious warfaref Are you
willing to start blaze that may cost in
Vulnerable lives. sacrificed on the altar Of
religious prejudice cannot believe il /;
God forbid; call you back in the name Of
our party, | call you back in the name of the
Son Of God and Saviour Of the world Chris
tians. stop fighting; let us get together
and save the world from the materialism
that robs life Of its spiritual values. Danish
the Hymns Of Hate; our song must be
'Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in
Christian love-
: We print this portion of Mr. Bryan's
notable speech on that memorable occa-
sion. solely for the reason that many of
those Democrats who are now opposing
the Democratic nominee for President are
citing Mr.. Bryan as the inspiration of their
opposition, invoking his memory as counsel
and guide in boiling the ticket.
Never was there more eloquent and
fervent denunciation Of religious prejudice
in politics than that which William Jen-
nings Bryan delivered in Madison Square
Garden. Never was there uttered a more
impressive warning than was conveyed In
his words on that occasion: Divide our
party on religious issue and cease to be a
great political force" And 1t applies with
greater significance and meaning in 1928
than IL did in 1924.
We commend to these misguided Demo-
Gratis who profess adherence to the prin-
ciples Of the dead Democratic leader and
who now summon his spirit to sustain
their mistaken course, reading of Mr.
Bryan's declaration, as above quoted.
Those who have not read 1t need the en-.
liehtenment it conveys; those who have
need to be reminded OF its undeniable truth.