Mr. Chairman and Members of the Notification Committee :
and in a more formal manner, accept the nomin-
t that time discuss the various questions
It may not be out of place, however, to
neral character of the contest
which is declared to be of paramount im-
I shall at an early day,
ation which you tender, and I shall a
covered by a Democratic platform.
submit a few observations at this time upon the ge
before us, and upon the question
portance in this campaign.
When I say that the contest of 1900 is
the one hand and plutocracy on the other, I do not mean to say that all our op-
ponents have deliberately chosen to give to organized wealth a predominating
influence in the affairs of the government, but I do assert that on the important
issues of the day the Republican party is dominated by those influences which
constantly tend to substitute the worship of Mammon for the protection of the
rights of man.
IN 1859 LINCOLN SAID THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BELIEVED IN THE
MAN AND THE DOLLAR, BUT IN CASE OF A CONFLICT IT BELIEVED IN THE
MAN BEFORE THE DOLLAR. THIS IS THE PROPER RELATION WHICH SHOULD
EXIST BETWEEN THE TWO. MAN, THE HANDIWORK OF GOD, COMES FIRST;
MONEY, THE HANDIWORK OF MAN, 1S OF INFERIOR IMPORTANCE. MAN IS
THE MASTER, MONEY THE SERVANT, BUT UPON ALL IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
TODAY REPUBLICAN LEGISLATION TENDS TO MAKE MONEY THE MASTER
AND MAN THE SERVANT.
The maxim of Jefferson, “Equal rights to all and special privileges to
none,” and the doctrine of Lincoln that this should be a government “of the
people. by the people and for the people,” are being disregarded and the in-
ctrumentalities of government are being used to advance the interests of those
who are in a position to secure favors from the government.
The Democratic party is not making war upon the honest acquisition
of wealth; it has no desire to discourage industry, economy and thrift. On the
contrary, it gives to every citizen the greatest possible stimulus to honest toil
when it promises him protection in the enjoyment of the proceeds of his labor,
Property rights are most secure when human rights are most respected. Dem-
ocracy strives for a civilization in which every member of society will share ac-
cording to his merits.
NO INJUSTICE TO PREVENT INJUSTICE.
No one has a right to expect from society more than a fair compensation
for the service which he renders to society. If he secures more it 1s at the ex-
pense of someone else. It is no injustice to him to prevent his doing injustice
to another. To him who would, either through class legislation or in the ab-
sence of necessary legislation, trespass upon the rights of another, the Dem-
ocratic party says “Thou shalt not.’
: Against us are arrayed a comparatively small but politically and finan-
¢ially powertul number who really profit by Republican politics, but with them
are associated a large number who, becauseof their attachment to their party
name, arc giving their support to doctrines antagonistic to the former teachings
of their own party.
Republicans who used to advocate bimetallism now try to convince them-
selves that the gold standard is good; Republicans who were formerly attached
to the greenbacks are now seeking an excuse for giving national banks con-
trol of the nation’s paper money; Republicans who used to boast that the Re-
publican party was paying off the national debt are now looking for reasons
support a perpetual and increasing debt; Republicans whe formerly abhorred a
trust now beguile themselves with the delusion that there are good trusts and
bad trusts, while in their minds the line between the two is becoming more and
more obscure ; Republicans who in times past congratulated the country upon
a contest between democracy on
gs . 8
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