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The Wealth Makers and Lincoln Independent Consolidated.
1 VOL. VIII.
LINCOLN, NEBR., THURSDAY, July 16, 1896.
NO. 6.
III
3
7
If.
1
BRYAN'S
GREAT SPEECH
Our Distinguished Citizen Sustains
Y ma x4.epuiai.ion as an vraior.
"WILD CHEERS AT EVERY PERIOD
Bis Arguments for the Platform and
How They Were Received. t
V
A. Kemarkable Demonstration The Won
derful Influence of Oratory.
"The Silver Knight of the West,"
William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska,
et the convention on fire with a speech
which will be declaimed by the ooming
generation of schoolboy orators. It was
followed by a demonstration which
never will be forgotten by the 16,000
people who ' witnessed it and partici
pated therein.
Up to this time the convention had
tot been dull for want of effective ora
tory. The tearful and pleading Colonel
Fellows of New York, the fiery and im
pulsive Blackburn of Kentucky, the
foroef nl and aggressive Altgeld of Uli
nois, and such famous orators as Hill,
Russell, Waller and White had scored
their triumph and added new leaves to
their laurel wreaths. But when com
pared to the impassioned oratory of the
"Black Eagle of Nebraska," newly
jvned "The Silver Knight of the
1 st," the efforts were tame.
'A reputation as an orator may prove
ither an advantage or a handicap to its
possessor. From such a man the list
finer expects much. Woe is in store for
uch an orator if his effort fails to meet
the sanguine expectations of the auditor,
and triumph is sure if he reaches the
heralded heights which have been prom
ised. Bryan established a reputation as
an orator in the scattered hamlets on the
Nebraska plains, and it wafted him into
congress. In one term he set a new
- mark for congressional eloquence. Now
he has set another new mark. , ;
Mr. Bryan' Ovation,
There was some applause when Mr.
Bryan took the platform, but it did not
equal in fervor the reception accorded
Senator Hill. Senator Hill was given a
torm of applause before he spoke and
Bryan a cyclone of enthusiasm when he
had concluded. The audience had not
yet got the taste of Tillman out of its
mouth and regarded the Nebraska ora
tor with some suspicion. It must be
understood that the great majority of
the audience secured admission at the
hands of the gold standard minority
and was not in consonance with the
, sentiments uttered by Mr. Bryan. This
wakes his triumph all the more com
plete. . When quiet had been restored
by the chairman, Mr. Bryan spoke as
follows:
'Me. Chairman akd Gentlemen of
This Convention: I would be presumptu
ous, indeed, to present myself against the
distinguished gentleman to whom you.
Lave listened, if this were but a nieasur
' ing of ability, but this is not a contest of
persons. The humblest citizen in all the
land, when clad in armor of righteous
oause,is stronger than all the whole hosts of
error that they can bring. I come to
speak to you in defense of a cause as holy
as the cause of liberty, the cause of hu
manity. (Loud applause.)
When this debate is concluded, a mo
tion will be made to lay upon the table a
resolution offered in commendation of the
administration, and also a resolution in
condemnation of the administration. I
shall object to bringing this question
down to the level of persons. The indi
vidual is but an atom; he is born, he acts,
Jie dies, but principles are eternal, and
"uUs has been a contest of principles.
has there been witnessed such a contest as
that through which we have just passed.
Never before in the history of American
politics has a great issue been fought out
. as has this issue by the voters themselves.
The Fight For Silver.
On the 4th of 51 arch, 1895, a few Demo
crats, most of them members of congress,
issued an address to the Democrats of the
nation, asserting the money question was
the paramount issue of the hour; assert
ing also the right of the majority of the
Democratic party to control the position
of the party on this paramount issue, and
concluding with the request that all be
lievers in the free coinage of silver in the
Democratic party should organize, take
charge of and control the policy of the
Democratic party. Three months later,
at Memphis, an organization was per
fected and silver Democrats went forth
openly and boldly and courageously pro
claiming their belief, and declaring that if
successful, they would crystalize in a plat
form the declaration which they had
made, and then began the conflict with a
zeal approaching t he zeal which Inspired
the crusaders who followed Peter the
Hermit. Our silver Democrats went forth
from victory unto viotory until they are
assembling now, not to discuss, not to de
bate, but to enter upon the judgment
rendered by the plain people of this coun
try. (Applause.) In this contest, brother
has been arrayed against brother, and
father against son. The warmest ties of
love and acquaintance and association
h have been disregarded. Old leauars have
- been cast aside when they refused to give
expression to the sentiments of those
' whom they would load, and new leaders
rhave sprung up to give direction to this
vcause of truth. (Cheers.) Thus has the
oontest been waged, and we have as
'sembled here under as binding and solemn
. TOstructibns as were ever fastened upon
fepresentatives of a people.
I Not. a Question of Person.
we do not come as individuals. We
nugot nave Deen giaa to compliment tne
gentleman from New York (Senator Hill),
but we know that the people for whom we
speak would never be willing to put him
in a position where he could thwart the
will of the Democratic party. (Cheers.) I
Bay it was not a question of person; it was
a question of principle, and it is not with
gladness, my friends, that we find our
selves brought into conflict with those
who are now arrayed . on. the other sida.
xfeo gentlemen who jusc preceaea me
(Governor Russell), spoke of of the old
state of Massachusetts. Let me assure
him that not one person in all this con
vention entertains the least hostility to
the people of the state of Massachusetts.
But we stand here representing people
who are equals before the law of the larg
est oltizens in the state of Massachusetts.
When you come before us and tell us we
shall disturb your business interests, we
reply that you have disturbed our business
Interests by your course. (Great applause
and cheering.) We say to you that you
have made too limited in its application
the definition of business man. The man
who is employed for wages is as muoh a
business man as his employer. (Contin
ued cheering.) The attorney in a country
town is as muoh a business man as the
corporation counsel in a great metropolis.
The merchant at a cross-roads store is as
Siuch a business man as the merchant of
New York. The farmer who goes forth in
the morning and toils all day, begins in
spring and toils all summer, and, by ap
plication of brain and muscle to the
natural resources of this country, creates
wealth, is as much a business man as
the man who goes upon the board of
trade and bets upon the price of
grain.
The free silver delegates at this point
broke forth in tremendous cheers.stand
ing on chaiw and waving their hats and
banners frantically. Order was finally
restored and Mr. Bryan continued:
The miners who go 1,000 fees into
earth, or climb 2,000 feet upon
cliffs and bring forth from their
hiding place precious metals to be poured
in the channels of trade, are as much
business men as the few financial mag
nates who in a back room corner the
money of the world.
Tremendous Enthusiasm.
The sentiments of the speaker were
cheered again and again, and the gal
leries seemed to be a mass of white be
cause of the handkerchiefs waving. The
cheers were renewed again and again,
and it was some minutes before Mr.
Bryan could be heard, He proceeded as
follows:
We come to speak for this broader class
of business men. And, my friends, we
say not one word against those who live
upon the Atlantic coast, but those hardy
pioneers who braved all the dangers of the
wilderness, who have made the desert to
blossom as roses, those pioneers away out
there, rearing their children near to na
ture's heart, where they have erected
school houses for educating their young,
and churches where they praise their Crear
tor, and cemeteries where sleep the ashes
of their dead are as deserving of the con
sideration of this party as any people in
this country. (Great applause.) It is for
these that we speak. We do not come as
aggressors. Our war is not a war of con
quest. We are fighting in defense of our
homes, our families and prosperity. (Loud
applause.) We have petitioned and our
entreaties have been disregarded. We
have begged and they have mocked and
our calamity came. We beg no longer;
we entreat no more; we petition no more;
we defy them.
The gentleman from Wisconsin has said
he fears a Robespierre. My friend, in this
land of the freo you need fear no tyrant
who will spring u; from aniongthe people.
Another Outburst.
The chairman rapped for order and a
pause of considerable length ensued be
fore the speaker could proceed:
What we need is an Andrew Jackson.
,tO stand as Andrew Jackson stood against
the national banks. We are tola that our
platform is made to catch votes. .We re
ply to them that changed conditions make
new issues. The principles on .which
Democracy rests aie as everlasting as the
hills, but they must be applied to new
conditions as they arise. New conditions
have arisen, and we are attempting tc
meet them.
Income Tax a Just Law.
They tell us that income tax ought not
be brought in here; that it is a new idea.
They say we passed an unconstitutional
law. I deny it. The income tax was not
unconstitutional when it was passed. It
was not unconstitutional when it went to
the supreme court the first time. It did
not become unconstitutional until one
Judge changed his mind, and we cannot
be expected to know when a judge will
change his mind. The Income tax is a
lust law. It simply intends to put the
burden of the government justly upon the
backs of the people. I am in favor of an
Income tax. (Applause.) j
When I find a man who is not willing
to pay his share of the burdens of the gov- j
eminent which protects him, I find a man :
who is unworthy to enjoy the blessings of !
a government like ours. (Applause.)
. He says that we are opposing a national
bank currency. It is true, if you will read
what Thomas Benton said, you will find
that in searching history he could find
but one parallel to Andrew Jackson, that
was Cicero, who destroyed the conspiracy
of Catalin and saved Rome. He did for
Rome what Jackson did when he de
stroyed bank conspiracy and saved
America. (Applause.) We say in our
platform that we believe the right to coin
money and issue money Is a func
tion of government. We believe it.
We believe it is part of sovereignty,
and can no more with safety be delegated
to private individuals than we can afford
to delegate to private individual power
to make penal statutes or levy laws for
taxation.
Stands With Jefferson.
Mr. Jefferson, who was once regarded as
good Democratic authority, seems to have
had different opinions from gentlemen
who have addressed us on the part of the
minority. Those who are opposed to this
proposition told us the issue of paper
money is the function of banks and that
the government ought to go out of the
banking business. I stand with Jeffer
son, rat her than with them, and tell them
as he did, that the issue of money is a
function of the government and that
bauks ought to go out of the government
business.
They complain about that plank which
declares against life tenure in office. They
have tried to strain it to mean that which
it does not mean. What we oppose in
that plank is life tenure that, is being
built up at Washington, which excludes
from participation in benefits the humbler
members of our society. I cannot dwell
longer in my limited time. (Cries of go
on, go on.) Let me call attention to two
or three great things.
The gentleman from Now York says he
will propose an amendment, providing
that this chango in our law shall not af
fect contracts already made. Let me re
mind him that there is no intention of af
fecting those contracts, which, according
to the present laws, are made payable in
gold. But if he means to say we cannot
change our monetary system without pro
tecting those who have loaned money be
fore the change was made, I want to ask
him where, in law or In morals, he can
A n rl ftnt-.hm.ltv tr9 ainfc V A
.. k; ui ioiro was passea, DUt
Sow Insist that we must protect the cred
itor. He says he also wants to amend this
law and provide that if we fail to maintain
a parity within a year, we will then sus
pend coinage of silver. We reply that when
we advocate a thing which we believe will
be successful we are not compelled to raise
a doubt as to our sincerity by trying to
show what we will do if we can. I ask nim
if he will apply his logioto us, why he
does not apply it to himself. He says he
wants this country to try to secure an in
ternational agreement. Why doesn' t he
tell us what he is going to do if they fail
to secure an international agreement?
There is more reason for him to do that
than for us to fail to maintain a parity.
They have tried for 80 years to secure an
International agreement, and those who
are waiting for it most patiently don't
want it at all (cheering, laughter long
continued).
Now, my friends, let me come to the
great paramount question. , If they ask
us here why it is we say more on the
money question than we sity upon the
tariff question, I reply that if protection
has slain its thousands, the gold standard
has slain its tens of thousands. If they
ftsk us why we.did not embody all these
things in our platform which we believe,
we reply to them when we have restored
the money of the constitution, all other
necessary reforms will be possible, and
that until that is done, there is no reform
that can be accomplished. (Cheering.)
Why is it that within three months
such a change has come over the senti
ments of this country? Three months
ago, when it was confidently asserted
that those who believed in the gold stand
ard would frame our platform and nom
inate our candidate. But sote the chango.
Mr. McKinley was nominated at St. Louis
upon a platform that declared for the
gold standard until it should be changed
Into bimetallism by international agree
ment. Mr. McKinley was the most popu
lar man among the Republican party,
and everybody, three months ago, in th
Republican party, prophesied his election.
How is it today. What about that man
who used to boast that he looked like Na
poleon. That man shudders today when
he thinks that he was nominated on the
anniversary of the battle of Waterloo.
Not only that, but as he listens he can
hear with ever increasing distinctness the
sound of the waves as they beat upon the
lonely shores of St. Helena. (Cheers.)
Why this change? Ah, my friends, is
not a change evident to any one who will
look at this matter? It is no private char
acter, however pure; no personal popu
larity, however great, that can protect
from the avenging wrath of an indignant
people a man who will either declare he
is in favor of fastening the gold standard
upon this people, or who is willing to sur
render the right of self government and
place legislative control in the hands of
foreign potentates and powers. (Uheers.)
? " "'" ' Confident of Ylctory.
The oontinued cheering made it im
possible for the speaker to proceed; it
was renewed as the chairman vainly
tapped for order.
Finally Mr. Bryan, raising his hand,
obtained silence long enough to say that
he had only 10 minutes left, and asked
the audience to let him occupy that
time. He then resumed:
We go forth confident We shall win.
Why? Because upon the paramount issue
in this campaign there is not a spot of
ground upon which the enemy will dare
to challenge battle. Why, if they tell us
the gold standard is a good thing we point
to their platform and tell them that their
platform pledges the party to get rid of
a gold standard and substitute bimet
allism. (Applause.)
If the gold standard is a good thing,
why try to get rid of it. (Laughter and
oontinued applause.) If the gold stand
ard, and I might call your attention to
the fact that some of the very people who
are In this convention today and who tell
you that we ought to declare in favor of
international bimetallism, and thereby
declare that the gold standard is wrong,
and that the principle of bimetallism is
aetter. These very people, four months
bgo, were open and avowed advocates
of a gold standard and telling us that we
could not legislate two metals together,
even with all the world. (Renewed ap
plause and cheers.) I want to suggest
this truth, that if the gold standard is a
good thing we ought to declare in favor of
its retention and not in favor of abandon
ing it; aud if the gold standard is a bad
thing, why should we wait until tome
other nations are willing to help us to let
go. (Applause.)
The Line of Battle.
Here is a line of battle. We care not
upon which issue they force the fight. We
are prepared to meet them on either issue
or on both. If they tell us the gold standard
is the standard of civilization, we reply to
them that the most enlightened of all na
tions of earth has never declared for a
gold standard and both parties this year
are declaring against it. (Applause.) If
the gold standard is the standard of civil
ization, why, my friends, should we not
have it? So, if they come to meet us on
that, we can present the history of our
nation. More than that we can tell them
this, that they will search pages of history
in vain to find a single instance in which
the common people of any land have ever
declared themselves in favor of a gold
standard. (Applause).
They can find where holders of fixed in
vestments have. Mr. Carlisle said in 1878
that this was a struggle between idlo
holders of idle capital and the struggling
masses who produce wealth and pay the
taxes of the country, an my friends, it is
simply the question that we shall decide
upon, which side shall the Democratic
party fight? Upon the side of idle hold
ers of idle capital, or upon the side of the
struggling masses? That is a question
that the party must answer first, and then
it must be answered by each individual
hereafter. The sympathies of the Demo
cratic party aj described by the platform
are on the side of the struggling masses,
who have ever been the foundation of the
Democratic party. (Applause). There
are two ideas of government. There are
those who believe that if you just legislate
to make the well-to-do prosperous that
their prosperity will leak through on those
below. The Democratic idea has been that
if you legislate to make the mass prosper
ous their prosperity will find its way up
and t hrough every class and rest upon it.
(Applause).
You come to us and tell us the great
cities are in favor of a gold standard. I
toll vou that the great cities rest upon
these broad and fertile prairies. Burn
down your cities and leave our farms, arid
Sour cities will spring up again as
! by magic But destroy our farms and
grass will grow in the streets of every
city in this country. (Loud applause.)
My friends, we shall declare that this
country is able to legislate for its own
people on every question without waiting
for the aid or consent of any other nation
on earth (applause;, and upon that issue
(Continued on 5th page.)
ITO SHALL WE DO?
The Independent Takes a Referen
dum on Bryan's Candidacy.
POPS OVER THE STATE REPLY.
What They Think of the Present
Situation.
Most of The in are For Billy Bryan for
President.
The n6mination of Mr. Bryan at Chica
go so changed the whole political situa
tion that the editor of the Independent
concluded he would take a referendum on
the question as to the course the popu
lists should pursue. Scores of postal
cards were sent to prominent populists
in all parts of the state asking them to
express their views.
The following replies are printed in the
order in which they were received:
Pawnee City, Neb., July 11 My view
of what position the populist party
should take in regard to the Chicago
nomination is: Nominate W. J. Bryan.
The populists of Pawnee City are a unit
for him for the presidency. Yours for
victory. T. J. Plummer.
O'Neill, Neb., July ll.-The populist
party of Holt county, in convention as
sembled today, voted unanimously in
endorsement . of the Omaha platform
and against endorsement of Bryan as a
democratic nominee, but favor a union
of all free silver forces if sucn can be
honorably accomplished without losing
or destroying our party organization or
identity, such as all reform forces uniting
on the same set of electors in each state.
Ham Kautztnan.
Richland, Neb., Juiy 11. In reply to
yours of this date I would say I want
nothing to do with their funeral, not
even to act as pall bearer. I am not
willing to be turned over to the demo
cratic party. Heft the old rotten hulk
years ago, and am not like a dog to re-
l. ;t V Vl
Fremont, July 11. Am in favor of the
Nebraska original "16 to 1, without
waiting for any other country" W. J
Bryan. R. D. Kelly.
Minden, Neb., July 12.
own canoe. Courier.
-Paddle our
Neiligb, Neb., July 11. Let the peoples
independent party nominate a straight
ticket. If Bryan should receive the most
electoral votes give him our vote. If
the independent party should receive the
most, let them return the compliment.
J.D. Hatfield.
Fairbury, Neb., July 11. We have
been snubbed. The democrats refused
any honorable compromise, and I feel
both indignant and belligerant. Mr.
Bryan is perhaps nearer a populist than
any other man in their party, and their
platform is stolen from ours. We can
not afford to defeat him. Two years
more of Sherman and Clevelandisra
means too much suffering. Patriotism
and humanity say indorse the ticket and
turn out the class of men that has been
controlling the country so long and are
so competent in incompetency. Popu
lists must sacrifice their pride for the
good of their country. Thad Williams.
Wabash, July 12. The populist party
should now stand as one man in favor of
the. indorsement of AV. J. Bryan for
president, thereby securing his election
aud victory for populist principles.?-B.
F. Allen.
Lincoln, Neb., July 11. The populist
party should not yield to the glamor of
the burst of enthusiasm over the Chicago
nomination. The populist national
committee months ago invited the re
form forces of all parties to meet with us
in conference at St. Louis July 22d.
This cordial and generous invitation has
been spurned by the late nomination.
The silver democrats having power to
nominate had also power to adjourn to
meet with us. By their precipitate nom
ination they have thrown down their
ultimatum to us. The duty of the pop
ulists in their convention is to strength
en the Omaha platform in every detail
and present it to the Chicago nominee.
If hG accepts it without reservation,
nominate him; should he reject it, nomi
nate a ticket of ourowu. 1. N. Leonard.
Grand Island, Neb., July 11. There is
but one plain, honest, and consistent
thing for our party to do at the St.
Louis convention and that is to nomi
nate for our candidate for president that
brave patriot and able defender of the
people's cause, Hon. Wm. J. Bryan of
Nebraska. The crisis is now on and it is
the solemn duty of all who believe that
the administration of this government
should be wrested from the hands of the
selfish money changers of New York City
and London and again restored to the
people, to rally as one man to the sup
port of the Chicago ticket. In my opin
ion, the man or men who will now know
ingly advise a contrary course are ene
mies to the cardinal principles of the
populistio faith, and should be classed
with the gold bugs of the republican and
democratic parties. II. A. Edwards,
state central committeeman for Hall
county.
Hastings, Neb., Julyll.I say indorse
the Chicago nominee, by all means. Dr.
J.T.Steele.
Benkelman, Neb., July 12. With the
opportunity to place such a man as
Bryan in the presidential chair, one so
near and dear to every lover of liberty
and independence, one who has done so
much to reform a great political party
and bring it to adopt our principles into
its platform, there should be no hesitancy
in approving him as our candidate at
St. Louitf Lewis E. Walker.
Lincoln, Neb., July 13. If the popu
lists are sincere in their desire to ad
vance the cause of humanity, break the
shackles of the money power that binds
the industries of this country in its iron
grasp, secure the honest money of all the
people, advance the cause of honest
labor, return prosperity to the business
and producing classes of this nation and
perpetuate this government to a free,
united and contented people, we will
nominate the Hon. W. J. Bryan, the
champion of the common people, at the
St. Louis convention. C. W. lloxie.
In an interview in the Sunday World
Herald Governor Holcotub says: "la my
judgment the populist party will meet in
national convention in St. Louis on the
22d inst. and proceed in the usual man
ner to the construction and adoption of
a platform covering the essential features
of their well-know demands as contained
in their platform heretofore adopted,
and to nominate candidates for presi
dent and vice president whom they can
and will support unitedly and enthusias
tically during the campaign and at the
polls. The Hon. W. J. Bryan of Nebras
ka, the recent nominee ot the democrats
in their national convention held in Chi
cago, will, in my opinion, be a promi
nent candidate before our convention.
We of Nebraska are proud of his many
sterling qualities, his public record his
high moral character, his honesty of pur
pose and his consistent devotion to the
interests of the great mass of the peo
ple. His election to the presidency
would be a signal victory along the line
of financial reform."
: Lincoln, Neb., July 13. The plainduty
of the St. Louis convention is to indorse
W. J. Bryan. This means his election,
which means the restoration of
the silver dollar and " the aboli
tion of the national banks, as well
as many other reforms asked for by the
populist party. This is as much as we
could expect in the next four years from
the election of a professed populist,
which is impossible for us to do this
year. For twenty years I have been bat
tling for financial reform and this is the
first opportunity our party has had to
throw its weight in the balance as a po
litical power and secure a victory. The
St. Louis convention must choose be
tween McKinley and Bryan. By failing
to endorse Mr. Bryan they virtually en
dorse Mr. McKinley. By all means place
Bryan's name at the head of the ticket
J. B. ltomine.
Valparaiso, Neb., July 11. I confess
my mind is not yet fixed as to what the
populist party should do in regard to
the Chicago nominations, but there is
one thing all agree on, viz., that the re
form elements must unite or our beloved
country is lost. Then are we all ready
to place patriotism above party naine?
If so, will the silver democrats drop their
name and all together take a new name
(I care not what)? Then as they have
swallowed our principles and we in turn
swallow their man, we would all be one,
and not know or care who that one is.
B. R. B. Weber.
Beatrice, July 12. The republican ma
chine convention at St. Louis stole the
platform of the golden calf Groverites;
the free silver democrats at Chicago
stole the populist platform; I cannot see
anything for us pops to do at St. Louis
but to steal the next president of these
United Mates. We know a pop among
a thousand of democrats, and we know
W. J. Bryan to be just the very man that
the American people need in their busi
ness at the present time. Let us nomi
nate him at St. Louis. Country first
with me and party secondary. The
Tribune is for the "brainy Bryan." E.
E.Ellis.
Aurora, Neb., July 13. When men
believing in the same basic principles
unite for the advancement of a cause, it
is right. No personal or party selfish
ness should influence patriotic citizens
to divide forces and permit wrong to
triumph. Let us meet at St. Louis,
adopt a platform and name Bryan as
our candidate. It is the duty of the
hour; a sight draft on our manhood.
Let us perform the duty; let us honor
the obligation. W. L. Stark.
Kimball.eb., July 12. My views on
the situation are to unite on one set of
electors for all silver parties. The high
est number of votes in either of the
silver parties gets the president, thenext
highest gets the vice president and the
third highest the secretary. The cabinet
to be chosen from the reform parties. I
heartily urge this plan. John Biggs,
Chairman Kimball County Committe.
Ogallala, July 13. The populists hold
their county convention at Ogallala and
nominated a full county ticket. A
standing vote was taken, all present en
dorsing W. J. Bryan for president. I.
M. Shultz.
Geneva, July 12. Fillmore county in
its convention yesterday expressed its
confidence in W. J. Bryan, and instruct
ed its delegates to vote for a union of re
form forces if the same can be secured
honorably and without a sacrifice of
principle or party organization. My
own sentiments are in and with the
above. J. J. Burke.
Filley, Neb., Juiy 13. In reply to your
inquiry as to the duty of the populist
party in regard to the nomination of
Mr. Bryan for president, I have no hesi
tation in saying that that party should
make him its candidate. This is an op
portunity to secure the triumph of a
great priuciple which is a cardinal point
in the populist platform, and the highest
patriotism demands that, the populists
should avail themselves of it. I would
regard the defeat of the money power of
the world by the restoration of silver to
the status of 1873 as the greatest vic
tory of the people since the declaration
of independence. This victory will be
achieved by the election of Wm. J. Bry
an as president. J. Burrows.
that under the present circumstances I
would prefer nominating Bryan. J. S.
Freeman.
Omaha, July 14.I think the populist
party should nominate, Bryan. There
are several reasons for this opinion.
D. Clem Deaver.
Lincoln, Neb., July 12. 1896. Endorse
W. J. Bryan. Our populist county con
vention elected thirteen out of
fourteen delegates, pronounced W. J.
Bryan men. J. B. Morgan.
Don't think we should recognize the
Chicago convention. W. C. Reed.
Cowles. Neb.. Julv 13. 1S9A-Th Twin
convention Saturday practically endors
ed him, Bryan, and selected delegates
to worn ror that end. The free sliver
element Is strong for him here popu
lists, republicans and alL But we are
not SO excited as not to look anxlnnalir
toward the attitude of the south a spir
it that the silver forces must. h united
Is above the pride in a man from our
own state. H. L. Hopkins.
Nelson. Neb.. July 13. 1896 Wisdom
surely dictates the endorsement of W.
J. Bryan at St. Louis on the 22d. D.'S.
Dusenbery. Editor Nlckolls Countv Her.
aid. '
Clay County. Neb.. Julv 14. 1898. Mv
views are, that the populist party should
do nothing that would divide the ele
ments favorable to silver or delay its
enactment into law. No action should-
ne taken that will divide free sliver
VOte among two or more nraMnt1a1
candidates. I am for the man that can
defeat McKinley and lead us to victory
in issB, i tnmk I am safe In saying that
this Is the general sentiment
pie. George W, Negel.
Imperial. Neb.. July. 18. 1896 C.h
county delegation for Hon. W. J. Bryan,
the "Moses of the Nineteenth
E. B. Sutton.
McCook, Neb., July 13. 1896. My opin
ion Is that they cannot do anything else
but to nominate the Chicago ticket,
Bryan and Sewall, and keep up both
national and state organizations of the
party. Not to do so would be bad poll
tlcs,as they represent and stand for the
principles we advocate. I deem it the
duty of the Independent party to avail
themselves of the first opportunity to
put them In force. J. A. Sheridan.
Imperial, Neb., July 12, 1896. Popu
lists of Chase county met in convention
yesterday. All express themselves as
willing to vote for Bryan and hope our
national convention would endorse him.
Of course, nothing was said in the con
vention. I write this that you may know
our sentiments. Tours for victory. A.
M. Brlttell, Chairman.
Hebron. Neb.. July 13. 1SDS. Th npn-
ple's party should hold its own conven
tion at St. Louis, adopt its own platform
and nominate its own candidates W.
J. Bryan is a good enough populist to get
my support, should he be nominated by
our convention and accept such nomina
tion, to support him as a democrat
and against a populist, would not only
De dangerous to the life of our party,
but, In case of hla defeat, we would be
left in about the same condition as the
gold-bug democrats In Nebraska, now
kicked out of our own party and no
home to shelter us. Should Mr. Bryan
not be the nominee of our convention, I
would favor naming the same state elec
tors with the democrats upon the un
derstanding that the whole electoral
vote shall be cast for the free silver
candidate who receives the largest pop
ular vote. P. S. Mickey.
Richfield, Sarpy County, Neb., July 13,
1896. Personally, I regard Mr. Bryan
as the logical presidential candidate for
whom the populists should declare at
St. Louis. Our people are all for him.
Sarpy county has alwavs heen la nnrt
will In November next be, the banner
iiryan county in the state. The new
alignment of political parties will be
properly defined during the coming
campaign; its culmination will be ef
fected at the election, which follows.
Should Bryan fall of election, we mav
rest assured no other candidate could
have succeeded. The men of th nil.
ver, corn and cotton states will rally to
his standard, and In every nta.it of th
union men who prefer American to Brit
ish interests will Bhout the praises of
the silver knights, Nebraska's favorite
son, the Hon. W. J. Bryan. George
Becker, State Central Committee.
Nellgh, Neb., July 13. My opinion
there is only one thing to do, and that
Is to unite the silver forces, otherwise It
means certain defeat. And if the gold
power Is not broken by the election its
shackles will be fastened on us perma
nently. Herman Freese,
Bassett, Neb., July 13. You ask
my views as to "what position the pop
ulist party should take in regard to
Chicago nominations." Bryan and the
platform on which he stands suits me.
I care nothing for party name. Like
Teller of Colorado, "principle before
party" is my motto. "Without union we
cannot hope to accomplish anything,
with Bryan as our leader, supported by
all bi-metalllsts, we can sweep the
country. W. T. Phillips.
AInsworth, Neb., July 12. I would
say that I am in favor of the St. Louis
convention indorsing the Chicago nom
inees. We must strike effectively at
the money power, and soon, or it will
be too late. Geo. A. Mllla, State Com.
4Z
Contlnaijl trom 1st paw.