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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (March 28, 1913)
, . flff - 6 IF dividual should bo tho Incarnation of a prin ciple.' Mr. Bryan is tho Incarnation of a groat popular principle tho principle embodied In that groat speech at Chicago, which lighted a' flro In this country that, by God's grace, I trust shall novor bo put out. "No moro gotlst could do what Mr. Bryan has dono. Tho pronoun of tho first person will not furnish a lasting foundation for a groat reputation. If Mr. Ul'yan has been self-asser-tlvo, his self-assortlon Instead of Implying egotism Indicates self-absorption In a great work. Tho 'great' man who treats his greatness as If It wore a private possession, Is speedily, by a chango of fortune, disillusioned, and his grandloso schemes como to naught. Mr. Bryan Is not an actor seeking applause, but a social onglncor, Intent on developing power for a par ticular purpose. Such a man, without being an egotist, must not bo too modest to lead or to keop his followers apprised of his whereabouts, and this not for the satisfaction of personal vanity, but to accomplish results. And results of tho most satisfactory kind Mr. Bryan has accomplished. In a time of perplexity, the na tion has found in him an inteprotor; and it has accopted his Intoprotatlon. Mr. Bryan, though still in tho primo of life, may bo said to have wrought moro for tho good of his country and the people, than any man of his generation, and wo aro hero on this anniversary of his birth to congratulate not only him but his state and na tion, and to say: How happis ho, born or taught, Who sorvoth not another's will; Whose armor Is his honest thought, And simplo truth, his utmost skill." GOVERNOR DtJNNE'S SPEECH Governor Dunno of Illinois spoke as follows: "I como in rosponso to your courteous Invita tion to participate with you in doing honor to tho groat leader of progrcssivo democracy on tho fifty-third occasion of his birth. Wo in Illi nois feel that no honor done to Secretary of Stato Bryan in tho stato of Nebraska or in any othor stato would bo appropriate and completely rounded out without tho participation therein of some representation from tho stato of his birth. Indeed, although In common with you, wo aro proud of tho splendid and unparalloled achieve ments of this groat man, still there lingers deep down in tho hoarts of the men of Illinois some thing akin to dissatisfaction that ho ever should havo loft tho state of his birth, the state of his education, the stato that furnished him the ideal partner of his joys and sorrows, of his disappointments and successes, and the state within whoso borders he first received his nomlnatloh for tho presidency of the United States. "It is tho only episode in his whole admirable caroer to which we tako exception. We are proud of our runaway boy but naturally can not forgot his abandonment of his mother state. Why ho should have left his nourishing mother and consented to his adoption by even tho generous state of Nebraska, we, in Illinois can not understand. There is just one justification V";8 reprehensible conduct In this behalf. Although born on Illinois soil and educated in the schools and colleges of Illinois, we must ad mit that during the whole period of his early life he was compelled to live under standpat re publican rule This 1s tho only excuse that he can give for leaving our great stato, and takinc up his homo with you. wmnfa t TA?d.et at the Umo ho dId so, my friends it looked to me as though he jumped out of the ?mPaS lDt0 e fire' for if l recall aright! until ho began his great struggle for the pro gressive princip es in this state, tho state of thin? B5T? h1S bTle,Ssly republican, and I S?, ,h0, hademained upon tho fertile soil of Illinois for a few years longer ho mlKlt VZ succeeded in changing the politics of our state for within a few years after his departure from Illinois wo succeeded for the first time almJ SS war of the rebellion in electing a Semocra c governor, and if w0 had had the assistance of his eloquent tongue, and wonderful brat? and pure morality, we could havo hoi, hJt . Illinois in the democrat column from SiV of the election of Altgeld untff tho d?v ? 7 democratic triumph In Illtnita laslkvoUer0 "But his great sorvicos to proKroaaivn inm racy ana to tho people of this cofntry hat con" donod his oarly indiscretion in leaving imnou" Stiff oVrtUVaht0o Tags? tl you in extending to him tho EEktlwLj'S The Commoner. a grateful peoplo that ho has so successfully earned. h "Great crises produco great men. As I look back over the history of America I find that thero wero three great crises in American life, all of them, it is true, political, but distinguish able. The first was purely political, tho second was socially political, and tho third economically political. "Tho first arose out of tho feeling of three men that taxation without representation was contrary to all principles of just government and that all governments should bo founded upon tho consent of tho governed. This feeling in tho first crisis brought on the revolutionary war during which tho best blood of patriots was expended In overturning tyranny and in tho creation of a new-born republic. This crisis pro duced great men, notably two, tho one tho statesman, Thomas Jefferson, and the other a patriot and a sold'er, and as tho outcome of this crisis a new republic was founded, and the name of George Washington has gone down in his tory as tho ideal disinterested patriot. "Tho second great crisis, arose in tho great social conflict which resulted from tho determi nation of men to hold other men in bondaero and ' to extend the jurisdiction of slavery through out tho United States. This resulted In the war of tho rebellion, in the expenditure of untold blood and money, and in wiping from tho laws of tho republic and from our Institutions tho odious sv8tem of human slavery. This crisis also produced great men, the one a soldier, the adopted son of Illinois, U. S. Grant, tho other the grent philanthropist and humanitarian, and as tho result of tho great crisis the name of Lincoln has gone down in history as the ideal humanitarian and lover of human liberty. "Tho third great crisis was twenty, years ago. It was economic in its character. The almost inconceivable wealth of tho country, owing to the advance of modern science, began to be developed to an enormous degree. Out of tho mines and the forest and from the fertile lands of tho country untold wealth was turned Into . the channels of commerce. Crafty and far-seeing men, seizing the production of this enormous wealth, bpgan to devise schemes for its exclu myo appropriation. They prevailed upon legis latures to enact laws which would concentrate tho wealth of tho country into the hands of, tho few They enacted tariff laws which mad the producers of this wealth practically free from competition. They established lobbies in congress and in legislatures and secured tho placing of men upon the bench who would construe these laws favorably to the few. "Early in this procedure William J.' Bryan hisGn,nHnB?al!' Wh0 Ptically commenced l s P"tical life In your great state, foresaw that tho struggle from that time on woxZ Z between concentration and monopoly upon one side and equality of opportunity upon the win0thren,PlUt0C,racy a71d democracy, and with all the ardor and strength of the nhvsical mental and moral constitution with which he was bo richly endowed by his Maker he allied himself on the side of the common people This fh nCri8l8and 8truggle la8ted K lo Jger ' than tho other great crises that I have men tioned. Tho revolutionary war was dosed ?n seven years, the war of the rebellion was over in five years, but the struggle between plutoc racy and democracy, between monopoly and lioUaye7rP19r2nityieXtended fr0m uio year iai2. In every one of these hnttino between these contending forces WHlliS J Brya was easily the greatest leader oaff the generals upon the democratic side. "It necessitated ten different battles minv of them within his own party, the deraoemtic party, because the forces of privilege and monopoly had done their work in his own party In every national convention from 1896 to 1912" anflcdnth0 forces of Progressive democracy ipon tho floors, and in the campaigns that fnl wff rya? ? th0 ereat loader undo ? whose" wdr8hiPn th0 demcratic masses went fonh to battle. Ten of those, battles were fought iS his own party and Bryan and his followers can out victorious in every ono of those I battfes "At times tho issue was doubtful If not dea perato. but under his gallant leadership mnTn?1?"!! ?arty In a11 lt8 natJoal conventions maintained its stand for popular rights Tm eternal credit ho succeeded In writinn : in thSVf 'I8 Platf0rm8 the ng"ng declaSraUon that priyato monopoly was intolerable and in defensible This alone, if ho had done notbln else, would Jiavo marked his place among tha &?f3T f AmricaB American history5 n! deed, if I wore Bryan, I would be content to havo VOLUME 13, NUMBER Inscribed upon my tombstone after I had passed away the words, 'He was tho author of the declaration that private monopoly is intolerable and indefensible.' "H wrote 'Tho Prince of Peace' and 'The Price of a Soul.' In the other five battles, how ever, he was not so successful. Chosen on three different occasions to lead his fellow countrymen, he was overwhelmed by the powers of plutocracy and privilege, and yet he kept un the fight; yet he kept the faith. Four times his party went down to defeat, but the Indomitable spirit of Bryan survived and he persisted and labored and fought, and in the final struggle in 1912, under the leadership of another great man and statesman and scholar and patriot with Bryan as the chief marshal of the day, the forces of plutocracy went down to defeat.' "The great issue of this crisis was between plutocracy and democracy, between monopoly and equal opportunity, and was decided in favor of. the people. This crisis produced two great men, Wilson and Bryan, and as the result thereof, the name of Bryan will go down in his tory as the greatest statesman and friend of the people that has appeared upon the pages of American history in the last century. "I am here with you to do honor to the great men who made HWilson and democratic success possible. Were there no Bryan during all of the period between 189G and 1912 there would have been no Wilson today. With tlje people of Nebraska, I uncover and do honor to trio native son of Illinois and the adopted son of Nebraska, Secretary of State William J. Bryan." MR. BRYAN'S ADDRESS The Lincoln Journal's report of Mr. Bryan's address at the birthday banquet follows: Mr. Bryan was called at the end of the toast list. While admitting that he appreciated the kind words of the men who had just spoken be fore him, Mr. Bryan denied that he was the man who had brought about the final triumph of democracy. "They forget that there aro six million voters who deserve the credit,'-' he said. "1 am only ono of tho multitude." Mr. Bryan devoted the fore part of his ad dress to compliments to his associates on the toast list his remarks during that part being largely of a humorous nature. He declared that he was unable to make a real speech, as he was too greatly overcome with joy and grati tude to do anything but give a few Teminiscences ?,efb?ltle8 of tllG Past- He said in "part: Neighbors and friends, I am not sure that 1 ought to have come to Nebraska at this time. 1 am sure that I would not have come had I known before how busy 1 was to be at this time, i was going to ask some of the cabinet members to accompany me to Lincoln, but when I found now busy they wore in Washington was ashamed to ask them. VJ,'X a2glad ,t0 b wIth yu to bo cheered by Whnf Je?KthQ Aspiration of your presence. Wv deSfltful time we have had! I am go omnV? Set Edgar Howard appointed to the h? tastmaster of the administration. Wo rnaflP9 TlaUreates; wb not toastmaster leau llnrf LI iam UPe, J feel very fateful to my mleht w,t8 Wh ha7 come eofar that they ror?nLtIeak brea? with us ner tonight. It is adlo irnoH c1' Xf ?"? the Kan8as legislature has Sv n??2 t.hat the dlstinguished chief execu tor u- t w fiate iould oome- " is fortunate that !? ?ni thero. V a dea"ock in Illinois so missed for nnS feltJlis Psence would not be Sanod iw fJilQl Wo are glad that Iowa has be a private Jld bave lon& sin ased t0 words of TSa CltIzen- T aPPreciate the kind Ms meeting inreati eVaDgeli8t who tui'ned aside I apOTeoifi rder t0 take part ln thls affair' by the dGmoSet5rery generous welcome extended iZtintoTi!hlQ f pv.ernor of thIs statG J was last fa if the elect ns all over the country tirnn onmn 5 Was glad t0 sPend part of my tnTfighTDthlgIllng ln NeDra8ka! I am proud of tb?ou!h hpH wTnor l8 makInS. When he is state will tl) I16 nor the democrats of the have mv nm ashamed &f his record. You all "BuTwhn? le,cIatIon and my thanks, and heaHnf ai? S0U thlnk of me' sittin "ere me. DoS ?m", 9eBQ g00d tnings said about these thinL Ak fr a mInute tDat I Relieve all truths in nil Van fan honestly tell great un sacrifice on mv he8e. battles tbere has been no Posi on of i?i Pa,r ' Those wh0 stand in a good win nl.?d0pflbip get tbe benGflts of the People o ?hed ES?fsia'? Thes0' tbe Plaln fights hLB, atG' co-iaborers ln all these "tuts, nave given mo all that I have. And it WfvJ
