To him who would, either through class legislation or in the absence of necessary legislation, trespass upon the rights of another the Democratic party says, “Thou shalt not.” It is no injustice to him to prevent his doing injustice to another. If he secured more it is at the expense of some one else. No one has a right to expect from society more than a fair compensation for the services which he renders to society. Democracy strives for civilization in which every member of society will share according to his merits. Property rights are most secure when human rights are most respected. 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. The Democratic party is not making war upon the honest acquisition of wealth it has no desire to discourage industry, economy and thrift. 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 instrumentalities of government are being used to advance the interests of those who are in a position to secure favors from the Government. 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. Man, the handiwork of God, comes first money, the handiwork of man, is of inferior importance. This is the proper relation which should exist between the two. In 1859 Lincoln said that the Republican party believed in the man and the dollar, but that in case of conflict it believed in the man before the dollar. When I say that the contest of 1900 is a contest between Democracy on the one hand and plutocracy on the other I do not mean to say that all our opponents 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. It may not be out of place, however, to submit a few observations at this time upon the general character of the contest before us and upon the question which is declared to be of paramount importance in this campaign. Chairman, and Members of the Notification Committee: I shall, at an early day, and in a more formal manner accept the nomination which you tender, and I shall at that time discuss the various questions covered by the Democratic platform. I have committed to writing what I desire to say, and will ask for your indulgence while I read my speech.
It would be more pleasant to me and more agreeable to you to speak without notes, but I want to address that larger constituency which we reach through the newspapers, for it is a thousand times as numerous as any crowd that could assemble here, and therefore, in order that I may speak to all throughout the land. I feel that I owe an apology or explanation to the people who are to listen for the fact that I must read what I am going to say. It is a relatively important matter to him to be true to his own ideals and to carry them out in actual life.WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN, “IMPERIALISM” (8 AUGUST 1900) He is on the average more of a believer and a defender of the faith in humanity than the rest of the Occidentals.
The ordinary American is the opposite of a cynic.
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