Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-23

MIR. BRYAN'S SPEECH.
Reviewing the circumstances attendant
upon the inception and introduction Oh
the bill Mr. Bryan said 1t was an UMPIRE.
cedented reputation Of the principles or
democratic government. No declaration
in favor of the annihilaion or green
backs had been made by any party or
President, and yet Immediately AFTER the
late elections, the most remarKaDle III
many years, the party IN charge Oh ms
Congress proposed TO surrender, III lhe
last hours Of their possession OF power
the control of our banking
system to the banks. by a measure that
includes the prohibition Of greenbacks.
There was absolutely no excuse for the
bill. said Mr. Bryan. Its introduction at
this time could not be defended, unless
II would afford a remedy for the evil
complained Of The reason given by It's
friends and promoters for bringing 1t
into the House was that the eXlgencles
OF the Treasury demanded it; that the
Treasury was being drained or gold by
the exchange of greenbacks therefor.
But the bill did not provide even pri-
mary remedy. The only remedy as far
II related to the greenbacks, was to FUND ,
them in bonds, When that was done. IL
Il ever was done, the trouble would still
exist, for the silver certificates would
still remain, and they must be redeemed
in gold on demand.
The gentleman from Connecticut (Alr.
Sperry) admitted at the close OF his
speech the other day that the situation
demanded the funding not only of the
greenbacks, but also of a portion OF the
silver certificates.
BOND ISSUE 4 CONSPIRACY.
Mr.. Bryan denounced the bond issue as
a conspiracy against the government,
quoting the movement OF gold from the
Treasury between the dates OF advertls-
ing for bids for the last issue of bonds
and OF the delivery of the last lot OF
bonds as proof OF his assertion. IF we
had brave Andrew Jackson in the White
House now he would rise in his might
and say: by the Eternal! the rights OF
the people are dearer than those OF Wall
street. But what answer does the pres
ent Chief Executive make? Whatsoever
they ask of me, even TO the half OF my
kingdom. 1t shall be given to them"
Proceeding then to the provisions or
the bill. Mr.. Bryan expressed his opposi-
ton to them in detail. The first ground
OF opposition was that giving bankers the
privilege OF issuing paper money, while
deriving other classes Of the same privi-
lege was government favoritism OF the
worst sort. 1t was this sort Of favorit-
ism that bred more discomfort among the
people than any other thing.
Mr.. Bryan expressed the opinion that
the active dissemination of smallpox
among the people Of the nation would be
productive Of less harm than the grant
ing of this privilege to the banks.
The second ground of opposition was
that the granting Of such a privilege
makes the recipient OF IL an enemy TO
any law that proposes to abridge or re-
woke 1t. Jefferson warned the people
against the establishment Of paper-money
banks, State or national. Cleveland be-
lieyed that the ideal form OF government
included the entire divorclng OF the gov
eminent from the issue OF paper money.
STANDS WITH JEFFERSON.
.It is hardly necessary for me TO state"
said Mr.. Bryan. that stand with JET
ferson, In favoring OF taking the banks
out OF the government, rather than with
Cleveland, in favor of taking the gov
eminent out of the issue OF money"
He said Jefferson had expressed the
opinion that the expense OF private banks
of issue would be more dangerous TO the
government than standing armies, In
which opinion he fully concurred. For
standing armies" he said. "cannot bring
such power to bear upon legislation as
can these banks"
Tha third ground Of Mr.. Bryan's oppo-
sition was that the government cannot
safely give to private corporations the
power 10 control the volume OF paper
money.
In conclusion Mr.. Bryan called the at
tention OF silver men to what he believed
10 be the purpose OF the bill--it was SIM
nly another step towards the universal
Adoption Of gold monometaliism.
"You caa be deceived. X you Ike" said
he, "but II you are. you simply deceive
yourselves"
The only remedy for the trouble now
confronting tho country and its citixenss