The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-07-16
PERTINENT QUERIES
WILLIAM j. BRYAN BECOMES
QUITE INQUIsITIvE.
If the Gold Standard is a Good Thing
Why Should the Republicans Want
Countries of Europe to Help
Them Let Go of It9

| Them Let Go of Itf
Contralia, Ill, July 15.-(Specisl.)-
The champion of silver william J.
Bryan, Democratic candidate for the presi-
dency, was given hearty reception here,
where he has many friends and relatives.
He and his wife arrived at 1880 O'Clock,
and were met by hundreds Of citizens.
They were escorted to carriage and
driven to the city park. Preceding the
carriage in which Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan
rods was brass band and following were
several hunderd citizens on foot. The pro-
cession increased In size as 1t neared the
park and upon the arrival of the carriage
OF the pavilion in the center, there were
nearly 8, 200 people there. 1t was an
nounced by Mr.. Dwight that Mr.. Bryan
would not attempt to talk, as he had so
little time. This dii not please the crowd,
but when 1t became known that Mr..
Bryan was going TO stand at the foot Of
the pavilion to greet the multitude there
was quiet and every one began TO crowd
forward to shake hands with the distin-
guished visitor AS time went by the
Bryan clubs from Nashville and Fairfield
arrived several hundred strong, and then
the clamor for a speech was renewed. 1t
became so loud that Mr.. Bryan at length
gave way to his first Intentions and spoke.
He said:
Ladies' and Gentlemen: I did not
come to make speech. The ca mpaign is
hardly opened yet. But coming back to
Marion county to attend TO some business
which had to be attended to before re-
to accept an invitation to spend two or
three hours with my relatives in this city
and while here to meet again the citizens
and friends knew before. We are enter
ing upon a memorable campaign, and the
issues are being drawn for the contest.
The two parties described as the two
great parties or the two leading parties,
have already adopted their platforms and
have already nominated their candidates
for president and vice. president of the
United States, and in short time the
campaign will be opened fully and you will
be making up your minds as to which
ticket you will support. I trust the issues
involved in this campaign will be clearly
understood and carefully studied.
Parties are not made to be worshipped.
Tbery are merely the instruments by
which we serve our country The people
are made, not for parties, but parties are
made for the people, and parties can only
, claim the support of the people when
their parties are efficient instruments in
the hands Of the people of accomplishing
good. And those who are called upon tC
5 vote have right to consider the platform
: utterances or policies advocated by the
various parties as we'll as the character
G of the candidates who are. dominated Ir
this campaign believe there will be lesi
!, of personalities and more of principles
r than in any campaign which we hav,
known in recent years. The people arr
thinking about the great public questions
, You must not expect that any platform
will contain all you desire. No thinking
;, person finds in any plat form an expires
!. sion of everything in which they believe
! I Nor must you expect any platform will
Q our party, we select our platform, noting
a the hope of something that is absoluel,
In accord with out opinions, but which
gives the fullest expression of all of ou
hopes and aspirations, and we take tina
platform and join that party which fo
!, the time being promises to give US Jh
best of legislation on the most importan
a questions. And In this oampaing 1t 4
y conceded on all sides that the creates
and most important issue is the none.
a question. 1t matters not whether yol
!, believe in the restoI ation of silver or in
gold standard. You must admit that tn
!. settlement of the money question is o
!. the first and greatest Importance. Whei
that is done other things can be consid
cred. On the money question the tw,
great parties have taken positions direotl.
opposite to each other. Four years ag
!. the position taken by the Republican
and Democratic parties on the none.
!. question was identical. The Republican
party said the American people from ira
% dition and interest are In favor Of bi
metallism, and the Democratic party salt
4 1t holds to the use of gold and silver a
the standard money of the country and t.
the coinage of both gold and liver with
I, out discrimination against either metal
It Thus,you see that both parties declare,
|. In favor of gold and silver as the none
|. of the country. Four years have passe
n since those platforms were written, ant
those four years have been years O
Il momentous events, and as this oampaigl
approaches, the two great parties lin
,t themselves up on this great question. Th
10 Republican party at st. Louis declare
that the gold standard should be main
D. tained until 1t could be changed by inter
national agreement. Note the language
r, That platform does not say the gol
standard Is good thing, because tina
/, platform pledges the party to get rid Q
I. the gold standard and substitute for
v something better as soon as 1t can
done. This better substitute could ro
IL be received until the world should helI
CLong and continued applause)
The Democratic party met in Chicag