Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-10-22
TCoNMUSICATED.
Ner Yort City, octo5er 10, 1896.

people on one side and the party of
special privileges and every form of con-
centrated wealth on the other, APP
prOaches the end. it may be of interest
TO you TO know how the situation is here,
in the great Metropolis of the country,
the stronghold of PlutOcracy. This
Metropolitan district is also the home of
thousands of the "unterrified Democra-
cy' who, once appraised of the import
ance of any great question at issue, voice
their sentiments in no uncertain way.
Here too is found the greatest poverty
as well as the greatest wealth the most
with luxury unsurpassed. Until the
past sixty days the people were in a state
of lethargy. From the once prosperous
merchant, down through all the grades
of small and smaller merchants. profess
sional men and employees of all kinds,
clerical and otherwise) to the poor, half
starved searcher for work, the pressure
of hard times was keenly felt. The more
fortunate finding il daily more difficult
to hold their own, to keep from slipping
down in the scale and the poor. with
deadly terror at their hearts, fighting
blindly against the ever increasing pros
pect of actual starvation. One and all
were rapidly sinking into that state of
apathy which is the greatest foe of truth
and the most insidious enemy a free
people have to fear. 1t was in this con-
dition of things that a voice was heard
from the West, defying in trumpet
tones, all the unlawful power of aggre-
gated wealth and demanding in the
name of The People, all the people, jus
tice, Justice. So long had the quality it
self been unknown To the masses and so
accustomed had people been TO bow down
to and accept as matter of course the
power of money, that they were first puz-
zled and then under the teaching of a
subsidized press were inclined to scoff at
the idea and denounce the man who
dared disturb the serving of those whom
they had so long accepted as their pa
irons, their kind masters. But there was
some subtle attraction about the wGrd,
something sweet in its sound. which re-
called memories of other DAYS when they
had been told and read-great Patriots
lived and honor, honesty and manhood
were requisites for those who aspired to
high places in the nation They eager
of hai f.I1 81,
returned from Chicago and who had
seen him what manner of a man is he
who SO boldly demands justice and what
does he mean What they learned
whetted their appetite for more know
ledge the beginning of wisdom) both of
the man and his meaning. Discussion
lead to uncertainty as to their former
views, created a doubt in their minds
the man himself came among them. bear
ing his own message, stating his own
case, pleading with them To arise and
help him and themselves TO secure that
justice without which freedom is
mockery, prosperity impossible and suf-
fering certain. Mr.. William Jennings
Bryan they saw for the first time in
generation a man who. absolutely indie
pendent of all money influences and de-
flying Plutocracy, the deadly enemy OF
all free governments, asked for their sup
port solely upon his record as an honor
able, able man and uncompromising
friend of the people. Appealingt to the
hearts and intelligence of all. he asked
nothing for himself personally, but only
that they take a little trouble to find the
truth and their own interests and then
vote as men. honestly
This new doctrine captiyated them
and by the thousands and tens of thous- |
ands they fiocked TO hear from him that
great Truth that eternal vigilance is
the price of Liberty" and that their own
condition depended upon themselves.
The people seemed to be inspired with
new life, all sorts and conditions of men
eagerly discussed at all hours of the day
and night the pros. and cons. of the |
question at issue-and such is the power
and simplicity of all great truths-in two
monfh's time tens of thousands had seen
their error and knew more about the
questions of political economy so vitality
affecting them than they ever dreamed
OF. They learned of the first issue OF le-
gal tender greenbacks and the subse-
quent exception clause, of the manipu-
iatiSn of the bond issues, bought with
forty cent greenbacks and afterwards
made payable in 100 cent coins. the IA
voriteism of the National Bank system.
&c, and finally of the decentralization of |
silver by which half Of their money was
destroyed and they were confined to but |
one source. and a limited one. They |
learned too of the recent issue Of L. 5. |
bonds which robbed the people OF thirty |
million dollars TO pay in gold. obliga-
tions not due in gold OF the true facts |
of the use of L. 5. troops, unwarranted |
by the circumstances and a: the behest |
OF corporate interests, and they also /
learned as well of the deadly meaning
OF the government by injunction. The
result of all this is a revolution in
the sentiment of the people here which,
in view of the short time in which il
was accomplished, is almost incredible.
For time this was confined TO the la
boring classes and Democrats, but grad.
uaily all those dependent upon their dali
IL exerfion for Supnarr narnnrra,- d |