The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-17
THE SHERMAN LAW.

House, August III, 1898.
Mr.. Bryan concluded his speech as fol-
lows. What he was then he is to-day:
Referring to the monometallists he said:
You demand unconditional surrender,
do your Why, sirs, we bmetallists are
the ones to grant terms. Backed by the
history of a hundred years, sustained by
the most sacred interests of humanity
itself, we demand an unconditional sur
render of the principles of gold mono
metallism rs the first condition of peace.
You demand surrender. Ay, sira you
may cry peace, peace" but there is no
peace. Just so long as there are people
here who would chain country to u single
gold Standard. there is war, eternal war,
and it might just as well be known now!
I.havc said that we stand by the pledges
of all platforms. Let me quote them:
The Populist platform, adopted by
tive national committee in 1892, contain
ed these words: 1--WE demand free, I'M
limited coinage of silver and gold at the
present legal ratio of 16 to II AS the
members of that party, both in the Sen.
ate and i'll the House, stand ready to
carry out the pledge there made, no 6p-
peal to them is necessary.
The Republican platform, adopted in
1885, contains this plank 1.-The Repub-
lican party is in favor of both gold and
SliNtl tS iliohOl tuu luc DOliCl
of the Democratic administration in its
efforts to demonetize silver"
The Democratic platform of 1880 con
tanned these words:
"IIonest money, consisting of gold and
silver and paper, convertible i'll coin on
demand
In 1884 the Democratic platform con
tanned this plank:
I'VE believe in honest money, the gold
and silver coinage of stbe constitution,
and II circulating medium, convertible
into such money without loss
1t would seem that at this time silver
was considered rs honest money. although
the bullion was considerably below the
coinage value.
Thus it would seem that gold and sill
YER have been indissolubly linked togcth-
er in our platforms. Can we 20 back to
our people and tell them, after dcnounc.
ing for twenty years the crimes of 1873,
we have mt last accepted it as Il blessing?
Mr.. Speaker, we have come to the
parting of the ways. To-day the Demo
cratic party stands between two great
forces, each inviting its support On
the one side stands the corporate inter
ests of the nation. it's moneycd institu-
tions, its aggregation of wealth and cap
ital, imperious, arrogant, ompassionate-
less They demand special Legislation,
favors, privileges and immunities. They
can subscribe magnificently to campaign
funds. They can strike down opposition
with their all pervading influences, and
to those who favor and fiatter; bring ease
and plenty. They demand that the
Democratic party shall become their agent
to execute their mcrciless DEGREES.
On the other side stands the unnum-
bered throng, which gave name to the
Dpmpcrntir and fnr xyhir1, IL hae
assumed to speak. Work worn and dust
begrimcd, they make their sad appeal.
They hear of average wealth increased on
every side, and feel the inequality of it's
distribution They see an overproduc-
ton of everything desired because of the
underproduction of the ability to pay.
They cannot pay for loyalty except with
their suffraSes, and can only furnish be
trayal with their condemnation. AL
though the ones who most deserve the
fostering care of the Government, their
cries for help too often beat in vain
against the outer wall, while others less
deserving find ready access to. legislative
halls. This army, vast, and daily grow
ing vaster, begs the party to be its cham
pion in the present conflict. 1t cannot
press its claims mid sounds of revery
Its phalanXeS do not form in grand pa
rade nor has it gaudy banners floating
on the breeze. Its battle hymn is "Home.
Sweet Home, " its war cry, Equality be-
fore the law To the Democratic party
standing between these two irreconclea-
BILE forces, uncertain To which side to
| turn, and conscious that upon its choice
| its fate depends, comes the words OF
| Isracls second lawgiver, Choose YOU this
| day whom you will serve. What will
| the answer be? Let me invoke the mem.
| DRY of him whose dust made sacred the
| soil of Monticello when he joined The
| dead but sceptured sovereigns who still
| rule our spirits from their urns.'' He
| was called demagogue and his follow
| ers mob, but the immortal Jefferson
| dared TO follow the best promptings of
| his heart. He placed man above matter,
humanity above property, and spurning
| the brides of wealth and power, pleaded
the cause of the common people. II was
| this devotion to their interests which
made him invincible while he lived, and
| will make his name revered while history
| cndures. And what message comes to us
| from the HERMITAGE When Il crisis like
| the present arose,and the national bank
| OF h!S day sought to control the politics
| OF the nation, God raised up an Andrew
jackson, who had the courage to Crap
| pie with that great enemy. and by over
! throwing it. he made himself the idol of
the people, and reinstated the Democratic
parry III public confidence. What will
the decision be to-day? The Democratic
party has won the greatest success in it's
history. Standing upon this victory
crowned summit, will it turn its face to
the rising of the setting sun? Will it
choose blessings or cursings; Life or