The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-17
BRYAN's NAME CHEERED
Discussion of the Financial Cues
ton by the Kentucky
Leader.
SPEECH OF JOHN R. FELLOWS.
Free Coinage of Silver Denounced as
Fraud Perpetr ated Upon the
People.

MEMPHIS, TENN, Sept. 16.-General
Simon Buckner, ce-Presdential eandi-
date of the National Democratic party,
and Colonel John r. Fellows, campaigner
for the Sound Money League, tonight
addressed an audience OF $500 at the Audi
forum.
General Buckner was the first speaker
and at once took up the financial question.
He discussed it from the standpoint OF its
elementary principles and contended that
if the stamp OF the Government, by being
placed upon piece of silver or OF gold,
AN give it a different value from
hat i'll commercial sense, that stamp
AN give any value it pleases even to a
thousand times, so that the proposition is
reduced to an absurdity. He cited history
in support of his proposition that when
ever country had undertaken to inuse
this value into the metal by coming it the
result had been commercial CONFUSION,
CONSERVATION and strife among the people
and rebellion against the Government.
He denounced the proposition to deceive
as advocated by the advocates OF free
silver coinage, insisting that it was moth
Ing more than defrauding the people.
Touching the work of the Chicago conyeD-
'on and its power to bind the Democracy,
General Buckner said:
Last summer, under the regular organiza-
ton OF the Democratic party meetings we're
called in every county in every State in the
Union. Delegates were appointed to State
conventions, and State conventions appointed
delegates to the Chicago convention. What
were those delegates instructed to do? In
nearly every county in the United States the
nFst resolut on passed by the county meetings
was TO reathrm the principles of Democracy
When the delegates thus instructed 10 dis
charge their duties as Democrats went TO the
State conventions, those State conventions.
almost without an execution, reaffirmed the
principles OF Democracy, and the delegates
that they sent to the Chicago convention were
Obliged TO support Democratic principles
Every sentiment OF personal honor, of partisan
duty, compelled them TO arrange their plat
form on Democratic lines and discard from II
everything that was not, IApplausel
WHAT did they do? They went 10 Chicago
ana arranged platform from which the last
yestige OF Democracy had vanished. / DEFY
any man to attempt TO point TO single article
OF single line OF that platio rm which enun-
cietes Democratic doctrine. Ii announces as
principles of the Democratic party principles
which we have combatted for hundred
Years, from the time OF Jefferson 10 this good
hour. And yet, tellow-eitizens, they have
placed upon that platform man for candi-
da,e who has declared that he is no Democrat
Fellow-citizens, they say that we must sup
Port their candidate anu their platform be-
cause II was done regularly That reminds
me OF an illustration which my distinguished
friend made 8 short time ago. He said, under
the claim OF regularity, Benedict Arnold had
the right to claim the support of the patriots
OF the Revolution. He was regularly COM
mlssioned by his Government in the patriot
army; he was Iegu arly commissioned under
the principles OF West Point and the High
lands by General Washington; ne issued or
ders through his staff egulerly and IN an en-
urely regular way ne issued orders which
disposed the army under his command and
placed II in such position that the enemy
could come upon II and massacre the last
man. Ii was ali done with perfect regularity
The only thing wanting was little matter
principle. [Applause.l Nor did il seem 10 be
in the minds OF those gentlemen assembled in
Chicago protesting TO represent Democracy.
They said, what we have done was done regu-
larry.
Under that theory General Washington and
the Continental army were boilers because
they would not follow Arnold in his treason
Because we will not follow these gentlemen
at Chicago in their detection from Democratic
principles we are 10 be called boilers.
In the course of his speech General
Buckner mentioned the name OF Bryan,
and no sooner had the word left his
mouth than the house was the scene of
the widest demonstration OF the evening.
The cheering continued until the chair
man of the meeting was compelled to ask
the audience to give the general respect
full hearing.
AT the conclusion of General Buckner's
speech Colonel John r. Fellows was intro
uueed. He said ia part;
That the silver dollars and paper dollars OF
this Government to-day are equal to gold, is
due to the method OF the Government, by
which they are exchangeable for gold The
Government keeps enough reserve to make its
credit good before all the world, for the re-
demption of It's promise that il will pay Its
debts in gold.
What if that function should be DESTROYED >
Oh, says Mr.. Bryan, 1 believe il you would give
as free and unlimited coinage at the
ratio OF 10 to l. the demand for silver
by this new issue you have given it,
would raise it at that ratio to level
with gold. 1t would be worth 81 % an ounce.
Well we simply say but suppose 1t should not
Mr.. Bryan, what then? Suppose the CONNER
eisl world refuses to accept it at that value
Have you ever stopped TO think what an awful
calamity would be preeipitated upon this
country? II that single belief of Mr. BRYAN
IN behalf OF which he challenges the votes OF
ms eountrymen. should not be realized as q
fact, not one hour would your gold remain as
circulating medium in this country.
General Buckner and Colonel Fellows
left at IL 10 P. NJ. for Louisville.