Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-09-28
BRYAN'S ELOQUENT PLEA
he SPEAKS FOR FREE SILVER TO
FARMERS AND W0RKINGMEN.
The Gifted Nebraskan's Magnificent
Address to an Immense Audience
at Hornellsville, N. Y.-Asks
Some Questions of SiIyer's Foes.

cnainpion OF Tree silver, spoke to an
immense audience of farmers and
workingmen at the Hornellsville IN.
I. fair during his tour through the
State. Mr.. Bryan said:
Our opponents have no policy on
the money question. They don't say
that the gold standard is good. No
party in the history of the United
States ever said that the gold standard
was good. And yet, my friends, parties
have existed here, parties have written
platforms, parties have nominated
candidates, parties have carried on
campaigns, and yet no party from the
beginning of our history until to .day
has ever saidsi1 National platform
that the gold standard is good thing
ior the American people. No party
would dare to say that and then go
forth before the people, who for twen-
ty years have suffered beneath the bur.
den of gold standard.
But what does the Republican plat
form say? Why, it says we PLEDGE
ourselves to get rid of the gold stand.
ard and substitute the principle of bi.
metallism. Doesn't that mean that BIZ
metallism is better than a gold stand
ard? There can be no other construc-
tion placed upon it, and after having
declared that bimetallism is better
than gold standard, that same plat
form says that until the leading com
mercial Nations shall consent to an in
ternatlonal agreement we must bear
the gold standard. Now, if the gold
standard is good thing, the Republi-
can party ought to have declared in
favor OF its permanent maintenance.
If the gold standard is good thing
the United Staues ought to have it.
1t the gold standard is a bad thing
no foreign Nation should be permitted
to force gold standard upon the peo-
pie o. this country. How long does
the Republican platform say we must
endure the gold standard? For a
year? 1t doesn't limit it to a wear.
For four years? 1t doesn't limit it to
four years.
You know that platform in substance
declares that we must submit to it for.
ever If other Nations insist upon our
doing it. There is not in that plat.
form, IN that money plank, single
ray of hope.
Are you satisfied with your condi-
ton? Ii you are you want to keep the
gold standard. II you are not satis-
lied with your condition are you will
ing to submit to present conditions
until other people take pity on us and
come to our rescue? That, my friends.
is the position in which we are placed
IN this campaign-no party defending
the gold standard and yet u great
party willing to surrender the right of
self government, willing to place in
legislative powers in ether Govern
ments the right to legislate for the
people of the United States. I do not
believe the American people will ever
consent to receive their mandates from
across the ocean.
Our opponents do not attack one of
the strong planks in our platform.
We declare against the issuance of
bonds in times ofpeace and the traffick.
ing with syndicates, that are them.
selves out for high price, to look af-
ter our Government. We denounce
that policy. Does the Republican
party denounce it? No, not word
in its platform denouncing it.
If the Republican party succeeds
will 1t stop that policy? No, because
every man who is interested in that
syndicate, every man who profits out
of the Governments extremities. is
declaring that tho Republican ticket
must be elected this year in order to
save the country.
And yet when our opponents come
before the people, to whom do they
appeal for votes? Do any of the Re-
publican speakers turn to the money
changers and appeal to them to vote
the Republican ticket? No, it is not
necessary. my friend, to waste time on
them. They appeal to the ones who
they think will require The most per-
suasion. To whom do they appeal?
To the laboring men of this country.
They tell the laboring man that they
are SO afraid that something is going
to happen to him.
wen, now, how can you tell whether
these men who stand at the head of
the gold crusade, and yet do not have
the courage to say go, are going to
help the laboring men or not? Judge
the future by the past. We have
scriptural authority tor the assertion
that the tree is known by its fruit.
These trees have been bearing fruit
for twenty years, and there has not
been thing on single tree that a
| laboring man would have in his house.
These are the men who by the for.
nation of great trusts have stihed
competition, driven the small com.
| petitor out of business. Will they at
this late day turn around and cham.
plon laws for the special benefit and
protection of the laboring men? Show
me the man who has tried to break
down labor organization and 1 will
chow youa man who to-day is sweating
blood for fear some laboring man il
going to have his wages cut into.
Now, my friends. the policy of the
snemy is to divide; and conquer
Whenever there has been an effort
| x,,oy fba norf of fba Jolz: