The San Francisco call., 1896-08-16
yE ORATORS
Campaign texts Here
Ready for Use
From Holy Writ Flood Of Light
Is Turned on the Political
Fog of the Year

There is an anecdote told Of Abraham
Lincoln to the effect that he was once ap-
preached by a member of his Cabinet with
request that he should furnish text to
be inscribed upon greenbacks. The sturdy
politician thought a moment and sug-
gested, "Silver and gold have none, but
such as 1 have give l thee"
Now there is something particularly
solid and satisfying in pat scrlpturaI
quotation or simile. An American audi
ence is easily affected by one. That this
is so is evidenced by the cross OF gold and
crown of rhorns figure of speech intro
duced with telling effect at the Chicago
convention by Mr.. William Jennings
Bryan. As matter of fact this was not
strictly speaking, a quotation from the
Testament, but it sounded biblical, ana
there are those who go so far as to assert
that it was these few words that Sc
cured the Presidential nomination for the
speaker.
The everyday reader of newspapers who
takes an interest in political and financial
matters, by following the Injunction of
John to search the Scriptures, may find
much in their pages that is appropriate to
present-day conditions. The good Repub-
lican may here find text and verse which,
in his opinion, justify his convictions.
The Democrat, too, may light upon trite
observation which will afford him con-
firmation of his ideas. But it is the man
on the fence-the person without settled
convictions one way or another-who
really enjoys the view. Each of the others
may make point of studiously ignoring
ssthe other fellow" but he sees both sides.
Taxing retrospective glance at recent
events, we can imagine David Bennett
Hill, for instance, citing Scripture to con-
found his opponents in the Democratic
camp. We can hear him calling to his
followers, "Receive my instruction, and
not silver (Proverbs viii:10), or urging,
Merchandise of wisdom is better than of
silver proverbs i:14). And when the
plaudits of the assemble populace sound
ed in his ears, announcing the Nebraska
orators election, we can hear his NUT
tered words of explanation, that it all
happened because they sold the righteous
for silver" (Amos ii:6).
And there is the Democratic nominee
himself. Had he searched the Scriptures
in the hour of his triumph he might well
have calculated with jeremiah, "How is
the gold become diml" or with Isaiah
xiv AZ, "How hath the exactress of gold
ceased!" Or he might, in referring to the
yellow metal element complain with the
prophet, "They lavish gold and
weigh silver" (Isaiah xlvi6).
And now come the people of the United
States and planning against the de-
PENDANTS, the present administration,
they say with Nehemiah. "We have bor-
rowed money" nehemiah VA. They
affirm with the apostle, "The people cast
money into the treasury MARX xil:41),
and, with words significant to Mr.. Car
Isle, Remember my bonds" (Colossians
iv:1S.
Step up, Mr. ]. Pierpont Morgan. Intro
duce yourself and give US your opinion on
the last issue by Grover Cleveland. Says
the representative of Lombard street, Il
am an emDassador in bonds" (Ephesians
vi:2Ol "And regarding the last issue of
bonds?" we ask. "More to be desired are
they than gold yea, than much fine
gold" promptly quotes Morgan from
Psalm xix.
"Money answers all things" says the
Preacher (Ecclesiastes x:19). United
States bonds are money, ergo, United
States bonds have the power of speech.
Like Balaam's ass, their periods of elo-
quence are few and far between. To the
British banker they lift up their voice.
I'VE were not redeemed with silver and
gold" say they, and with the prophet
urge ''Take the spoil of silver and the
spoil of gold" Nahum ii :9) But England
will have none of the twin-metal scheme
OF payment. II have made gold my
hope" insists the creditor, sternly and
The California delegates to the Popu-
list convention went to st. Louis in
cars absolutely Spartan-like in their SIM
plicity. No Pullman coaches were there
to accommodate the representatives of
the Peoples party. In fact, ''They took
no money in their purse" (Luke ix:3)
We can imagine the contempt felt by these
sturdy middle-ofthe-roader toward their
luxury loving fellows. With Isaiah we
can hear them exclaim. "Wherefore spend
ye money!
By way of suggestion to stump speakers
during the coming campaign. we append
q few mottoes from the Scriptures which
may be useful to round out political ad-
dresses. The reader, be he Republican,
Democrat or Populist, can take his choice
Of them. Who can say but that they may
be etficacious in securing fat Government
positions for those using them2 This one
thing is certain, that they are more
than the platitudes which are
reported to have made Presidential nom.
inee:
''Lay up gold as Suitable by way of a recon-
du = b mendation to the United
xxll:Z4. States Government for its
financial policy.
Wisdom cannot Useful for those who hold
be gotten for that the tariff is the para
gold nor silver" mount ISSUE
Job xxiii:1O.
(Which shall notlAnother nicely turned end
regard silver or ing for a tariff speech.
o l. d. Isaiah
xiii:I7.