The herald., 1896-08-29

ara Dut 10, II pltOSCN ie5OiA ~ oNe
rid of the gold standard just as soon as
other nations will help. That is not my
language, my friends, that is the IAN
suage of the Republican platform, and
that is the construction placed upon II
by the candidate who runs upon it in
his letter of acceptance. He says in
that letter that the American people
cannot enter upon bimetallism without
the concurrent action of other nations.
! why? Does he say we shall maintain
the gold standard for one year? No.
For four wears? No. But the conclu-
sion is that we must maintain 1t forever
If other nations say we must. CAP
plause.) 1t is not question of politics.
my friends Whole parties are divided
on this issue 1t rises above the ques
ton of politics. They have declared
against the right of the people of the
United States to govern themselves.
They have declared that while we want
to get rid of the gold standard we must
keep the thing that we do not want until
aliens shall bring us the relief which we
should achieve for ourselves.
know what view you may take of it,
my friends. but in my humble judgment
the American people are the only people
who have any right to say what the
Americans shall have for legislation.
They have driven down the price of your
products. They have increased the bur-
den of your debts. They have fore
closed your mortgages. They are de-
grading and lowering the standard of
civilization by driving people who want
work to work upon the streets and then
idleness breeds crime and crime men
aces the safety of every citizen of the
land. (AppIause)
A Voice-F{ow about free trade.
Mr.. Bryan-My Friends, ii is not more
taxes the people want. but more money
to pay taxes with. (Great applause)
But I care not how men may differ up
on the subject of taxation. The subject
Of taxa tion is ever present with Us. We
can change our tariff system any time.
but we have reached a crisis in our
monetary affairs and we have got to de-
eide whether the American people will
run our finances or turn our government
over to syndicates to take care of us,
Upon the action of the United States
may depend the action of other nations.
If the influences which are at work here
succeed here they will be turned against
other nations that now use silver, and
il they succeed in \the United States
they will succeed in other nations, and
every nation that goes to the gold
standard increases the demand for gold,
raises the purchasing power of an ounce
of gold and lowers the purchasing power
of wheat and corn and other products
of the farm.
If foreign nations can force a policy
upon the American people, they will
want to enforce their system of govern
ment. which is the only system they
can maintain, an un-American system
which maintains itself by standing ar
mics.
When we speak out against unjust
legislation they say we are disturbers
of the public peace and a menace to
law and order. Do you mean to say that
the farmers gathered here an dthe labor
ers who are congregated in our cities
are enemies of the country? No; they
have earned the epithets of our oppo-
nents, not because they menace law and
order, but because they say: Thou
shalt not steal" shall apply to the great
corporations as we'll as to burglars and
highWaymen. 1t is because they say
that this government was not institut-
ed in order that its instrumentalities
should be monopolzcd by those who use
the government for their own ends and
put it In distress, The PRONUNCIATION of
the gold standard is an attack upon
your homes ard liresides, and you have
as much right to resist it as to resist an
army marching to take your children
captive and burn the roof over your
head. 1 have simply told you what
believe. 1 speak the sentiment that
lies down deep in my heart. used to be
Indifferent to the money question. I'm
til six years ago l thought anybody was
a crank who talked about money; but
when l studied the question l found that
it oVershadowed all other questions;
that it was deeper and greater a;:G high
er than all other questions which we
had to deal with, and when l read in
the address of Mr.. Carlisle that the
consummation of this scheme meant
more misery to the human race than
the worst pestilence in the history of
the world, | began to realize the i'm
portance of the money question. l be-
lieve Mr.. Carlisle spoke the truth, and
it is because / do believe it that ever
since l have become convinced of it /
have cried out aNlinst the conspiracy
and I shall cry out against it as long
as God gives me voice to speak Gap
,,lauca aud cEpprE \