The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-11-17
WIN. J. BRYAN ON FREE COINAGE.
AN ADDRESS TO BINETALLIsTs

Four Years VIII Bring Renewed
Strength.
Hon. William j. Bryan has issued
the following statement to the bime-
tallists of the United States:
To the Bimetallists of the United
States:
Conscious that millions OF loyal
hearts are saddened by temporary de-
feat, L beg to offer word of hope and
encouragement. No cause ever had
supporters more brave, earnest and de-
voted than those who have espoused
the cause Of bimetallism. They have
fought from conviction, and have
| fought with all the zeal which con-
| viction inspired. Events will prove
whether they are right or wrong.
| Having done their duty as they saw it,
| they have nothing to regret. The Re-
publican candidate has been heralded
as the advance agent of prosperity. If
| his policiesbring real prosperity to tho
American people those who opposed
him will share in that prosperity. If,
on the other hand, his policies provo
an injury to the people generally, those
OF his supporters who do not belong to
! the office-holding class or to the privi-
legged classes will suffer in common
with those who opposed hims The
| friends of bimetallism have not been
vsnquished +; they have simply been
overwhelmed. They believe that the
| gold standard Is q conspiracy of the
| money changers against the welfare
| OF the human race, and until con-
vinced of their error they viii continue
| the warfare against it.
The contest has been waged this
year under great embarrassments and
against great odds. For the irst time
| 1ip ,,tt
tion has been centered upon the money
question as the paramount issue, and
this has been done in spite of all at.
tempts upon the part of our opponents
to prevent it. The Republican con-
vention held out the delusive hope of
international bimetallism, while Re.
publican leaders labored secretly for
gold monometallism. Gold standard
Democrats have publicly advocated
the election of the Indianapolis ticket,
while they labored secretly for the
election Of the Republican ticket. The
trusts and corporations have tried to
excite a fever of lawlessncss, while
they have been defying the law, and
American financiers have boasted that
they were the Custodians OF the ma
| tiOnal honor while they were secretly
bartering away the nations financial
independence. But in spite Of the
efforts Of the administration and its
supporters; in spite of threats of money
loaners at home and abroad in spite
of. the coercion practiced by corpora
tions and employers; in spite of trusts
and syndicates in spite of an enormous
Republican campaign fund; and in
spite of the influence of hostile daily
press, bimetallism has almost triumph
ed in its first great fight The loss of
q few States, and that, too, by q very
email plurality, has defeated bimetal-
ism for the present; but bimetallism
energies from the contest stronger than
1t was four months ago.
| [ desire to commend the work Of
the three national committees which
have joined in the management of this
campaign. Cooperation between the
members of distinct political organiza-
tions is always difficult, but it has been
| less so this year than rsnn'. Interest
in common cause OF great Importance
| has rec uced friction 10 a minimum. |
hereby express my personal gratitude
to the individual members, as well as
! The executive officers of the national
committees OF the Democratic, Popu-
list and Silver parties for their eifi-
cient, untiring and unselish labors.
They have laid the foundation for
| future success and will be remembered
as pioneers when victory is at last
secured.
No personal or political friend need
| grieve because of my defeat. My
ambition has been to secure immediate
legislation rather than enjoy the
honors of Office. Therefore defeat
brings to me no feeling OF personal
loss. Speaking for the wife who has
shared my labors, as well as myself, |
desire to say that we have been amply
repaid for all that we have done. In
the love of millions of our fellow
citizens, SO kindly expressed, in know
ledge gained by personal contact with
the people and in broadened symna-
thies, we find full compensation for
Our hearts have been touched by the
devotion Of friends and our lives shall
prove our appreciation of the affection
which we prize as the richest reward
which this campaign has brought.
In the face of an enemy rejoicing in
its victory, let the roll be called for
the engagement, and urge all friends
OF bimetallism to renew their allie
| glance to the cause. If we are right,
as [ believe we are, we shall yet
triumph. Until convinced of his error,
let each advocate of bimetallism con.
tinue the work. Let all silver clubs
retain their organization, hold regular
meetings and circulate literature. Our
opponents have succeeded in this cam
paign and must now put their theories
to the test. Instead of talking mys-
teriously about "sound money and an
"honest dollar" they must now elabo-
rate and def nd a financial system.
Every step taken by them should be
publicly considered by silver clubs.
Our cause has prOspered most where
the money question has been longest
discussed among the people. During
the next four years it will be studied
all over this nation, even more than it
| has been studied in the past.
The year 1900 is not far away. Be-
fore that year arrives international BIZ
metallism will cease to deceive: before
that year arrives those who have called
themselves gold standard Democrats
will become bimetallists and be with
us, or they will become Republicans
and thus open enemies before that
year arrives trusts will have convinced
still more people that trust is q
menace to private welfare and to public
safety; before that year arrives the
evils of gold standard will be even
more evident than they are now, and
the people will then be ready to de-
mand an American financial policy for
the American people, and will join
with US in the immediate restoration
of the free and unlimited coinage of
gold and silver at the present legal