Birmingham state herald., 1896-09-13
WHERE M'KINLEY GOT II Mir. Bryan Speaks in the Audi
 torium, St. Louis. THE AUDIENCE WAS GREATER Which Greeted the Peoples Champion Than That Which Witnessed the Cut and
 Dfied Triumph of Harrison.
THE AUDIENCE WAS GREATER

St. Louis, Sept. 12.-Mr. Bryan reached the auditorium at 915 D. m. and. follow ing an interesting address by Ex-Lieu- tenant Governor Brown, said:
 If the republican party had declared in favor of a gold standard it's orators might have gone before the people and advocated the gold standard as a good thing. To have done so. however, they would have had to close their ears to the cry of distress which comes up every where. But had they declared for gold standard they would at least have had something to advocate. But they did not see it. The advocates of a gold stand ard did not declare for a gold standard Why? Because those who favored a gold standard never fought an open fight in their lives. Gold is a coward. It will not meet its enemies in open fight and those who advocate a gold standard have never been willing to face their enemies before the American people. Let me give you an evidence of that fact, that our opponents are not willing to take the American people into their confidence and declare before the American people the policy which they desire.
 This night recalls my last visit to this hall a little less than three months ago. attended national convention in this hall. l saw here adopted the first platform ever adopted by national con- vention in all the history of the United States which declared that the United States must depend upon foreign nations for permission to do what our people de- sired to do. I saw adopted in this hall platform which pledged the republican party to get rid of a gold standard and substitute bimetallism as soon as the leading nations of Europe would help us to do so. Before an audience that did not equal this 1 saw this platform made, and l am delighted that an audience greater in size, gathered, not from all the union, but from single city, has met in this same hall to pronounce condem- nation upon that platform.
 Politics, my friends, Is at times seri- ous business and politics this year is more serious business than in any year to which we assembled here have ever passed. Whenever great party solemn ly declares that the control of our finan- cial policy shall be transferred from the American people over into the hands of foreign nations, it raises serious issue which must be settled by the people.
 Why, my friends, in a country Ike ours, agitation is the only means by which people can secure relief. And if these men had their way about it they would make it a penal offense for a man to raise his voice against the financial system which they would fasten upon the American people. (Applause). They lay it to agitation, and what do they tell you? Why, in their judgment, if there can be a correct settlement of the finan- cial difficulties then gold will be free again in their judgment.
 'I repeat that these men that tell you that everything would be all right If you would just have a correct settlement of the money question and then don't tell you what that correct settlement is hp1ye eit settlement is. or if they know they are not willing to tell you. (Applause).