Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1896-09-05
AN Unceasing phe
Gold standard. Tofs's S5'Mght.

Columbus, o., Sept. 1.-The free
silver campaign in Ohio attained its
highwater mark in Clevelend last
night, but the outpouring of people
to see and hear the Democratic pres
idential candidate at the State Cap
itol tonight was greater in proper.
ton to the size of the city than that
in the northern metropolis had been
Mr.. Bryan had the State Capitol
grounds for his forum, and the
memory of tho local politicians con.
tains no such demonstration as the
one in which he played the star part.
Inhabitants say that no political at
traction has ever drawn SO strongly
in Columbus.
A rooted and flag draped platform
faced the eastern front of the Capitol
building, and as Mr.. Bryan looked
down from its heighth, twenty feet
above the street, he saw the steps
and terraces packed in solid rows
with the gloomy stone wall for the
background, while about the other
three sides Of the stage across the
lawn OF several acres to the street be-
You'd, stood regiments, of which an
accurate estimate Was an impossible
ity, and which careful guess would
place at 10000,
From the Chittendon Hotel half a
mile away Mr.. Bryan came to the
Capitol in baroucbe drawn by four
white horses, and under the escort of
several free silver clubs of Columbus
and neighboring towns, enlivened by
bands and unique campaign devices,
in which mammoth silver dollars
shared conspicuous places.
A shrill cheer marked his progress
along the street, and multiplied in it's
intensity. announced his arrival at the
platform, thereafter beating the air in
wave after wave throughout his
speech. On account of the size of
his audience Mr.. Bryan adopted
novel method of speaking, talking to
sections of the crowd alternately from
each of the foursides of the platform.
Even then not more than one-tenth of
the people could hear him.
He was introduced by Hon. Allen
G. Thurman, son of the sold Roman"
who has been fighting for free silver
in Ohio for several years.
Mr.. Bryan said:
Ladies and Gentlemep This is the
largest audience to which | ever tried
to speak. / have had occasion to
speak with audiences that filled the
house, but never had occasion to
speak to an audience which filled all
outdoors. If you vote as you are now
shouting don't see how there can be
any question about the triumph of
free silver in the State of Ohio.
We have entered upon a campaign
which means much to the American
people. If our opponents speak truly
when they describe what will in their
judgement be the effect of free coin
age then the success Of the Chicago
ticket would certainly be a calamity
to the country. If, on the other hand.
we speak the truth when we describe
to you the effects of gold standard
continued, the maintenance of the
gold standard until the foreign
nations come to our relief is an evil
which cannot be contemplated by
those who love their country. We
have begun an increasing warfare
against the gold standard. The Re-
publican party, without declaring the
gold standard is a good thing, has de-
clared that the gold standard must |
be maintained. | call your attention
to the fact that no party in the history
of this country has ever in national
convention commended the gold |
standard.
Here Mr.. Bryan went from the
front of the platform to the side, first
excusing himself to the audience in
front, He continued:
II desire to impress upon your
minds the fact that the enemy we are
fighting in this campaign is an enemy
which has never gone into an open
battle. The advocates of gold stan
dard have never dared to submit the
standard to the arbitrament of a
ballot. Every step that has
been taken has been taken by stealth
and without the approval of
the American people. When sill
yer was demonetized in 1878 the
people had not discussed it and
persons who were members of Con
gress and who voted upon the meas
ure testified that they did not under
stand that the bill demonetized silver.
When the crime was discovered and
the American people attempted to
restore silver to its ancient place by
the side of gold, the opponents of free
coinage forced the Bland act upon
Congress as a compromise, and as
soon as the Bland act went into force
the enemies of free silver proceeded
to repeal the Bland act and left
in its place. But the silver
grew until 1890 and in that