The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-20
POLITICAL.
MATTERS
Concluded from Fourth Page.)


try, He says he is, but he declines to
show US how
For my part. am willing to state
mere that TX MIR. Bryan could show me
that by any means known to Heaven or
known OF earth. any means revealed to
the comprehension of man. that wages
couh be increased.I will be ready to
SUPPORT him here and now. Great APP
plause and cheers)
Now. when we come to find ont lust
now Bryan expects to increase the
wages of labor we find ourselves lost in
maze of contradiction and In haze
on obscure expressions. No man can
Ten how or where or when the wages
Of che wofkingmen are to be increased
out any one who examines the scheme
can see that the inevitable tendency, the
inevitable consequence OF debasement
IN the standard of value must be a re-
suction In the rate of wages-and that
IS the conspiracy in which the Populist
Is engaged. (Applause.)
n QUESTION OF CONFIDENCE.
Money can never circulate freely and
acllVely unless there is absolute conf
dence in its value. (Applause) If a
man doubts whether the money in his
pocket Will be as valuable tomorrow as
To-day he Will decline to exchange his
commodity against 1t. And this Popu-
llst agitation threatening the integrity
~ ,hoIiSS nus Deen the cause OF Inc
hard times through which this country
Is passing. and from which 1t will not
escape until the heel Of popular condem-
nation is placed on the Populistic agita-
ton which undermines the foundations
of credit. The basis OF sound trade is
SOUND money (applause); money which
IS intrinsically valuable, money which,
like the gold coinage of this country.
the Government could not affect IL IL
tried TO. The gold dollar, this meeting.
the Democratic party, the honest
masses OF this country without distinc-
ton or party divisions demand shall be
paid to the laborer when he earns it."
CONSPIRACY CHARGED.
Quoting Mr.. Bryan MS proposing to in
crease the price of commodities, Mr.
Cochran elaborated an argument to
show that when this increase is brought
about labor will be left to shift for it
self. This he described as the Populist
"schepie". and conspiracy" Then
he asked. "Will you submit to this con-
spiracv between the professional farm
ers. the farmers who cultivate the quar-
rels of their neighbors, farmers who
labor with their jaws. Populist agita-
tprs of the West. and unreconciled
shareholders of the South?" Gap
Dlauseo This is conspiracy" he
said. "between professional farmers
VINO want TO pay low wages and the I'M
reconciled Shareholders who would like
to pay no wages (App!ause.) Here is
the real root of this conspiracy. Here
Is the explanation of this Popuist
movement. Mr.. Bryan did not create
NO man can create a movement like
this. The forces that created II are ac-
tive and have been working in a thous-
and different directions. Mr.. Bryan
REPRESENTING this theory, Is but like q
drop of water ON the crest of u wave,
more conspicuous, but no more import
ant than the millions OF drops that
form its base. The Populistic move
ment is the attempt of these profess
sional farmers. of these men who are
unwilling to share with the laborer, to
appeal to his greed In support of their
doctrine. This Populist is an enemy
OF public order: he Is nm obstacle to pro-
gross. He is u conspirator against the
peace and prosperity of the masses OF
the country.
Il have said that the laborer is the
object of this conspiracy. and he is But
let no man imagine that If the conspi-
rators were successful the injury would
all be borne by the man who works with
his hands. He would be the first to
suffer. and the last to recover from its
enect. But the shock to civilization
which would ensue from such a breach
OF public and private faith would be ir-
feparab le. Its effects no man may meas
IRE from any experience of the human
race. We cannot tell to what degree il
would paralyiZe industry. If i were asked
TO define civilization. l should say 1t was
industrial cooperation. Everything
that man does for his own benefit acts
directly upon the interests of his neigh.
hors. No man can stand alone in q civil
liZed community"
VARIETIES.