The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-16

1t Is not often that the money uueS- |
ton is presented to the people. It is de-
sirable that there should be fixed and |
permanent financial policy, but, my
friends, for more than twenty years, the |
American people have been seeking to re-
store a financial policy which existed
from the foundation of the Government
and had the support of every prominent
statesman of all parties until 1873. 1t
was changed without the American peo-
pies consent. (Applause.) Ever since
that unfortunate hour the American
people have been seeking to reinstate the
law that was at that time removed from
the statute book. Sometimes they have
passed through the lower house, bill to
open our mints. Sometimes they have
passed that bill through the Sen
ate, but heretofore they have not
succeeded in pas sing that bill through
the House and Senate at the same Con-
gress, We have been compelled, time and
time again, to compromise, and then we
have found that our enemies, when they
have forced upon us compromise, have
commenced the next day to undermine
that which they compelled us to accept.
(Applause.)
"When the people succeeded in passing
through one house Il bill for the free coin
age of silver, the other house insisted
upon an amendment that resulted in
what was known as the Bland act of 1878.
1t gave some relief to the people. 1t gave
to them short respite from the increased
depression that had been forced upon
them by vicious legisation but no sooner
was the law passed and-remember, that
even that law was passed over the
Presidents veto-and no sooner had it
passed, than the enemies of free coinage
who had compelled it's adoption began to
work secretly for its repeal Then when
the silver sentiment had grown until in
February, 1890, there were prospects of
the passage of n free coinage law, our
friends again forced a compromise and
substituted the Sherman law for the free
coinage of silver, and no sooner was the
Sherman law passed than our opponents
began to try to secure it's repeal Sher-
man, in his book John Sherman's Recol-
lections, expressly states that he secured
and favored that bill in order to prevent
the passage of n free coinage law and that
he was ready to vote for it's repeal the next
day if that repeal could be secured with
out substituting free coinage. (Applause.)
II call your attention to these facts to
show you that during all these years, in
stead OF meeting open and frank and
candid .enemies, we have had to fight
those who under the guise of being
friends of free coinage, the friends of
blmetallism, have by stealth sought to
fasten the gold standard upon the Amer
lean people. Great applause.)
They went to st. Louis and wrote the
platform of the Republican party. Did
they say in that platform that the gold
standard was good thing? Oh, no, my
friends. (Applause.) To have made an
open declaration of what they wanted
would be contrary to all their history
! and they were not willing to change
their plans. (Applause)
what did they do? Why, they adopted
platform which pledged the Republican
party to get rid of the gold standard and
to substitute bimetallism. WhenY When
leading nations help us tc do it. ZAP
plause.) Having done that, the same in
fiuence that dominated the st. Louis
platform went to Chicago and attempted
the old game. They attempted to write
money plank for the Democratic party
that could not have been distinguished
from the Republican plank, even with
the aid of microscope" daughter and
applause.)
Here Mr.. Bryan was stopped by the
ram, which again commenced to fail in
torrents. When he could make himself
heard again he began as follows:
IL don't know that ought to keep YOU
here in the rain. eyes, 90 on; don't
stop.O Well, my friends, let me con-.
clude the descriptive part by saying that
the majority did rule at Chicago and
wrote the platform that was Democratic.
(Applause.) For once, the convention
took strong, open, unequivocal grounds
in favor of the immediate restoration of
free coinage at the rate of 16 to /. (Ap-
plause.) And what was the results
Why, my friends, four months ago the
Republicans thought that all they had to
do was to nominate their candidate and
election m I'M
Chicago platform was written, as soon
as the Democratic party appea led to the
hearts and censciences of the people, then
the hope of the Republican pal tv was
changed to dependency and despair
Great applause.)
Here the procession began to pass by
the stand and Mr.. Bryan was Interrupted
Tor twenty-five minutes When it had
passed he continued:
teilow citizens: / have been inter
rupted in the midst of speeches before.
but can say to you, of all. this is the
most pleasant interruption of which I
nave recollection. | shall remember this
speech which was cut in two by the most
remarkable parade that it was ever nv
good fortune to witness. (Applause.D
Ihey bore banners which make it I'M
necessary for me to speak more. III
were to talk to you from now until night
l could not more than emphasize the
notices which have passed in procession
by you. notice one motto, drawn with
letters not altogether according to the
latest patterns, but it represents senti-
ment that ought to find Judgment in
the memories of all-thatis high money,
low times (Applause.)
II challenge you to find in any of the
speeches that will he made this year by
the opponents of free silver n single SEN
tence that will contain as much of noliti-