The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-09-18
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"Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men: 1t has been said by some that
Mr.. Bryan during this canvass has been
talking too much, but do not join in
that criticism. 1t may be that the re-
dundancy of his speeches tends to swell
the vote of his opponent, but they tend
also to make clear to the American peo-
pie the issue for which he stands in this
campaign. That issue, which was
somewhat beclouded by the garb Of
argument and philosophy which he as
sumed at Madison Square, energies
sinister and distinct from his recent
addresses.
During the 100 speeches which he
has scattered over the length and
breadth of this country, between Lin
coin, Neb., and the shores of the Allan
tic, there has been one underlying idea
from which he has never departed and
which he has repeated every time that
he addressed his fellow-citizens, and
that idea was that the legislation of
this country on financial subjects and
for the last twenty-five years has been
dictated by number of foreign money
lenders and has been intended to op-
press and despoil the American people.
He has declared in every speech
that the attempt to establish a gold
standard in this country, which was
successful in 1873, is a conspiracy
against the prosperity Of American citi-
zens; that it should be resisted by
American freemen as they would re-
sist an attempt to invade the sanctity
of their homes, an attempt to destroy
their wives and their children, and he
has always insisted that the one pre-
dominant issue in this campaign over
shadowing all others was the necessity
of accomplishing the emancipation of
the people of this country from the
domination of foreign Shylocks.
Constitution at Stake.
"The establishment of the financial
independence of the United States de-
ponds, so he thinks, upon the election
of the loquacious young gentleman who
has been nominated by the populists
for the presidency in their convention
at st. Louis and in the convention
which they captured here in Chicago a
few weeks earlier.
Now, believe that no one will dis
pute that this is fair statement of the
issue as Mr.. Bryan himself has defined
1t, and 1t is an issue which presents
a question to the American people such
as never before has been presented to q
free and intelligent and virtuous cleo
torate. 1t is an issue as to whether our
government is a success or a failure;
whether the constitution of the United
States is the glorious fruit of human
wisdom and human virtue or whether
it is a shameful monument of human
folly and human depravity; whether
1t should be preserved as the best de-
Tense for human rights or whether it
should be destroyed as an obstacle to
human progress.
"Is Mr.. Bryan's statement true that
for twenty-five years the people Of this
country have been grooming under an
oppressive system of laws fastened up
on them by foreign shylocks through
the perfldy and corruption of their own
Then this govern
ment has been the polluted source of
vicious laws; it has been an engine in
the hands of foreign enemies for the
of the American citizens;
for, to use the language which was rap
applauded in the convention at |
Chicago, the monetary system of this |
country has been established by set |
Of foreign money-lenders, more rapa
cious than those whom the Savior of |
mankind scourged from the temple in |
"Then this government of the people |
S not government by the people, but |
| government directly against the best
interests Of the people. Then its estab-
ishment was a monstrous perversion |
If successful patriotic movement; its
by the sacrifice Of count
ess thousands of heroic lives was
rhine and a mistake, condemned by
nan and accursed of God, which
should have been allowed to per-
sh from the face of the earth when the
lot flame of civil war Tapped its foun-
lation and threatened its existence.
Now, we love our country for what
he has BEEHIVE who glory in her for
What she is-we who cherish her for
What she shall be-here and now part
ompany with Mr.. Bryan and the popu-
istic horde that nominated him.
MystiAed but Not Enthusiastic.
1.-THE democracy Of this country,
whose cardinal faith is confidence in
he capacity Of the people to manage
heir own affairs, will never admit the
allure of our constitutional system.
We can have neither part nor act with
candidate who prosecutes a campaign
N assertions which are a libel upon
he splendor of our prosperity upon
he glory of our achievements, upon
he virtue of our people, the patriotism
( our citizens, the success of our gov
rnment, the majesty of our republic.
"My friends il ia an extraordinary |