Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-07-18
BRYAN SPEAKS.
The Democratic Nominee for Pres
ident Arrives at Centralia-
THE MONEY QUESTION CONE INTO.
Mr. Bryan Compares the Pianks of the Re-
publican and Democratic Platforms
and Asks Two Questions Which
He Would Like Answered.

yesterday to visit relatives, and was
accorded demonstration as hearty as
it was unexpected. There was much
clamoring for a speech and Mr.. Bryan
responded as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: 1 did not come to
make a speech The campaign is hardly
opened yet. But coming back to Marion coun-
ty to attend to business which had to be
attended to before returned to my Nebraska
home. was glad to accept an invitation to
spend two three hours with my relatives ID
this city, and while there to meet again the
citizens and friends 1 knew before We are
entering upon memorable campaign and the
issues are being drawn for the contest The
two parties described the two great parties.
or the two leading parties, have already adopt
ed their platforms and have already nominated
their candidates for president and vice presi-
dent of the United States. and in a short time
the campaign will be open fully and you will
be making up your minds to which ticket
you Will support.
L trust that the issues involved in this cam
paign will be clearly understood and carefully
studied Parties are not made to be worshiped
They are merely the Instruments by which we
serve our country The peopIe are made not for
parties. but parties are made for the people.
and parties can only claim the support of the
people when they are efficient instruments in
the hands of people for accomplishing good.
And those Who are called upon to vote have
right to consider the platform utteranceS or
policies advocated by the various parties, as
well as the character of the candidates who
nominated.
of personalities and more of principles than in
any campaign which we have known in recent
We lrs- The people are thinking about the
great public questions You must not expect
that platform will contain all you desire.
No thinking persons find in any platform an
expression of every thing in which thev believe.
Nor must you expect any platform will be free
from some objections. We select our party
we select platform, not in the
hope of something that is absolutely
in accord with our opinions, but
of all our hopes and aspirations. and take
that platform and join that party which for the
time being promises to give the best legis-
lation on the most important questions And.
in this compafgn, it is conceded all sides
that the greatest ana most important issue is
the money question It matters not whether
you believe in the restoration of silver or in
gold standard You must admit that the set
Element of the money question is of the first
and greatest Importance When that is done,
other things C n be considered.
On the money question the two great parties
have taken positions directly opposite each
other -Four years ago the positions taken by
the republican and democratic parties on the
money question were Identical The republic
an party said the American people, from ira
dition and interest are in favor of bimetallism,
and the democratic party said We hold TO the
use OF gold and silver as the standard money
of the country. anG to the coinage of both gold
and silver without discrimination against
either metal
Thus, you see. that both parties declared in
favor of gold and silver the money of the
country. -Four years have passed since those
Platforms were written and those four years
have been years of momentous events, and
this cam paign approaches the two great parties
line themselves upon this great question. The
republican party at ST. Louis declared the
gold standard should be maintained until it
could be changed by international agreement.
Note the language That platform does not
say that the gold standard is a good thing be-
cause that platform pledges the party to get
rid of the gold standard and substitute for it
something better soon as it can be DONE but
H. - rr.r..
ceived until the world should help.
The democratic party met in Chicago and it
adopted platform which is in direct opposi-
ton to tie platform adopted at St Louis The
St. Louis platform declared that the gold
standard Shonld be maintained until it could
be changed by international agreement, I'M
til something else could be done. The demo-
cratic party declared itself unalterably OPP
posed single gold standard And more
than that. tie republican platform did not
promise Won any complete monetary system
The democratic party outlined what it de-
sired to have done. 1t declared in favor of the
immediate restoration of the free and unlimit-
ed coinage of both gold and silver at the pres
ent legal ratio OF sixteen to one without watt
ing for the aid or consent of any other nation.
We also declared that the silver dollar should
be legal tender for all debts, public and pri-
vate and that such legislation should be en-
acted as is necessary to prevent for the future
the characterization of any kind of legal tender
money. More than that, the platform declared
that the government should exercise the right
to redeem its obligations in either gold
silver.
The issue is drawn and we have our chosce
in this campaign between American imam
cial system for the American people and Eng
lish financial system to be forced upon
Those who believe in running this government
on the European plan should go and legisla1e
with the republican party If mistake not,
the patriotism of the peoI>le whose patriotism
has never been appealed roNin vain. there ca
be but one issue in this campaign, and but one
result. If they ask us, What about other
questions we tell them that so long as tie
right of SELF government is in danger there is
other question Why discuss things if we
be not powerful enough to act when we have
the power:
I've not the time disposition to talk to
you at this time, but1 want to impress upon
your minds two things I want you TO ask two
questions which ought to be asked over ana
again in this cam paign. each time with in
creased emphasis. and the Two questions are
these:
If the gold standard is a good thing why
ought We TO try TO get rid-Of IT,. -
IF il Is a bad thing, why should we keep it
until some other nation helps to get rid OF
it,
the interest which Won have manifested and
for the Gem pli-nent which YOU have paid by
your assemblage here to-day but beg
OF you thaz YOU shall do your duty citizens
We who stand upon the platform adopted at
Chicago do not come to you suppliants beg
Sying for yoxr votes Those votes are your own
You are free men, and nc man should stand
IN the attitude of petit sfoning for a free man
conscience bat We come before You standing
upon a platform and pledying its enforcement
II elected, and sve beg YOU to study the ques-
tions, all the questions presented by the is
sues involved and then let your ballots regis
ter free mans EilL thank You.
There was tremendous applause
when Mr. Bryan ceased speaking. He