Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-09-09

year ago, when we were engaged in
struggle TO bring the Democratic party
TO an endorsement of free coinage, the
question was put TO me whether in case
Of failure, | would support ths Demo-
cratic nominee, if he were gold stand
ard advocate running upon gold stand
ard platform. said, as you will re-
member, that under no circumstances
would my vote be given TO man VINO
would in the executive of1ics use his in
fluence 10 fasten the gold standard upon
the American people.
stood where the members of that sill
yer convention stood and like them would
rather have the approval Of my conscience
than the approval of all the world. l
pledge them that if elected they shall
never have cause 70 accuse me of being
false to that platform.
Ny friends, when [ declared that | would
not support a gold standard candidate l
was standing upon the record of the Dem
ocratic party And when the Hepubi-
cans who assembled In the silver conven-
ton at St. Louis refused TO worship the
golden image which their party had set
up. they were defending the history of the
Republican party.
The Republican platform of lSSS de-
nounced the Democratic administration
for having attempted TO degrade silver.
And In 1891. on the 18th day of February
in Memorial Hall at Toledo, O.. at the Lin
coin day banquet, the present candidate
for President upon the Republican ticket
used the words which I shall now read TO
YOU. ! have found these words published
in a Toledo paper and they have been pub
lished so long without correction that we
may safely assume that he was correctly
reported. If he hereafter denies the cor
rectness of this report I shall hasten to
do him Justice by retracting these words.
These are the words which he is ssid TO
have used:
During all of Grover Cleveland's years
at the head of the government he was
dishonoring one of our precious metals,
one of our great products, discrediting
silver and enhancing the price Of gold.
He endeavored even before his inaugu-
ration to office TO stop the coinage of sill
yer dollars and afterwards TO the end OF
his administration persistcntly used his
power to that end. lie was determined TO
contract the circulating medium and de-
monetize one of the coins of commerce,
limit the volume Of money among the
peopIe. make money scarce and therefore
dear. We would have increased tho value
of money and diminished the value OF
everything else money the master
everything else the servant.
Then following the same lines the
Republican convention in 1892 declared
at Minneapolis that the American peo-
nile from tradition and interest were IN
favor of bi-metal,ism. That is the Ian
guage in 1892; that the American peo-
ple from tradition and interest are IN
favor of bi-metailism. Have traditions
changed in four years? Have interests
changed in four years? No, my frienas.
II is not strange that men who had
looked for bi-metallism in the RepubH-
can party should have given up nope
and turned elsewhere for relief. The
Republ;cans cannot be criticized FOR
leaving the Republican party. Ihey
have done better than our Democratic
advocates of the gold standard have
done. because the Republicans when
they left the party, joined with those
who had a chance to succeed, whlle our
democratic advocates of gold Standard
sought to secure the election OF RepuDh-
can, candidates by nominating a Demo-
cratic candidates.
COMPROMISE after compromise mas
been submitted to by the silver Repuoii-
cans in the hope that tha party OF thelr
choice and love would at last bring TO
the people the relief which they desired.
.Rut ,ae Republican party, like that par
~ in 1856. has been led off by an ad-
ministration until it has deserted its ira
d,tions and its platform ana the RpuO-
Hcans have right to say TO their Re
nuJlican associates: I'VE will go with
YOU no longer until this nation is re-
deemed"
We do not ask those who present this
nomination to pledge their future SER
vices to the Democratic party. The
same intelligence which directs them TO-,
dav in the discharge of this duty will
be with them four years from now to
direct them then in the discharge of the
duties that will then arise. We trust
them now: we shall trust them then.
The Democratic party has proven itself
worthy of their confidence today and 1t
receives their support. If four years
from now it proves unworthy Of their
confidence, it should not then have their
support.
Mr.. Harrington, Of the notification
committee, arose on the conclusion OF
Mr.. Bryan's remarks and briefly inform
ed him Of Mr. SewalPs selection as the
vice presidential candidate of the Silver
party. Mr.. Bryan accepted in a few
words in behalf Of Mr.. Sewall.