The San Francisco call., 1896-10-11
Asked an Unpleasant Question
Which He Positively De-
'clines to Answer.
CHEAP MONEY THE ONLY TOPIC
For Reasons Best Knewn to Himself
the Nebraskan Can See No Other
Issue in the Campaign.

ST. PAUL, MINI, Oct. 10.--Four fairly
long speeches constituted William j.
Bryan's tribute tonight TO the fight for
free silver that is being waaed in Mime
sofa. After a number of brief talks to
people at many stations along the line of
the Great Northern Railroad between
Fargo and st. Paul. he reached here this
evening at $3.50 o'clock, accompanied by
members of the State and local escort com:
mittees and was taken to the Hotel Ryan.
A delegation of OLD soldiers from Mime
apolis and this city met and cheered him
there.
At O'Clock Mr.. Bryan, Ignatius Don
nelly and other speakers, Democratic and
Populistic, were escorted to the Audito-
rum, large structure capable of holding
about 1000 people, seated and standing.
1t was crowded to the doors, and the
candidate received fatering reception,
cheer after cheer being given on his ap-
pearance. Mr.. Bryan made his most i'm
portant speech of the evening there. His
audience did not warm up to his remarks
at first, despite the greeting it had given
him, but toward the conclusion of his ad-
dress, the enthusiasm became rampant.
His next speech was at the West Side
Opera-house, where another congregation
equally enthusiastic and quite as uncom-
fortably packed as that at the Auditorium,
had been waiting some time for his ap-
pearance. Then he went to Market Hall
and spoke briefly. 1t began to rain hard
while Mr.. Bryan was addressing the en-
thusiastic crowd in Market Hall, and the
open air meeting at Rice's Park. the last
On the programme, was abandoned. Mr..
Bryan returned to the Hotel Ryan at II
o. clock, and went to bed.
During his speech at the Auditorium
Mr.. Bryan was interrupted several times
by question s. One man wanted to know
what was the cause OF tie Homestead
strike, and another asked how it would be
easier to get silver from the silver kings
than it was to get gold from the gold
kings.
s. l.. Pierce, the chairman of the meet
ing. introduced Mr.. Bryan after Louis
Nash had presented him with silver pen
in behalf of Organized Labor Bryan-Lynn
Club of st, Paul. Mr.. Bryan said:
Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen: 1t
gives me great pleasure to be permitted to
defend our cause in the presence OF an audi
myself to the subject in hand desire to ex-
press to the organized labor OF this city N Y
grateful appreciation of the gift which they
have presented. 1t is a gold pen with silver
holder, and if shall be elected by my country
men to the chief executive of the Nation that
pen and holder shall be used 10 sign tree
coinage bill at the earliest possible moment
[applause1; and / am glad that the pen with
which my signature shall be affixed is the gift
of the laboring men, because, my friends, be-
lieve that the iaborlng men OF this country
tx.4 lab faer an - o1f
this world are interested in the restoration of
silver TO its ancient place by the side OF gold.
Applause.
did not believe that it would be beneficial
10 those who toll, because, my friends, my
political philosophy teaches me that there can
be no prosperity in this Nation unless that
prosperity begins first among those who create
wealth and finds its way upward to the other
classes of society. [Applause.l More than
that; civilization itself rests upon the great
mass of the people and it is only by carrying
the mass of the people upward and onward
tnat you can expect any advance In ciyfllza-
ton. There can be no civilization where few
in q land have more thalithey can use ana the
many have an insufficient amount 10 give the
comforts of life. lApplause.l Nor do believe
that these great Inequalities can exist In ma,
ton where the Government observes the old
maxim OF equal rights 10 all ana special priv
ileges to none. lApplause.l
When government is properly administered
there will be no representative OF coal trust
sitting by every nreSlQe TO exact tribute from
those who desire to be protected from the cold
of winter. lApplause.l When government is
properly administered there Will De no synul-
Gates fattening out OF the Governments ad-
versitles after they have brought those adver-
sites on the Government for their own benefit.
[Applause.l When government is properly ad-
ministered there will be no corporations
which assume greater authority than the
power which created them. [Applause ]
When government is properly administered
ii will recognize those fundamental principles
set forth in the Declaration of Independence
that all are created equal-that governments
are instituted 10 preserve the rights and that
governments derive their just powers from the
consent OF the governed. lApplause.
When these four principles are applied, then
government will be what 1t ought 10 be. jack
son mas well said that there are no necessary
evils in government, that evils exist only III
its abuse; and, my 1rlends, IL is not govern
ment that we raise our hands against. No
man who understands society or the necessity
for government will raise his hand against
government. 1t is against, the abuse OF GOV.
is against the abuse of governments and we
shall not be driven from our purpose to eradI-
cafe these abuses.
mount issue of the campaign; and yet our op-
ponents are not satisfied to meet this question
openly. They have never been satisfied to
meet the money question. The advocates OF
the gold standard never fought an open fight
and never will. [Applause.l
You ask me why they do not. Will tell you.
shakespeare explained IL WQeu ue says that III
is conscience that makes towards of men, and
the conscience of the advocate OF the gold
standard tells him that his policy enriches
some, but is q curse to the great mass OF the
people. [Applause.]
A voice-"Willyou answer question:"
Yes, sir" said Mr.. Bryan. lCries OF mo, no,
sit down.''1
Mr.. Bryan-Wait moment, my friends.
am willing to answer any question pertinent
to this discussion, because when man be-
heves he is right, no man confuses him, my
friends. [Applause.l
The man-Under the advocacy OF the Repub-
lican party, what, in your opinion, was the
cause OF the Homestead and Pittsburg strikes?
[Cries of "Sit down."l
Mr.. Bryan-My friends, when submit to an
inquiry, have right TO. suppose that it will
be directed toward the subject which am
discussing and not q subject which am not
discussing. lApplause.l Ii anybody desires
TO ask any question connected with the money
question while am discussing that question
he is perfectly at liberty 10 do SO and shall
not embarrass you by my reply. will try 10
give you light, If you are wrong ana II am
wrong shall be as glad to be put right as
am to put you right [Applause.l Before the
Republican Convention did you Lot hear q
great many people talk about the lmpossi-
blllty of having two-yard sticks-did you not
hear them talk about gold being the only
money ut for civilized nations; did
you not hear them talk about our
having outgrown silver. did you not
hear them talk about the niine-owners profit
ing from free coinage and The demagogue who