The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-18
SOUND. MONEY ADVOCATES.
Grand Meeting at the Opera.ROuSe in
the Hill City.
MAI. THOMASJ. KIRKPATRICK SPEAKS.
The Great Crime Sought to be Done Mt
This Time Was the Destruction OF Dem
ocratic Principles Free Silver
Would Cause IL Years Of Panic.

LYNCHBURG, VA, Oct 17.-Special.-
The sound-money Democracy of the Hill
City had great meeting at the Opera
House tonight. The occasion was the
first appearance of the distinguished cleo
tor for this district, that able lawyer
ana Christian gentleman, Major 7. j..
kirkpatrick, in defense Of sound money
and sound government. The Opera-House
was filed and many ladies were among
those present.
The speaker needed no introduction 10
an audience in the city in which he is
50 highly esteemed, but as a matter of
form Mr Wv. Wilson, chairman OF the
Sound-Aloney Democratic Committee. per-
formed that duty. Mr.. Wilson's announce
mont that The speaker Of the evening
was no important Tammany Chief filled
with SO-Called Democracy, and nothing
worse was greeted with enthusiastic ap-
plause.
OUT OF FULLNESS or THE HEART
Major Kirkpatrick was greeted with
much applause when he came forward.
lle said that IL was not altogether pleas
ant 10 make political address, but he
could not remain silent when 80 many
Of the best citizens and his dearest
friends had appealed 70 him 70 publicly
express his views. For forty years he
said he had been a Democrat. and nothing
bur Il Democrat, and he held those views
to-day.
The great crime which was sought TO
be done at this time was the destruction
OF Democratic principles and the great
Democratic party There was not q
single important proposit on IN the Chi
cage platform which was in the platform
OF four years ago. The great question
was free silver. Free silver meant simply
that the Government OF the United States
would throw open the mnts 10 the silver
Oh mo world, and receive coin FOR H.
a GREAT CRIME
II the free silgerites could do what
they say they can do they would com
init one OF The greatest crimes in history.
il was an unparalleled crime. Tie speak
er then proceeded 10 show why free coin
age would be "a crime. and mnde the
uDiest argument OF the campaign for
sound money. re challenged anv free
shFerte IN the audience to answer sew
erai questions. and 10 one dared 10 raise
ms voice. lIe challenged any man who
uid not believe b. 10 be q crime 10 stand
up and show his face. NOT q movement.
TREMENDOUS apphuse) Th4 ifee silver
scheme was folly as vel as a crime.
ne proceeded 10 show that Bryan and the
nee aIiFerlies could not carry out their
plan, and il they could il vould bring
curse. calamity ana ruin on the Deoole.
TWELVE YEARS or PANIC.
Nr. Bryan camitted several dars AGO
that IL would cause a panic and that was
all he wanted him 10 say. lie was rieht.
How long VIII that panic last. "I will
show you be said. &c VIII force an tbs
gold out OF circulation in a dav and d.
every mint IN the country was placed iu
operation coming free silver 70 would D..
Quire twelve years 20 coin sufficient sU-
Yer 10 take tine place OF the gold that
disappeared in q dav. There will be
twelve years of panic. Don't do e.. mv
fcllow-citzens. don't do 10. I'VE won't"
yelled hundreds. and then there was
storm OF applause. The speaker then
proceeded 90 give i'm brief the financial
history OF the United States. receiving
the closest attention Of the big crowd.
lie said the pretence that the demone-
tization of silver was n secret crime was
as false as anything the devil could i'm
vent. He made q strong point on the
increase in price Of wheat aud the fall in
silver as refuting the ridiculous claims
Of Bryan that the price of wheat was
regulated by the price OF silver. "Any
man VINO seeks 10 dcpreciate the cur
rency Of the country. is seeking to bring
calamity TO the working man. said the
speaker. and he showed with facts and
figures the difference in the prices OF
labor under sound money and a depre-
ciated currency.
AN ARCH-ENEMY.
Mr. Bryan was the arch-enemy OF every
laboring man in the country and the
speaker had no blessings for such man.
lie deserved nothing but curses. He
showed how all the leading civilized ma
tions had abandoned free silver
lie closed. thanking the audience for
their close attention. declaring that he
prayed that God would save us from
such q doom as was threatened by free
silver. lie was enthusiastically ohecred
and his speech will do much good for
the sound-money cause I'm this city. and
he win strengthen the party wherever
heard.