, 1896-09-25

Tell us that same old story; but the ma
jority OF us had u fingers so badly
that they can't make it stick
The rest of them. dropping all
of the rest of their political traditions.
tell lis that free trade is not an issue in
campaign. Now. | want to tell you
we lave an issue in this campaign. and
it's the same old issue. 1t is the issue
we have chung to during all our po-
litical history as a party. and an issue
under which we have prospered. But
the other party has dropped free trade
and taken up free silver as an issue.
They say that in our weak condition.
it will help us out. and that we must
have free silver without the aid or con-
sent of any other nation. But why
Will it help us out? Their relation to
this matter reminds me of the story of
the old colored preacher who was ex-
planning to his congregation the theory
of the creation. He said:
Now, ~breddern, | %explanatp dis ting.
De l.awd, He take dust. an He mix up
wild some wattah. and he make mud:
an He take dat mud an make him in
shape of a man. an he sot dat man up
gains de fence to dry"
a brother darkcy rose at this point
and asked:
"Bruddah Johnsing, who make dat
fence" n.aughter.D
Nov You So right down dah, you
niggah; jus sich fool questions as dat
spoil all de ~frenol'gy III dc worl'."
O.aughtcr.D
That is the way with them. When
they tell us that the free and unlimited
coinage of silver will help us ont of this
deep rut into which the ]ruinous policy
Of the last four years has put us we ask
them how and why will it? "Sot right
down da, Jist sich fool questions spoil
all de democracy in dis country"
loud applause.)
| want to tell you. ladies and gentle
men, free trade and free silver cannot
go hand in hand. If you pit the Ameri-
can laborer against the Mexican who
works for 20 cents a day in the field of
manufacture by you free trade policy.
by your free silver policy you VIII pit
the American miner against the Mexi-
can and other cheap laborers in the
mines. If free silver is inaugurated.
the American miner must not be
brought to the level of the pauper la
Dor of Europe, and so even free silver
can only be attained through a policy
of protection under a republican BIZ
metallic administration.
=
We were told four years ago that if
we would elect Grover Cleveland to the
presidency. there would soon be Il vast
army of laborers marching through
this land-great dinner-pail brigades
whose homes were happy because
work was plenty and wages good. |
say We bowed down and worshipped
their golden calf Of rec trade, and what
do we in reality see today. Yes, soon
after Mr.. Cleveland was elected there
was an army marching through this
land. and We heard the tramp. tramp,
tramp of a mighty brigade as they were
mustered and marched across the con-
tinent. 1t was not a dinner-pail bri-
gade, but a COXey's army! And I tell
you, today. Gen. Kelley. one of the men
that hnI rharon nf chat Ir;r,In 4, ,~y,
down in Nebraska precahing protec-
ton and honest money with all his
might. (Applause). We were a pros
porous people under the administra-
ton of Benjamin Harrison. And how
many of you workingmen, merchants,
business men of Tie Siding,-what
would you not give for just one short
year of that prosperity if it could be
insured to you? Would the howlings
of the other side on any fool notion
swerve you from its attainment? |
think not. We left the mamma and the
quail meat given us under that admin
istration and worshipped the free trade
calf: and if old Moses could rise up
from his ancient grave | think he
would break the tables of the law anew.
One thing we are twitted a good deal
about. is Wall street and Lombard
street,-you all know how this is in
reality. Let me cite to you an instance
in which. if we should pursue the same
policy, we could make them blush in
shame. We find that the populist party
started out here a few years ago with
high objects and high attainments in
view. and they could not say anything
too mean. or advocate anything too
strongly. against greed and monopolies
and trusts: but what do we see today?
They have reached the horny hand of
honest toll across the balmy plains and
mighty rivers, and grasped hands with
Tammany hall!-and then they accuse
us of catering to Wall street. (Great
applause.)
JUDGE BROWNS ADDRESS.
Judge NJ. C. Brown was the next
speaker introduced and spoke, in part,
as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men: l was here tonight as a sort of a
passenger,-not as a speaker. l I'M not
one of the advertised speakers OF the
occasion.
4 few weeks ago IT " az nv fortune