The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-09-11
Mr. Bryan Apprised of His Nomi-
nation by the Silver Party.
The SPEECH OF ACCEPTANCE MADE.
MF. Bryan Declares His Firm Belief In Sn.
ver-The Presidential Nominee Also
Accepts in Behalf of Mr.. Sc
wall for Vice President.

evening IN = ErdnO REORGANIZATION IN
honor Of his formal notification of his
nomination for the presidency by the
national silver party Norris Hum
phrey presided at the meeting and in
trOduced George A. Groot, Of Ohio,
chairman of the notification commit
tee, who made the notification address.
Mr.. Bryan was Immediately presented
and accepted the nomination of the
silver party in the following worlds
Mr.. Groot, Chsirman, and Other Members OF
the Notification Committee OF the Silver Party:
I beg to reply al this time without the formal
fly Of letter. The platform adopted by the
silver party contains but one plank. and that
plank, the plank upon the silver question, is
identical in substance with the silver plank OF
the Chicago platform.
As have already discussed that plank at
length, it will not be necessary to enter into
any extended discussion at this time beg to
answer the committee that accept the nomi-
nation rendered by them on behalf OF the sill
yer party in the spirit in which the nomination
was presented 1 can appreciate the feeling
which animated those who assembled in that
convention. I can appreciate the hesitation
with which those assembled there turned their
b.cks upon the party with which they had
been associated. know something Of the
strength OF party ties and because was in q
position where looked forwardto a possibility
OF like action on my own part. can appreciate
the depth Of the conviction that led them to
place the interests OF their country above the
welfare OF their party.
More than year ago, when we were engaged
in a 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 the democratic nominee IL he
were a gold standard advocate, running upon
pOld standard nlaffOFm believed that
such action was probable in the democratic
party then, but when those who questioned me
were not content with probabilities, and asked
again whether, in that event. I would support
the nominee, 1 said, as you will remember,
that under no circumstances would my vote be
given to a man who would, in the executive Of
fee, use his influence to fasten the gold stand
ard upon the American people.
I stood where the members Of that silver
convention stood. and, like them, would rather
have the approval OF my conscience than the
approval Of all the world. Ny conviction upon
this subject are not shallow convictions I
may be in error-none OF US claim infsllibility
but believe that the gold standard is con-
Spiracy against the human race would no
sooner Join the ranks of those whose purpose
it is TO fsSten that upon the American people
than TO enlist in an army that was marching
70 attack my home and destroy my family. I
say, therefore, that can appreciate the spirit
which animated those who have just rendered
me this second nomination pledge them that
If elected they shall never have cause to sc-
cuSe me OF being false to that platform
Ny friends, when 1 declared that would not
support a gold standard candidate, 1 was
standing upon the record of the democratic
party. was defending the principles as well
as the interests Of the country at large And
when the republicans who assembled in the
silver convention at St Louis refused TO wor-
ship the gold image which their party had set
up, they were defending the history Of the re-
publican party The republican platform of
1888 denounced the democratic administration
for having attempted TO degrade silver.
In 1891, on February H. in Memorial hall, at
Toledo, O., at the Lincoln day banquet, the
present candidate for president upon the re-
publican ticket used the words which 1 shall
now read to you. 1 have found those words /!
published in a Toledo paper, and they have /
been published so long without correction that I:
we may safely assume that they were correctly /
reported. II he hereafter denies the correct :
ness of this report, shall hasten to do him
Justice by retracting these words These are
words which he is said to have used:
During all of Grover Cleveland's years at .
the head Of the government he was dishonor-
ing one Of our prescious metals, one OF our own !
great products, diScrediting silver and enhan- !
cling the price of gold. He endeavored even be- |
fore his Inauguration to office to stop the coin 4
age of silver dollars and afterward. and TO the /
end of his administration, persiStently used /
his power to that end. He was determined to !
contract the circulating medium and demone- !
tie one OF the coins OF commerce. limit the !
volume OF money among the people, make ,
money scarce and therefore dear. He would /
have increased the value of money and dimin- !
iShed the value Of everything else. money the /
master. everything else the servant"
Following these lines the republican conven-
ton in Ie92 declared at Minneapolis that the
A unaricau OeODle from Tradition and interest
were in favor Of bimetallism. Have traditions
changed in four years: Have interests changed
in four years: No, my friends, and yet forget
ting the platform OF 1855, forgetting the denun-
citation uttered by this distinguished leader in
1891, forgetting the platform OF lss:. the repub-
lican party in convention assembled declared
that the American people must forego the ad-
of the bimetallic system. 10 which
tradition and interest endeared them, until !
foreign nations should bring those advantages
TO them II is not strange that men VINO had
looked for bimetallism in the republican party
should have given up hope anu turned else
where for relief The republicans cannot be
for leaving the republican party.
They have done what every American citizen
has right 10 do.
They have done better than our democratic
Of the gold standard have done. be-
cause the republicans. when they left the
partv. Joined with those who had a chance TO
gold standard sought TO secure the election OF
republican candidates by nominating demo-
cratic candidate. To show you that the action
d III. republicans is defended by experience
and ny example let me carry you back TO the
period Just preceding the war. II you will turn
to a book recently published. EMIT ed John
>herman's Recolections," you find on page liz
ot the rsI volume portion OF speech which
be &c ivered in congress in 1876 Let me read
his extract:
- arr willing to stand by the compromises
d and 1880. but when our white brethren
D: the :, uth allow this administration to lead
.pe.n II from their principles. when they
abandon the position which Henry Clay would
IA, taken. forget his name and achievements,
md decline any longer 10 carry his banner,
hey lose all claims on me And I say now
NAT until this wrong is righted. until Kansas
s admitted as free state. cannot act in
1arty association with them"
There was the distinguished senator from
ohio asserting 10 the people OF this country
10. 2 the floor OF congress that he was willing |
O az cept compromise after compromise, but /
ne zine had at last come when he could go ;
With them no longer. thai until certain things
were accomplished he could not act with them. |
The situation to-day is but a repetition Of his
orr COMPROMISE after com promise has been |