The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24

as the chief guaranty OF liberty, has, in great
measure forgotten its noble traditions ard be.
come the plant instrument of oppression.
But the hour of reformation is at hand. We
are IN the vortex of great events We are
making history. We are returning to the first
principles OF our Government and on everv
side are seen the portents of the impending
change. One month ago in this city the repre-
sentatIVes OF great and dominant party met
in convention, and for the first time in this or
any other country great party declared in
favor OF the single gold standard make
bold to say that in doing so that conyen.
ton did violence to the opinions of the great
majority of its constituents The bold and
bald declaration for the gold standard has had
certain wonderful results Events and agtta.
ton had gradually prepared the public mind,
until 1t was in a condition like that of certain
! chemical solutions that need only the addition
of single ingredient to cause the crystalliza-
ton OF the whole mass. The declaration did it
Under circumstances whose solemnlty and
f11pressiveness were never surpassed a num-
ber of members of that convention, led bv the
grand old man of Colorado, regretfully but de.
terminedly severed the bonds of party and
followed their convictions into the freedom
and independence of original citizenship.
Meantime events were developing rapidlv in
the Democratic party, and when its great con.
vention met in the city of Chicago large
majority found to be against the pclicv
that had captured its great rival and had once
counted on capturing it also. Fortunate
Democracy, to have been the beneficiary of a
rebirth of Americanism! And happy gold and
silver Democrats 10 have been able to remain
true to your country without violence to the
amiable preiudices OF party associations! But
though that great convention knew its mind
upon its platform it was all at sea for a candi.
date.
Then, fellow-cidzens, did our young Lochin.
var come out of the West Born in the year of
Lincoln's election and in the State ana COM
munity that had witnessed the preparation of
that matchless character for his glory and
passion, removing in early professional life to
more Western State, man of the common
people, knowing their needs, sympathizing
with their sorrows, unders tanding their ways,
without powerful connections and lacking
wealth, by the sheer force of his character
and the brillianey of his talents he forced
himself at SO years of age, to the candidacy of
a great party, nay, to the primacy of great
cause. For the Presidency of the United States
who shall say that William j. Bryan is an acci-
dent? Shall we not rather believe that he
represents and continues the same conserva-
ton to high public duty that Lincoln
exemplifed; the same heaven-bestowed
mission in behalf of his country and all
the masses OF mankind? Yes, it is as
the exponent the embodiment OF cause, that
William ]. Bryan is significant and formid.
able; the cause generally of the masses against
the classes of the great social progress ofman.
kind, and the cause, specifically. of the res
toration of silver to an equal place with gold
in the money system of the world, as the first
step in the line of general reformation and ad-
vancement
This cause indicates the single gold stand
ard as an engine of incalcuIable oppression
and wrong. At the outset it encounters an
army of defenders of that standard, who ex-
haust all the resources of ingenuity in avoids
! ing a decisive engagement. The merits Of the
| question are ignored Epithete take the place
of argument and abuse substitutes discussion.
Among other desperate things which the gold
| standard compels its defenders TO do is 10 In
vent new political economy.
The gold standard advocate denies that there
| is anv relation between the quantity of money
and prices Mankind, however, viii not con-
| sent to be made over again so as to make non.
/ sense reasonable. We shall continue to be.
| lieye that when the quantity of real money
| diminIshes prices must fall: that falling
nrlces mean loss of profits, the failure of en-
| ternrises. idleness for labor and bankruptcy
/ for borrowed capital; that the infusion of q
/ new supply of basic money into the channels
/ ~ trade would tend to check the decline in
values. raise the prices of our products, re-
store life to business, employment to labor
! and prosperity 70 our people.
R,,t we are accused of trying to legislate
| valne into silver We do not claim that you
! can legislate value. But you can legislate op.
nortunity and opportunity widens demand
! and demand raises value. In 1890 the price
! Of silver bullion under the influence of ex-
pected free coinage legislation, IN a short time
rose from 40 cents to 81 20 ounce. Nine
cents more would have meant par, which