The record-union., 1896-11-07

LINCOLN (Neb.), Nov. 6.-William j.
Bryan this afternoon gave out the fol-
lowing statement to the bimetallists of
the United States:
ITO the Bimetallists of the United
States: Conscious that millions of loyal
hearts are saddened by temporary de-
feat / beg to offer a word of hope and
encoura cement.
No cause ever had supporters more
brave, earnest and devoted than those
who have espoused the cause of bimet-
allism. They have fought from con-
viction, and have fought with all the
zeal which conviction inspires. Even
this will prove whether they are right
or wrong. Having done their duty as
they saw it, they have nothing to re-
gret.
The Republican candidate has been
heralded as the advance agent of pros
perity. If his policies bring real pros
perity to the American people those
who opposed him will share in that
prosperity. If, on the other hand, his
policies prove an injury to the people
generally. those supporters who do not
belong to the office-hoIding class or to
the privileged class will suffer in COM
mon with those who opposed him. The
friends of bimetallism have not been
vanquished. They have simply been
overcome. They believe the gold stand
ard is a conspiracy of the money
changers against the welfare of the
human race, and until convinced of
their error they will continue their
warfare against it.
THE contest has been waged this
year under great embarrassments and
against great odds. For the first time
during this generation public attention
has been centered upon the money
question as the paramount issue, and
this has been done in spite of attempts
upon the part of our opponents to pre-
vent it. The Republican convention
held out the delusive hope of interna-
tional bimetallism, while the Repub-
lican leaders labored secretly for gold
1nonometallism.
Gold standard Democrats have
publicly advocated the election of the
Indianapolis ticket while they labored
secretly for the election of the Repub-
lican ticket. Trusts and corporations
have tried to excite fear of lawlessnesS,
while they have been defying the law,
and American financiers have boasted
that they We're custodians of the ma
tional honor while they were secretly
bartering away the nations financial
Independence. But in spite of the ef-
forts of the Administration and it's sup
porters, in spite of the threats of the
money lenders at home and abroad; in
spite of the coercion practiced by cor
poration employers, and in spite Of the
influence of a hostile daily press, BIZ
meta1lism has almost triumphed in it's
first great fight.
THE loss of a few States, and that,
too, by very small plurality, has de-
feated bimetallism for the present, but
bimetallism energies from the contest
stronger than it was four months ago.
/ desire to commend the work of the
three national committees which have
joined in the management of this cam
paign. Cooperation between members
of distinct political organizations is al
ways a difficulty, but it has been less
so this year than usual. Interest in a
common cause of great Importance has
reduced friction To a minimum.
Il hereby express my personal graft
tude to the individual members as well
as the executive officers of the Ma
tional Committee of the Democratic.
Populist and Silver parties for their ef-
fcient. untiring and unselfsh labors