The San Francisco call., 1896-08-23
Says the United States Can Act
independently of Other
Nations.
ALSO PLEADS FOR FREE SILVER
The American People, Declares the
Orator, Have Right to Legis-
late for Themselves.

BARRYTOWN, NY. Aug. 22.-WiIliam
J. Bryan opened up the political cam
paign in earnest to-day at Madelin, a town
In Dutchess County. He delivered the
first actual campaign speech since his
nomination. He said, among other things:
We are entering upon campaign which is a
remarkable one in many respects. Heretofore,
at least in the last twenty-five or thirty years,
each party has gone into the campaign prac-
tically solid, presenting united front against
the opposing party; but in this campaign
there has been practically bolt from every
convention which has been called. This
means that the people are not so willing as
they have been to allow the platform OF q
party to control their elections.
Men are thinking this year with more
sarnestness and intensity than they have
been thinking in recent years. and the result
of this thinking win be manifested when it
comes to register the will of this great Nation,
and between that time and this hour we ex-
peet to present to those who must act upon the
questions the issues of this campaign. / beg
gou to consider whether the great toiling
masses of this Nation have not right to make
1 business out of politics for once and protect
their homes and their families from disaster.
LApplause.l
have not been in the State of New York
Ind yet IN the short time that have been
here have met enough Republicans who said
ihey were going to vote our ticket to make up
Or every Democrat that ever deserted US, and
ne welcome the coming guests as we speed
hose who are parting. [Applause.l
1t is hollow mockery to grant to the people
right in your constitution and then deny
hem the privilege OF exercising it. assert
that the people of the United States, those who
produce wealth. as we'll as those who exchange
t. have sufficient patriotism and sufficient in
diligence to sit in judgment upon every ques-
don which has arisen or will arise, no matter
low long our Government may endure. Zap
plause.1
Ny friends, want you to remember that in
he discussion of this money question there
ire certain fundamental principles, and when
rou understand these principles you under
ltand the money question. was out in q por-
ion of the country where they irrigate on a
arge scale and found enormous plants, and
n investigating this the thought occurred to
ne what principle underlies the subject of irTi-
iation9 Il is that water runs down hill?
When you understand that water runs down
ill all you have to do is to dig ditch with a
liant and you can carry water wherever you
Esnt it. So 1t is with the money question.
Sou have got to find out the principles which
lnderlie the subject, and when you under
tand them you understand the money ques.
ion. What is the principle that underlies it
II? 1t is the law of supply and demand,
Thich applies to money as to everything else.
Iou know that if the worlds crop next year of
certain article is very much greater than the
rop this year that that article will fall in
rice; If the crop is much smaller than this
ear that 1t will rise in price. You know tn
he law Of supply and demand reaches and
ontrols all sorts OF property. 1t reaches and
ontrols money as well as other forms of prop
rty. The establishing of gold as sole unit of
alue throughout the world and the destrue-
ion of silver as a standard money means that
on shall destroy the value of all property ex-
ept money and investments that call for a
0ed amount in money.
1t means that you will give to these invest
lents and to this form of property-money-
advantage over every other form of prop
rty. When you understand the effect of the
olicy, and then understand that the desire for
Is manifested most among those who hold
be fixed investments or trade in money, I
hink you will come to the conclusion that
ave come to-that the fact that the gold
tandard is a good thing for them is the prin-
Ipal reason why they are in favor OF gold
tandard. IApplause.l
Now, my friends, when you make up your
iinds that the gold standard is bad thing,
hen the only question you have to consider is,
ow can you get rid of it? They can raise OBJ
sctioEs to the plan which we propose, but
iant to suggest that you are interested not SO
Iuch in knowing the objections to our plan
in knowing what plans they have to relieve
be condition.
Why don't they propose something? It is
ecause they do not know what ought to be
one. If so they are DOOR people to lead you
Ut of bondage. ILaughter.l Is it because
ney know and will not tell? If so they have
ot the candor that ought to be possessed by
hose who would redeem the people from their
Efferiug and distress. [Applause.l
My friends continued Mr.. Bryan, want you
Astudy this money question for yourselves,
nd want you to understand if bimetallism
Ito be restored the United States must take
te lead. [Applause.l We have waited for
lo-e than twenty years to have the benent is
bimetallism brought to us by those whose
lterests are opposed to ours.
assert that the American people not only
ave the right but they have the ability to
igislate for themselves on every question, no
latter what other nations think about it.
long applause.l
If we need relief from the gold standard we
lust secure it for ourselves. And if we must
beure this relief for ourselves, you can only
scure it through party which believes in
he restoration of the free and unlimited COIN
re of gold and silver at the present legal ratio
i16 to /, without waiting for the aid or con-
INT of any other nation. Prolonged applause
nd three cheers,l Other nations may protect
ieir people, as they should; but our Nation
ithe only nation that can protect the Ameri-
IN people. EApplause.l