The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-07-23


this lifeless body. Let us not speak
harshly of those who differ with u.s. Let
us remember that they, too are attempt
ing to serve their country according TO
their conscienoes and according to their
Judgment, but let this be fight Of prin'
ciples, not met. Let 1t be contest, a
struggle If you will, over great issue
and not bitter warfare between contend
inc parsons.
"But, 10Y friends, while we have all
charity fer those who differ from us and
while we conceded to them the right TO
wase this war as best they can, and by
every honorable means secure that legis'
lation they think best, beg to impress
upon you that you have an equal right,
that the people of any section of this land
have o right to make your influence felt
in dealing with the destinies of this re-
public. We have our homes and our fami-
lies to consider and they have none to
protect them but us, and If we fail in our
duty, their interests must be neglected.
1 believe, from the bottom Of my heart,
and the belief touches every fiber OF my
being, that until we restore silver tc its
equal place by the side of gold, to the
place it occupied for SO many years, so
many centuries and so many ages, there
can be no lasting prosperity brought back
to the homes of thuse who toll. (Deafen-
ing applause.)
"They tell us they want confidence re-
stored. We reply that confidence must
have q substantial basis upon which to
rest. Great applause.) And that so
long as you legislate value out of prop
erty, there is nothing substantial upon
which confidence can rest. II they tell us
they want an honest dollar, we tell them
we vie with them in our desire for al
honest dollar, but when we attempt to
define an honest dollar, we beg them TO
give us a dollar which is as good to the
man who produces wheat as to the man
who holds fixed investment; a dollar that
smiles upon a man who owes debt Just
as much as 1t does upon the man who
holds a mortgage. Great applause)
II am not treading in new paths nor
trespassing uopn dangerous grounds
" hen tell you that dollar that rises
in value is dangerous dollar, a dollar
which reaps where it does not sow, which
gives to its possessor an unearned incre-
ment, which is taken out Of the sweat and
blood Of those who toll, aud II man who
owns dollar desires that sort of a dollar,
he forgets the equities Of the case. There
is no reason why the producers Of wealth
should bow down and worship a dollar
destroying them and their chances for ex-
istence But I am not going to discuss this
question (CIies of go on.'O But ]
want to appeal to you to study 1t for
yourselves and to enable you to study IT
intelligently and for that purpose want
to suggest two thinsg for you to think
about.
"They tell you that the gold standard
is the standard of civilization. That is
their argument. II they tell you that, lei
me suggest an answer that is complete.
If the gold standard Is the standard OF
civilization, why is it that the United
States, the leader in the civilization of the
world, has never declared for the golt
Standard Great applause) If the golt
standard is the standard Of civilization
why is it that no national party in thu
history Of the United StatoI has ever de
clared that the gold standard is gooC
thingf" (Applause,)
A voice; "The Republican party did
+ Mr.. Bryan: "You say the Republican
party did No; it did not. The Republi
. can party declared that the gold standar
. should be maintained until somethin
could be substituted for 1t. Then wha
was that somethings 1t was bi-metallism
4 And they pledged themselves to get RI
of the gold standard and substitute b
metallism as better thing than gol
A standard. Applause and laughter.)
the gold standard is good thing, VIII
a should we try to get rid of itP (Laught'
8 and applause.) If 1t is bad thing, VIII
a should we keep 1T for single moment
n (Applause.) If, my friends, they d
n clare upon any stump, upon any platform
n or in any state, that to advocate the gol
II standard is a good thing, we point TO Il
"a Republican platform as conclusive ey
dence tnat the principle of bi-metalhs
. is better than the principle involved !
a the gold standard and II they admit th
n uhe double standard is better than sing
q standard, single gold standard, al
50 tell us that this nation is unable to su
IA tain Il without the aid and consent
,f other nations, we hurl back defiance
them and tell them that this nation
n. great enough to legislate for Its ov
AZ people without waiting for the aid
of consent OF any other nation on cart
Iy Cheers and applause.)
" (which course will they takef TIL
!. dare not take either course. They da
r nob meet the issue on the money questi'
,. because there is no ground upon whi
N they can stand. II they had declar
Il for gold standard they might have a