The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-28
man. The FIRST dirty errand that dirty

man. The first dirty errand that dirty
dollar does is TO cheat the workingman.
Mr.. Harrison here quoted statistics
relative 10 prices Of commodities and
showing that goods went up rapidly.
while wages went up haltingly and
slowly. Continuing, he said:
Laborers, men who work. whether
with head or hand. in salaried positions,
would do well TO take these facts to
heart and settle the question, after
broad and deep inquiry. which Mr.. Bryan
invites, whether you mean TO enter into
another experience such as you had dur
ing the war when wages advanced so
slowly and tediously and the cost of
your living moved on so swiftly. Every
thing would have TO be readjusted, the
prices OF everything, the whole intricate
business adjustments of the country
would have to be readjusted, and while
that process Is going on, uncertainty
would characterize business, resulting
in panic and disaster
My friends, the people who advocate
this class of legislation, this legislation
favorable to the mine-owners TO double
the price OF the products Of their mines,
and offer this temptation of reputation
to the better class, make strong ap-
peal to the farmer. They say IL will put
up prices. Well, in a sense, yes. Nom
inally, yes; really, no. II wheat goes
from OU cents 10 Sl.AO lle price hds btSh
increased you will say, but If tine price
OF everything else has gone up in the same
proportion, bushel of wheat won't buy
for the farmer any more sugar or coffee,
or farming implements, nor anything
else that he has to purchase. If that
dollar won't buy for the fiGmer any
more or be a better dollar than the one
we have now, where is the good TO any
body Of introducing these fictitious
prices that are now real If everything
doubles who is the richer, who is richer
than he was before? Only the man who
bought when he had an honest dollar
and paid In a debased one; only the
mine-owner who uses this government
to add so cents to the value of every dol
lars worth OF metal that he produces
from his mine. 1t involves the idea that
this government of ours shall pay not
only its debt of honor, but that they
pay the interest on its bonds and the
circulation notes in a debased currency.
My countrymen, this country OF ours
during the troublous times Of the war
may have had severe trials, but these
financial questions are scarcely less
troublous than those. During those
troublous times we had accumulated a
debt so large that many OF our pes
simistic Democratic friends told US we
could never pay ii. We had had a cur
rency which we were compelled to make
a ltBdl ltUuGI anu use, laitAl bilt Npl'Hti
tuition might live, but no sooner had the
war ended than the great conscience OF
this people declared the nation that has
crushed this great rebellion, that has
lifted itself in its pride and its constitu-
tonal glory TO "A peerless position among
the nations Of the earth, should not con-
tinue to have a depTe.iated and debased
currency, and we walked up TO resump-
tion and we made the greenback dollar
par dollar In gold.
Shall we now In these times, when all
the ills we suffer are durable II we only
pass revenue bill that will generously
replenish the treasury OF the United
States, that will generously protect
American labor against injurious COM
petition and bring back again full pros
perity TO all our pebple-shall we now
contemplate for a moment, or allow 10
have any power over our hearts and
minds, this temptation to debase our
currency and put il in its financial posi-
ton alongside of Asiatic nations or our
weak and struggling sister republic of
Mexico?Does not every instance Of pride,
does not every instinct OF self-interest
does not every thoughtful. affectionate
interest in others; does not our sense OF
justice and honor rise up TO rebuke the
infamous proposition that this govern
ment and its people shall become ma
tion OF reputation.