The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-03
NOVEMBER.
THE COMING MAN.

Jennings Bryan will be the next Prcsi-
dent of the United States, with rapid
return of prosperity under his admins
tration, or whether William Mckinley
the candidate of the trusts, syndicates and
millionares will continue the ruinous
financial policy of Grover Cleveland for
four more years Since 1898 the country
has been suffering from financial de-
preston which has destroyed confidence,
paralyzed industry and brought suffer-
ing and disaster to millions of American
homes. Previous to that time there had
been a general decline in values and an
accumulation of products from over-pro-
duction, as one of the ruinous results of
a high protective tariff, that, with the de-
monetization OF silver, finally resulted in
the panic, from which the people CT this
country are still suffering.
How to remedy these evils has been the
question engaging the thought and study
of the best and most disinterested minds
of the nation, until finally it has been
completely demonstrated that while other
causes may have helped to bring about
this business depression, it was the de-
monetzation of silver and the conse-
quent appreciation of gold to which bv
far the larger portion of our financial
troubles was traceablc, and that the only
remedy capable of etfecting Il complete
cure will he the full restoration of silver
to its place as Il money metal of the
country. This policy was endorsed by
II
Chicago and William Jennings Bryan, of
Nebraska, one of the ablest and most
eloquent advocates OF the biMettalic sys-
tenn, was selected as the standard bearer
of the party in the coming campaign
The Peoples party in national convention
assembled also nominated him rs its can
didate for President of the Unitel States,
as did also the national Silver party
The Republicans, true to their policy
OF promoting trusts and extending mo.
nopolies, met in national convention at
St. Louis and adopted n platform sustain.
ing the present gold standard and declar-
ing for a high protective tariff They
then nominated as their standard bearer
William Mckinley. of Ohio, man known
as the author of ii tariff law which on
triGi had signally failed to bring about
the prosperity which its advocates claim
ed would follow its enactment. His past
record on the currency question Showed
that he favored the free coinage of silver,
but i'll obedience to the dctation Of the
money power of the North and East,
he unhestatingly endorsed the gold plank
of his party's platform and subscribed
to every other provision of that pluto
cratic document.
Although supporting the policy of the
gold monometallists he has endeavored in
all his utterances to make the tariff the
leading issue of the campaign and the
open sesame Of business revival and ma
tional prosperity. In spite of all his
Efforts and the hearty cooperation of the
prominent Republicans in the same di-
rection, however, the people of the coun-
try failed TO accept the tariff as the para
mount issue, but steadily persisted in re-
gardinG the financial question as of su-
preme Importance, and the opposition,
under the matchless leadership of Will
lam Jennings Bryan, Of Nebraska. have
thus been enabled to force the fighting
all along the line.
Six months ago Republican sue
cess IN clecting II President seem
ed assured, but the ''campaign
of education" inauguratcd by the
Cleveland administration has worked
wonderful change in the mind. Of the
voters Of this free and progressive repub
lie. First the great mass of the Demo
cratic party was won over to this princi
Pile, and since the nomination OF Mr..
Bryan the craze has spread, until it
embraces in its sweep Il minority of the
people OF enough States TO elect the Gift.
ed Nebraskan President, and in all proba-
bility give the opposition to Republican
ism control of both Houses OF Congress.
The campaign has been holly contested
on both sides. All that lavish use of
printing presses and an inexhaustible
supply of money could do to bring sue
cess has been done by the Republicans.
Their speakers and brass bands have been
heard in every hamlet of the North and
West, and i'll the matter of claims they
have been as extravagant as in the use OF
their funds, but to no avail. Bryan has
swept over the country like whirlwind
scattering the opponents of free coinage