The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-19


The people Of this country will not
change the institutions which have
stood the tests and experiences OF
century, for institutions based upon
the fantastic dream of Populist agita-
torS-that the American nation will
never consent to substitute for the re-
public of Washington. of Jefferson and
of jackson. the republic of an Altgeld,
a Tillman or Bryan. (Applause).
POWER OF PUBLIC OPINION.
The power of public opinion, which
caused the vivid oratory of the Chicago
platform to burn low and soft as the
moonlight outside of this platform,
which has already shown its power TO
control Populistic eloquence, will snow
the full extent of its wisdom, will give
Abraham Lipcoln's prophecies their
triumphant vindication when it crushes
the seed of Populistic socialism next
November. (Cheers).
Now my friends / have said there
was one statement of great significance
in Mr.. Bryan's speech. There is another
portion of it which is singularly free
from any obscurity, and that may be
comprised within the two initial para
graphs where he talks logically, con-
sistently, plainly, the language OF revo-
luton. Whatever change may have
come over his manner as candidate,
however much the vehemence of his
eloquence may have been reduced. two
things for which he stands remains
unaltered. On this platforme he de-
Tended the most revolutionary plank OF
the Chicago convention In speechless
vehement, but not less earnest than
that in which he supported their adop-
ton. On this platform he defended the
Populistic programme Of overthrowing
the integrity Of the supreme court.
(Applause). II there be any good which
has grown for the benefit Of all man.
kind out of the establishment of our
republic, 1t has been the demonstration
that 1t Is possible by the organization
of an independent tribunal to safe
guard the rights of every citizen and
protect those natural privileges against
any invasion from every source. or
however powerful might be the antag-
onizing elements. (Applause). The
very existence Of that power he sup
poses the existence of an Independent
tribunal. Yet we have this Populistic
convention. because a Populistic meas
ure was condemned as unconStitu-
tional proposing not to amend the con-
stitution in the ordinary way prescribed
by that instrument itself, but proposing
to pack the court, to reorganiZe 1t. (He
used the language of thep latform IT.
self so that 1t will pronounce those
laws to be constitutional which the con-
stitution itself condemn, q proposal to
make the courts Of law instruments Of
lawlessness, to violate the sacred pact
between the states on which the secu-
rity Of this nation rests, to profane the
temple erected for it's protection by the
hands Of false priests who though
sworn to defend 1t. will be appointed to
destroy 1t. Great applause).
In the time to which I must confine
myself tonight. I can do nothing but
examine that one question which Mr..
Bryan himself declares to be the over
shadowing issue Of this campaign. I
am a little puzzled when I read this
speech to decide just what Mr. Bryan
himself imagines will be the fruit Of n
change in the standard of value
throughout this country. I do not be-
lieve that any man can follow wholly
with the speech, because II he dissents
from one set of conclusions, he has
got to read but a few paragraphs, and
he will find another of different va
riety. But I assume that 1t Is fair In
discussion of this character, inde-
pendently OF what Mr.. Bryan may say
or what Mr.. Bryan may think himself
he stands for, to examine the inevitable
economic effects of a debasement of the
coinage, of a change in the standard by
which existing debts are to be meas
ured in baser measure of value.
A WEAK POINT.
Now I will imagine that Mr. Bryan
himself may believe that in some way
or other he is going to benefit the toll
ers of this country. He says he is, but
declines to show us how. daughter
and applause). For my part am will
ing to state here that IL Mr.. Bryan
could show me that by any means
known to heaven or known on earth,
any means revealed to the comprehen-
sion Of man that wages could be in
creased will be ready to support him
here and now. (Great applause and
cheers). I do not make this statement
through any pretense Of special affec-
tion for the man who works with his
hands. Such O pretense made in the
heat Of presidential canvass would
merely insult and discredit the intelli-
gence to which 1t Is addressed. Cap
plause). Where the rate OF wages Is
high, there must be prosperity. Where
the rate Of wages Is low there must
necessarily be distress. If then Mr..
Bryan can show me that by the en-
forcement Of any portion of his pro-
gramme wages will be increased in this
country. I will not only support him,
but will recognize him as the wisest
orator that ever opened his mouth on a
platform since the beginning Of the
world. Laughter). will be ready to
confess that the rhetoric, which I do
not now understand. is really the
language Of inspiration. Laughter).
I would regard his administration Of
the presidency as the kindling Of
1lrh hnl r,r
showing him broad pathway to end
less happiness and measureless pros
perity. But in searching through his
speech, in reading through the whole
reams Of Populistic literature with
which this country has been flooded for
four years, I have never yet found one
syllable which showed me how a Popu-
list expected to increase the rate oe
wages. daughter and great ap-
plause).
AS TO WAGES.
Now in order to understand the sig
nificance of the remark that wages Is
the only test of prosperity, we have but
to consider for q moment just what Is
meant by the term wages. Wages as
I suppose everybody understands is
that part Of the laborer's product which
Is given to himself in compensation for
his toll. II. for instance, 1 be engaged
in the manufacture of chairs. and II
can make five chairs every day worth
$50, and the rate of my wages is "a a
day, what actually get is one chair
out Of the five which I make. The
other four chairs, the other four-fifths
of my product. are devoted to the pay
ment OF all the other labor that has
been expended in preparing the ele-
ment out Of which the chair was made.
To the man who felled the tree in the
forest, the person who sawed 1t in the
mill. the carrier who transported it. the
workman who prepared its component
parts. and the profit on the article
which set all this labor in motion. 1t