The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-11-19
WIN. }. BRYAN ON FREE COINAGE,
AN ADDRESS TO BINIETALLJSTS
Good Fight Has Been Made and
Four Years Will Bring Renewed
STRENGTH.

Hon. William j. Bryan has issued
the following statement to the bime.
taIllsts of the United States:
Conscious that millions Uf loyal
hearts arc saddcned by temporary de.
ieat, | beg to offer g. word of hope and
encouragement. No cause over had
supporters more brave, earnest and de-
voted than those who have cspouscd
the cause OF bimetallsn. They have
iought from conviction, and have
fought with all the zeal which con
viction Inspired. Events will prove
whether they are right or wrong,
Having done their duty as they saw it,
they have nothing to regret. The Re.
publican candidate has been hcraldcd
as the advance agent Of prosperity. II
MS pollcles'brlng real prosperity to the
American people those who opposed
him will share in that proSpcrity. If.
on the other hand, his policies prove
an injury to the people generally, those
OF his supporters who do not belong to
the ollicc-holding class or to the privi-
| legged classes will suffer in common
with those who opposed him. The
friends OF bimctallsm have not been
vanqulshcd !; they have simply been
ov"rwhelmcd. They believe that the
goa standard Is Il conspiracy OF the
money changers against the welfare
OF the human race, and until con.
vinccd Of their error they will continue
the warfare against it.
The contest has been wagcd this
year under great cmbarrass mCnts and
against great ODDS. For the first time
during tLi5 generation, public attcn-
Ilon has been ccntercd upn' tho money
question as the paramount issue, and
Ihis mas been done in spite of all at.
Icmpts upon the part Of our opponents
to prevent it. The Republican con.
vcntioI held out tho delusive hope of
international bimctallism, while Re.
puDlcan leaders la5orcd secretly for
gold monomctallism. Cold standard
Democrats have publicly advocated
the election OF the Indianapolis ticket,
while they labored secretly for the
election OF the Republican ticket. The
trusts and corporations have tried to
excite II fever Of lawlcssncs5, while
they have been deIying the law. and
American iinancicrs have bOastcd thai
they were the cust0dians Of the ma
Iional honor while they were secretly
bart'ring away the nations financial
lndcp 'EucncC. But in spite OF the
efforts OF the illustration and It's
supporters; in spite OF threats OF money
lOhncrs AT home and abroad ; in spite
OF the coercion pracciccG by corpora
tlons and employers in spite of trusts
ana syndlcatcs lin spite Of an enormous
IL .DuDilcan campaign fund and in
spite OF the influence Of Il hostile dailA
press, bimetallism has almost triumph
ed in its first great fight. The loss o.
| few States, and taat, too, by a very
small plurality, has defeated bimcta
ilsm for the present; but bimeta lisn
emerges from the contest stronger than
1T was four months ago.
l desire to commend the work O.
the three national committees which
nave Joined in the management of this
campaign. Corporation between the
members of distinct political orguniza
tlons is always difficult, but it has been
less so this year than usual. Interest
n a common cause Of great Importance
mas rec need friction to a minimum.
hereby express my personal gratitude
10 the individual members. rs wcll as
the executive officers Of the national
committees Of tho Democratic, Popu.
list and Silver parties for their eff
cicnt, untiring and unscliish labors.
They have laid the foundation fo,
future success and Will be remembered
us pioneers when victory is at last
secured.
No personal or political friend need
grieve because Of my defeat. My
ambition has been to secure Immediate
Legislation rather than Cnioy the
honors of Office. Therefore defeat
brings to me no feeling OF personal
loss. Speaking for tho wife who has
shared my labors, as we'll as myself, |
desire to say that we have been amply
repaid for all that we have done. In
the love Of millions of our fellow
citizens, SO kindly expressed, in know
ledge gained by personal contact with
the people and in brOadened sympa-
thies, we find full compensation for
whatever efforts we have put FORTH
| Ou.' hearts have been touched by the
GcvoLion OF friends and our lives shall
| prove our appreciation Of the affection
which we prize as the richest reward
| which this campaign has brought.
In the face Of an enemy rejoicing in
its victory, let the roll be called for
the engagement, and urge al friends
| OF bimctailisn to renew their allie
glance to the cause. II VIC arc right,
as | believe we are, W shall yet
triumph. Until convinced Of his error,
let each advocate OF bimutaliism con.
tinuc the work. Jet al silver clubs
| retain their organization, hold regular
meetings and circulate literature Our
! opponents have succeeded in this cam
| paiSn and must EOW pat their theories
o tho test. Instead Of talking mys-
tcri0uSly about "Sound money and an
" honest dollar" they must now clnbo-
rate and def nd financial system.
( Every step taken by the. should DC
| publicly considered by silver clubs.
Our cause has proSpcrcd most where
inc money question has been iong' >