The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-16

standard should be maintained until il
could be changed by international agree
ment-until something else could be
done: The Democratic party declared
itself unalterable Opposed to single
gold standard. (Applause) And more
than that the Republican platform did
not promise you any complete monetary
system.
The Democratic party outlined what
it desired to have done. 1t decided in
favor of the immediate restoration of the
free and unlimited coinage of both gold
and silver at the present legal ratio of
III to l, without waiting for the aid or
consent of any other nation. (Applause.)
We also declared that the silver dollar
! should be legal tender for all debts, pub
lie and private, and that such legislation
should be enacted as is necessary to pre-.
vent for the future the demonetization
of any kind of legal tender money. Nor,
than that, the platform declared that
right to redeem its coin obligations il
either gold or silver. The issue il
drawn and we have our choice in thl
campaign between an American financial
system for the Americans and an Eng,
lish financial system to be forced upon
us. (Applause.) Those who believe in
running this country on the European
plan should go and legislate with the
Republican party. applause and laugh
teri
"If l mistake not the patriotism of the
people, whose patriotism has never been
appealed to in vain, there can be but one
issue in this campaign and but one re-
suit. (Applause) If they ask us,
What about other questions we tell
them so long as the right of self-govern-
ment is in danger there is no other ques-
tion. Why discuss things if we be not
powerful enough to act when we have
the power?
II have not the time or disposition to
talk to you at this time but l want to
impress on your minds two things; l
want to ask two questions which ought
to be asked over and over again in this
campaign, each time with increased EN-
phasis, and the two questions are these:
"If the gold standard is good thing
why ought we to try to get rid of it?
And if it is a bad thing why should we
keep it until some other nation helps us
to get rid of it? (Applause)
81 thank you, friends and fellow citi-
zens, for the interest you have manifest
ed and for the compliment you have paid
us by your assemblage here today. l
can not beg of you that you shall do
your duty as citizens. We who stand
upon the platform adopted at Chicago
do not come to you as supplicants beg
ging for your votes. Those votes are
your own. You are free man and no
man should stand in the attitude of
petitioning for free man to do any
thing but what is according to his con-
science, but we come before you, stand
ing upon platform and pledging its en-
forcement if elected, and we beg you to
study the questions, all the questions pre-
sented by the issues involved and let
then your ballots register free mans
will.
II thank you" Great applause and
enthusiastic cheering)
There was tremendous applause when
Mr.. Bryan ceased speaking. Even those
who had come to hear the Republican
orator later joined in the applause
The visitors were then driven to the
station, where they took the train for
Salem.
Extensive preparations have been made
for the demonstration at Salem tomOr-
row. The placards advertising it an
nounce that Governor Altgcld will be
there and speak.