The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1896-10-17
Bryan's Speech at Sioux Falls
Mainly Devoted to Exoner-
ating the Senator.
Believes He Did a Manly Act
by EoIting the ST. Louis
Convention.
Bad Weather interferes With
the Candidates Tour in
South Dakota.

ABERDEEN, :. D.. OCT. l2.-Mr. Bry-
ans days trip was from Sioux City, Ia.
to this city, and he made q number Of
speeches and also greeted gatherings
of farmers at many points along the
line. W. weather delayed somewhat
he carrying out of the programme at
several points and the train was two
hours late OF reaching this city.
AT Sioux City. the first stop of the
day, Mr.. Bryan was given a great re-
ception.x Not only the residents turned
ont in force. but their numbers were
Increased by big delegations from Ne
braska. They gave their fellow citizen
q great greeting, and the carshcds OF
the Union station, where Mr.. Bryan
spoke from a platform, was thickly
packed. The nominee was introduced
to the crowd by ex-District Judge A.
Van Wagner, candidate for congress
from the Eleventh district, and said:
If our opponents are right in the dec
laration that the gold standard ought TO
be maintained in this country until Tor
Cign nations consent to its abandonment,
then the election Of al advocate of free
coinage would be an injury to the coun-
try. If. on the other hand. we are right
In our contention that there can be no
permanent relief until we have restored
silver to its ancient place ana permitted 1t
10 enter the Inints on equal terms with
gold, l say if we are right, then the main
tenance of the gold standard lisa crime
against the American people.
In the discussion Of = great question
like this there are several things which
throw light upon the controversy. Ii you
go into court and find a witness who is
willing to clearly state what he knows
who gives his testimony without evasion
you believe he is an honest witness. If, or
the other hand, You find a witness whf
deals in ambiguous phrases. who attempts
to evade questions and h attempts
to cover up his ideas with words Of 6
double meaning, o u the honesty
and sincerity of the witness. So in q con
troversy like this, when our people wht
advocate free coinage openly declare VIVA,
they want. why they want il and how
they expect to get it, when they give you
reasons for their faith, YOU have "a right Il
have confidence in the honesty of theil
purpose.
Questions His Opponents Sincerity.
But when our opponents try to secure
gold standard without daring TO advocate
it. when they talk about sound none.
when they mean gold. when they tall
about an honest dollar when they meal
the most dishonest dollar there is in thi
land today, you have a right to question
their sincerity. My friends. men VIII
have a cause in which they believe are no
ashamed to state their belief, and whel
Won find written on Republican banner
that deceptive phrase Sound Money,
you have a right to believe that the me
who use that term use it because they ar
unwilling to tell the American peopl
what they mean by sound money. We bt
1ieve in sound money n VIC believe tina
the free coigage of silver at l6 to ! gives u
q sounder money than can be had by tn
gold standard. We believe in Il safe finaI
Cial system, but we believe hat in order t
be safe a financial system must have
foundation broad enough for that systel
to rest upon.
Let me ask you this question and 70
can repeat it to the advocates of the X
publican platform. Is the gold standar
q good thing? Cries of NO" a voi(
"Yes.'1 My Republican friend says tt
gold standard is ii good thing. I ask hill
why the Republican party promised
get rid of the gold standard as soon ;
they could. Departing from their pla
form, the Republicans will tell you tn;
gold is good money because it is good n
over the world. My friends, no money
good which rises in value and robs Z
producers of this country to the benefit
the bondhulders.