The herald., 1896-07-10


has come over the sentiments Of this
country? Three months ago. when 1t was
confidently asserted that those who be-
lieved in the gold standard would sup
|, port our platform and nominate our
candidate, even the votes OF the gold
| standard did not think we could elect
president but they had good reason Tor
| suspicion because, there Is scarcely
state here today asking the gold stand
ard that Is not within absolute control
| of the Republican party. But note the
change. Mr. Mckinley was nominated
at ST. Louis upon platform that de-
clared for the maintenance of the gold
standard until 1t should be changed into
bimetallism by an international agree
ment. Mr.. Mckinley was the most popu-
lar man among the Republican party
and everybody, three months ago. in the
Republican party. prophesied his cleo
tion. How is it today? What about tfNt
man who used to boast shat he looked
like Napoleon? That man shudders to-
day when he thinks that he was nomi-
mated on the anniversary of the battle of
Waterloo. Not only that but as he
listens he can hear with increasing dis
tinctness the sound of the waves as they
beat upon the lonely shores of st. Hell
ena.
Why this change? All, my friends. is
not the change evident to any one who
will look at the matter? 1t is no private
character, however pure. nor personal
popularity. however great that can pro-
tect from the abenging wrath of an in
that we shall win. Why? Because, upon
the paramount issue in this campaign
there is not a spot of ground upon which
they Will dare to challenge battle. Why,
II they tell us the gold standard is good
thing, we point to their platform and
tell them that their platform pledges the
party to get rid of the gold standard
and substitute bimetallism. II the gold
standard is good thing, why to get rid
of it?
These very people four months ago
wereApenly> and avowedly advocates of
the gold standard and telling us that we
could not legislate two metals together,
even with all the world. l want to sug
gest this truth, that if the gold standard
is a good thing, we ought to declare in
favor of its retention and not in favor
of abandoning it, and if the gold stand
ard is bad thing why should we wait
until some other nations are willing to
help US to let go.
Here is the line of battle and we care
not upon which issue they force the
fight. We are prepared to meet them on
either issue or on both. If they tell us
the gold standard is the standard of civ
ilization we reply to them that the most
enlightened of all the nations of the
earth have never declared for the gold
standard, and both parties this year are
declaring against 1t. If the gold stand
ard is the standard of civilization why,
my friends, should we not have it?
So if they come to meet us on that we
can present the history of our nation.
More than that. we can tell them this,
that they will search the pages of his
tory in vain to find a single instance in
which the common people of any land
have ever declared themselves in favor
of the gold standard. They can find
where the holders of fixed investments
have. Mr.. Carlisle said in 1873 that the
struggle was between the holders of idle
capital and the struggling masses who
produce wealth and pay the taxes of the
country. My friends, it is simply this
question that we shall decide upon.
which side shall the Democratic party
fight upon, the side of the idle holders
of idle capital or upon the side of the
struggling masses? That is the question
that the party must answer first and
hxrn oh, tn
dividual hereafter.
1t is the issue of 1877 Cover again. Our
ancestor when 5000 90, had the courage
to declare their independence of every
other nation on earth. Shall we, their
descendants, when we have 10.OOO,0Oo,
declare that we are less independent
than our forefathers? No. my friends, it
will never be the judgment of the peo-
pie. Therefore we care not upon what
lines the battle is fought. If they say
bimetalism is good, but we cannot have
it till some other nation helps US. we
reply that instead OF having the gold
standard because England has It, we
shall restore bimetallism and then let
England have bimetallism because the
United States has. If they dare to come
out, and in the open defend the gold
standard, as good thing, we shall fight
them to- the utmost. Having behind us
the commercial interests, the laborine
interests and all the toiling masses, we
shall answer their demands for the gold
standard by saying to them, You shall
not press down upon the brow of labor
this crown of thorns." You shall not
cruelty mankind upon the cross of gold
THE CROWD CHEERS.
The conclusion of Bryans speech wa
marked by the most enthusiastic demon
stration of the convention up to that
time. The whole convention sprang to
| it's feet. Handkerchiefs and flags flew
wildly. Hats were hurled aloft, um.
brellas were waved. Men shouted like
! maniacs. From every quarter of the
| hall came the hoarse roar.
Suddenly the Texas delegation uproot-
| ed the banner of the Lone Star state and
| carried it to where stood the standard
| of Nebraska. Above the roar rose the
piercing shrieks which sounded like q
volley of siege guns above the continu.
| Gus rattle of 10000 small arms. Othe,
delegates grasped the staffs of their dele
cations and pushed their way to the
| Nebraska delegation. Soon the stats
! of two-thirds the states were GROUPED
about the purple standard of Bryan:
| state.
Only the standards of Connecticut, Del