Birmingham state herald., 1896-10-02
THE WISDOM OF MAHOMET.
THE PEOPLE COULD NOT COME TO HIM
So He Goes to the PeopIe-Mr Bryan Gives the Major Another Little Dig
 on His Record

IdihefsDufS, w. va, Oct. 1.-At the Traders hotel Mir. Bryan had this to say:
 T am not. going to make a speech here. because have an appointment at the fair grounds, and we must hasten out there in order to catch the next train.
 And then, as the people are not in good financial condition, it is not an easy thing for them to come all the way to Nebraska in special cars to call on me. (Applause) As they are not able to get out there, I am reversing the process and coming to see the people,
 At the fair grounds Mr. Bryan said in part:
 ''I want to quote to you, not from the democratic authority, but from what the great leader-the republican candidate for president-said this year with what he said six years ago In regard to the necessity for an increasing circulation. You will find in his letter of acceptance this year the statement Tt is not more money we want: what we want is to put the money we already have at work
 Now remember, my friends, that these words were uttered at a time when the circulating medium had fallen off $780, OO0OOO in two years. Let me compare that with what he said six years ago, when; instead of having a decreasing volume of currency, we had an increase or about S4,00O0OO every year.
 Let me read you what the republican candidate, then in congress, said in re gard to the necessity for an increasing circulation:
 "'Mr. Speaker I will not vote against this bill and thus deprive the people of my country and the laborers and the pro- ducers and the industries of my country of $SO0O0,o00 annually of additional cir culating medium
 voice: "He did not know Mark IIan- na then" Daughter and cheers)
 Mir Bryan: "At that time he declared that he would not vote to prevent his peo- pie, the laborers-the producers-from enjoying the benefits of the and-Allison act; and yet now with a decreasing cir oulation, he tells you that it is not more money we need, but to put what money We have in circulation.
 My friends, what change has taken place in the last six years? Then he de- sired to increase the amount of money in circulation, and now he believes that all We have to do Is to have confidence; that you have enough, and you will never mo- tice the loss.
 My friends, the republican platform upon which the candidate stands declares in favor of the maintenance of a gold standard until the leading commercial nations of the world join us in abandon ing it. Let me read you what the repub- lican candidate said six years ago in the discussion of the sherman bill:
 "'I am for the largest use of silvepin the currency of the country. I would not dishonor it. l would give it equal credit and equality with gold. l would make no discrimination. I would utilize both metals as money and discredit neither. l want the double standard and I believe confidence will accomplish this purpose
 "He wanted the double standard then; he wants the gold standard now. What change has taken place? If the double eta 1Ta arl efx ic good now.
 Let me read further: 50 I say, MT. Speaker, this bill is just to the silver pro- dueers of the United States, for it does what the present law, as administered by every administration for ten years has not done; it takes every dollar of silver bullion that is produced in the United States and places it al the disposal of the people as money
 And yet, the man who used that lan- guage six years ago is standing upon platform which refuses to take single dollar of the silver produced in this coun- try and put it at the disposal of the peo- pie for money My friends, I call your attention to these extracts from speeches made by the republican candidate in con- gress anud compare them with what he says, not because I deny to a man the right to change his mind; but, my friends, I insist that when man changes his mind he ought to have reasons for 1t that he is willing to give to the American people.
 "Gve it to Grover" came a. voice from the crowd Daughter and cheers).
 MT. Bryan: "No, my friends, am not going to say one word against the demo- cratic president. I am going to leave history to record that the man who went into office with an overwhelming majori- ty went out of office supporting ticket which will not carry a single county in the United States. The ticket which has the support of the administration was only put before the people to deceive them and to furnish ticket to those fol- lowers who objected to the Chicago plat form, and are still not quite ready to en- ter the republican party. Great cheer ing).