Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-07-16
BRYAN SPEAKS.
The Democratic Nominee for Pres.
ident Arrives at Centralia.
The MONEY QUESTION CONE INTO.
Mr.. Bryan Compares the Planka Of the Re.
publican and Democratic Platforms
and Asks Two Questions Which
He Would Like Answered.

accorded demonstration as hearty o.
1t was unexpected. There was much
clamoring for speech and Mr., Bryan
responded as follows;
Ladies' and Gentemen did not come tc
make o speech The campaign Is hardly
opened yet But coming back TO Marion coun-
ty to attend 10 some business which had TO be
attended to before returned to my Nebraska
home was glad to accept an invitation 10
spend two or three hours with my relatives IN
this city, and while there to meet again the
citizens and friends knew before We are
entering upon memorable campaign and the
issues are being drawn for the contest The
two parties described az the two great parties,
or the two leading parties, have already adopt
ed their platforms and have already nominated
their candidates for president and vice prcsl-
dent OF the United States and In short time
the campaign will be open fully and you Will
be making up your minds as to which ticket
you will support
trust that the issues Involved In this cam
paign will DO clearly understood and carefully
studied Parties are not made to be worshped
They are merely the Instruments by which We
serve our country. The people are made MOTOR
Roitiuni but lWitca uit uhic lVi thp pOuptpf
and parties can only claim the support Of the
people when they are efficient instruments In
the hands Of people for accomplishing good.
And those who are called upon to vote have a
right to consider the platform utterances or
policies advocated by the various parties, as
well as the character Of the candidates who
are nominated,
In this campaign believe there will DO less
OF personalities ana more OF principles than In
any campaign which wo have known In recent
years The people are thinking about tho
great public questions. You must not expect
that any platform will contain all you DESIRE
No thinking persons lind In any platform an
expression Of everything In which they believe
Nor must you expect any platform will be FREQ
from some objections. We select our party |
we select our platform, not In the |
hope Of something that Is absolutely |
In accord with our opinions but |
which gives the fullest expression |
Of oil our hopes and aspirations, md we take
that platform and join that party which for the |
time being promises to give US the best legls-
lation on the most important questions And, |
In this compaign, II Is conceded on oil sides
that the greatest and most important Issue Is
the money question. II matters not whether
you believe In the restoration Of silver or In q
gold standard. You must admit that the set
Element OF the money question Is OF the first
and greatest Importance. When that Is DONE
other things can be considered.
On the money question the two great parties
have taken positions directly opposite each
other -Four years ago the positions taken by
the republican and democratic parties on the
money question were identical Tho republics
an party said the American people, from ira
dition and interest, are In favor OF bimetallism,
and the democratic party said I'VE hold to tho
use OF gold and silver as the standard money
OF the country md to tho coinage Of both gold
and silver without discrimination against
either metal"
Thus, you sec that both parties declared In
favor Of gold and silver M the money Of the
couutry. -Four years have passed since those
platforms were written md those four years
have been years OF momontous events and as
scampaignapproache the two great parties
line themselves upon this great question. The
republican party ut st. Louis declared the
gold standard should be maintained until IT
could be changed by international agreement.
Note the language That platform does not
say that the gold standard Is u good thing be-
cause that platform pledges the party to get
rid Of tho gold standard md substitute for II
something better Us soon as 1t can DO done, but
that this better substitute could not BIO re-
ceyed until the world should help.
Tho democratic party met In Chicago ana IL
adopted platform which is in direct oppos-
ton to the platform adopted at st. Louis, The
St. Louis platform declared that the gold
standard should be maintained until II could
be changed by international agreement, or I'M
I'll something else could be done. Tho demo-
cratic party declared itself unalterably OPP
posed to single gold standard And, more
than that, the republican platform did not
promise you any complete monetary system
Tho democratic party outlined what 1t de-
sired 10 have done 1t declared In favor Of the
Immediate restoration Of the free and unlimlt-
cd coinage Of both COLL and silver OF the pres
nnl legs, ratio Ut sixteen TO ono without walt
Ing for the aid or consent OF any 0tncr nation
We also declared that the silver dollar should
be LEGAL tender for all debts public and pri-
yate. and that such legislation should DO en-
acted as is necessary 10 prevent for the future
the demonet cation OF any kind of legal tender
money. More thun that tho platform declared
that the government should exercise the right
to redeem It's obligations In either gold or
silver
The issue Is drawn and we have our choice |
in this campaign between an American iinan-
cial system for the American Poop and Eng
lish financial system to be forced upon us.
Those who believe In running this government
on tho European plan should 20 and legslate
with the republican party. II | mistake not,
. l. IN ri ~ If al nnnnp vhlNn |
has mover been appealed 10 In VAN, there can
be but one issue n this campaign, and but one
result II they ask u.s. what about other
questionsSp We tell them that so long as the
right OF sel,-goyernment Is in danger there Is
no other question, Why discuss things II we
be not powerful enough TO act when we have
the powrY
I've not the time nor disposition to talk TO
you at this time, but want to Impress upon |
your minds two things. want you to ask two
questions which ought to be asked over ind
over again In this campaign, each time with In
creased emphasis, and the two questions are
these;
III the gold standard Is good thing why
ought we to try to get rid Of ts'
III 1t is q bad thing, why should we keep II
until some other nation helps US TO get rid Of
ity"
THANK you, friends and fellow-cItizens, for
the interest which you have manifested and
for the compliment which you have paid us by
your assemblage here to-day. eau but 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 suppllants beg
cling for your votes. Those votes are your own
You are free men, and no man should stand
In the attitude Of petilonng for free man
10 do anything but what Is according to his
conscience. but we come before you standing
upon platform and pledging Us enforcement
II elected and we beg you to study the Ques-
tions, all the questions. presented by the Is
sues involved, and then let your ballots regis
ter free mans will thank YOU
There was tremendous applause
when Mr.. Bryan ceased speaking. He
was then escorted to carriage, and