The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-09-19

Thomas II. Bryan, OF Chicago, ON the
Free silver Candidate.

now occupying the minds OF the people,
especially concerning w. j. Bryan. the
Chicago convention nominee:
Chicago. Sept. 10.-Very many times IN
the office. on the street and through the
mall, come 20 me such questions as are
thus condensed In a few words. addressed
20 mo by workingman:
Please excuse our questions We knew
you In the worlds fair and for many years
before. and always as our friend. You
seem to take no part In politics. But while
we know that you are not an oflce-sec'ser
and don't ask for our votes, we want TO
hear from you all the same. What's the
matter with w. j. Bryan Is he not
kinsman of yours? What do you think OF
him and his cause2
"Well. my friends, it Is true that have
taken no active part I'm politics though
warmly Interested. deeming IL best that the
rostrum should be held by younger and
better equipped speakers. But the reply In
this open letter VIII break silence that
you might misconstruc.
you ask my Views. but do not ask my
reasons for them that Is well. for they
would exceed the compass OF n letter and
would be wholly needless. as the money
subject has been elsewhere thoroughly and
exhaustively treated. You VIII find in Nc
kinleys letter OF acceptance and I'm the
mastery speeches OF Harrison and Schurz
these three documents. which are free
perfect logic. with perfect expressions. In
fact, complete arsenal OF arguments and
facts. IL would seem that no fair work
ingman, capable OF reasoning and OF free
ing himself OF bias. could carefully read
and digest those three addresses without
arriving at the conclusion that they are
alike unanswered and unanswerable.
And this brings me to your questions:
What's the matter with w. j. Bryan
Answer: Ambitionl An ambition which
knows no bounds, even clouding the brain
and binding him TO facts. or course,
know nothing TO his prejudice In private
life. IL is as n public man that we have
10 do with him. Despite the many years
devoted 10 the cultivation OF his voice and
20 practice In elocution. for which he de-
serves credit. his reputation as an orator
has suffered with every speech that he
has delivered since that which won for him
the nomination. IL Is not the manner. but
the matter OF his speeches, or the absence
OF matter In their meaningless and weari-
some repetitiohs. which has proved so dis
appointing 10 friends and surprising 10
foes. Scarcely a single one OF those
speeches contains an original idea scarcely
one OF any length that Is not marred by
plain contradictions within itself But or
atory Is not necessity for the presidency.
The chief difficulty with w. J. Bryan IS
that he is foundering In a sea OF financial
absurdities. and can hardly keep his head
above water. lie boldly said, IA his Clcve-
land speech. we have begun an unceaslng
warfare against the gold standard
THAT warfare he has a right 20 wage,
but he has no right I'm honor or truth 10
attempt 20 deceive his hearers or TO de-
ceive himself with so bold a mlsstatement
OF fact as that the gold standard is for
eign infamy introduced into this country
by the British money changers whcn II
IS a matter OF well-known history that the
money troubles OF several great nations
forced them, one after the other. when
other standards had been fairly tried and
failed. 10 adopt the gold standard AZ the
most stable and the best. Then he com
tends that free and unlimited coinage by
the United States alone viii raise the bull
lion value OF silver 20 It's coinage value
and thus make silver bullion worth Sl.29 per
ounce IN gold throughout the world
Assuming, for arguments sake. that
this would be true. why should the already
excessively rich mine owners be made SIN
richer at the expense OF the rest or the
people? or why should !, with my present
Improbable mine interests. be favored by
act OF congress so that should be paid
double. and at the expense OF yourselves
OF whom he feolingly speaks as the toll
ing fnasscs2 It might and probably would
make me rich. but would Il add a dollar
TO your purse2 Certainly not
Now, this IS not mere assertion. II Is sim
pie and absolute truth founded upon all
experience, and had you visited other lands
and observed the unfailing effects every
where Of deprecated money, you would
need no arguments 20 satisfy YOU Of that
great fact. and OF the direct and serious
injury that would result 20 wage-earners
from the increase I'm cost Of the necessaries
or life with no like increase or wages.
Why should I receive for SO cents OF silver
bullion n full dollar. and palm that dol
lar Off on you for labor. with only halt "A
good dollars purchasing power, because
OF increased cost OF articles that YOU have
TO buy?
Now, Mr.. Bryan ought TO know, n he
does not know. that such is the Inevitable
result OF free coinage, that laborlng men
would be the worst sufferers, and rich
silver mine barons the chief gamers. nut
lie insists that silver shall thus be favored,
gold being the enemy Why should not
the 'toning masses have honest pay ln
sound money and not in debased coin. as
I'm Mexico, where wages are on a starv-
Ing scale because OF the high price Of liv-
ing? Mexico's laborers were told, as you
are told. that free coinage would help
them Did III Have wages increased as
the cost OF living hasf The answer may
DO read in many a wan face and sad eve
where may be seen what the Arab sees In
the footprint OF the camel the weight
OF the burden that Is borne.
you have both gold and silver now, but
adopt free coinage or silver and the gold
will disappear. This Is an uncrring result.
Now. note what ] say. and measure my
words: Free coinage OF silver means sl-
yer as the only coin In use means great in
crease OF the cost OF living and no equal
or corresponding increase OF your wages
You Will ind II so TO your sorrow. II. alasl
free coinage lie adopted by your votes.
IL means arrangement OF business gener-
ally. leascnng OF manufacture. lessenlng
OF building and stagnation In all branches
or industry: and even should Mr.. Bryan
succeed IN arraying you against employ
ers. viii you not be the chief sunerers7
Why do manufacturers, merchants and
business men generally oppose the free sil-
yer crazog is not that very general oppo-
sition proof OF the injury that such mad
ness would infiict upon the public. OF which
you constitute an important part? Hut,
says Mr.. Bryan: Let the government
stamp 90 cents full dollarr Let me ask
you III the government were TO brand n
calf n COW would that false brand bring
the milk2 Take n grain OF gold and beat
Il into gold leaf: II may be made 80 thin
as 10 spread over 400 square inches. then