The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-09-03
HE SPOKE TO THIRTY THOUSAND
pEOpLE-LARGEST AUDI
ENCE HE HAS YET HAD.
SILVER DEMONET|ZED BY STEALTH
Says the People Had Not Discussed It,
Free Silver Will Bring More Money
and Prices VIII Rein More
Stable Than Now.

| Columbus, ~, sept. Line ffee silver
campaign in Ohio attained its high water
mark in Cleveland last night, but the ont.
pouring of people to see and hear the
democratic presidential candidate ut the
state capital tonight was greater in pro-
portion to the size of the city than that
in the northern metropolis had been.
Mr. Brayn had the state capitol
grounds for his forum and the memory
of local politicians contain no such
demonstration as the one in which he
played the star part
Inhabitants say that no political attrac-
ton has ever drawn 80 strongly III Column
bus. 4 rooted and ilag-draped platform
faced the eastern front of the capitol
building. and rs Mr.. Bryan looked down
from its height, twenty feet above the
street, he saw the steps and terraces
packed in solid rows with the gloomy
stone wall for the background while at
the other three sides of the stage across
the lawn of several acres stood the crowd
of which IN accurate estimate was an
impoSsihiity and which Il careful guess
would place ut 10000. Looking down
from the roof of the capitol building an
hour before the candidates arrival. could
he seen the whole place Swarming with
men, women and children, Il large part
of the city's population. reinforced by
visitors. They pushed about the grounds
and pushed through the corridors of the
building in Kaleidoscope currents. cheer
ing the sky rockets, which popped in the
air, and the brass bands stationed ON the
stage for their entertainment.
From the Crittcnden hotel half Il mile
away, Mr.. Bryan came to the stand in
Il barouche drawn by four white horses
under the escort of several free silver
clubs of Columbus and neighborng
towns. rnlivened 10y bands and unique
campaign devices.
y shrill yell announced his progress
along the streets and multiplied in its
intensity, announced his arrival ut the
platform.
On account of the size of his audience.
Mr. Bryan adopted Il novel method of
speaking, talking TO sections of the crowd
alternately from each of the four sides
of the platform. Even then not more
than II tenth of the people could hear
him.
He was introduced by Hon. Allan q.
Thurman. son of the "Old Roman" who
has been fighting for free silver in Ohio
for several years. and after the candi-
dates speech the democratic nominee for
congress in the Columbus district. Hon.
r. II. Lent, addressed what remained
of the crowd.
Mr.. Bryan said:
Ladies and Gentlcmen-'rhis is the
largest audience To which | ever tried To
speak. | have had occasion 10 speak
where the audience filled the house. but
never had occasion to talk where the
Il.,.l = L 4
will vote rs You are now shouting. | don't
see how there can he any question about
the triumph of free silver in Ohio"
Here Mr.. Bryan went from the front
of the platform to the side first cXcus-
ing himself to the audience in front. He
continued:
Il desire To Impress on your minds the
fact that what we are fighting in this
is an enemy which has never
gone into an open battle, The advo-
Gates of the gold standard have never
dared To submit the gold standard tn the
arbitrament of ballot. Every step has
been taken 10y stealth and without the
approval of the American people. When
silver was dcmoncti2cd in 1873 the people
had not discussed ii and persons who
were members of congress and who
voted on the measure testified that they
did not understand the hill dcmonctiZing
silver When the crime was discovered
and the people attempted to restore silver
To its ancient place by the side of gold
the opponents OF free coinage forced the
Bland act on congress rs Il compromise
and rs soon us the Bland act went into
force the enemies of free silver proceed
I'd to repeal the Bland act and left moth
ing in its place. But the silver srnti-
mcnt grew until 1870. and in that year
the opponents being afraid Of the passage
IF free coinage bill. passed another
bill known as the Sherman law. In sup
port of that measure Senator Sherman
made Il speech and in that speech he said
we required more than S42,OOOOOO of
new money every year IL keep pace with
the population and industry and he advo-
Gated that measure on the ground that
it gave to the people more money. and
vet in his rccolrctionS. published only
I few months ago. You will find that SEN
ltOr sherman says that he was in favor
IF the sherman law simply 10 prevent
free coinage and that he was willing to
vote for its repeal the day after ii was
enacted If he could prevent the SuhStl-
tuition of free coinage. There You Will
ind the chief supporter of the gold stand
lrd policy in the United States support
uE bill because il gave money u the
American people and then declaring that
he would have voted for the repeal the
very next day. lApplauSel They Sc
,urrd the repeal of the Sherman law and
hey pretended that when they got that
rut of the way they would restore silver
10 is former place. There We're some
who said that the trend of the Sherman
aw was To that end and that we had to
lear away the rubbish before we could
build IN Il good system and there were
,therS who said that if we stood by free
silver we would drive Europe To himetal-
ism. But those who made this arcu-
nent have proven that they were not sim
'ere and that their purpose was 10 de
Give the American people. lApplausel
In this campaign every party in its plat
form SO far has declared that the prin--
'iple of himetallism is better than Il gold
and yet. in spite of these dec
arations. you know there is body Of
people in the United States who. under
'Over of friendlineSs 10 himetalliSm. are
seeking To fasten Il gold standard upon
he American people.
Mr.. Bryan went IL another part of the
platform and continued:
There is nothing that eNcites my SYM
,athy more than to tind 4 man who never
had enough money in his life. who has
lot enough 10 pay his debts and does not
know where the money is 10 come from
10 buy food for the next week There
ire some people who have an idea that
he free and unlimited coinage of silver
would in some way. they know not how.
rhS.-