The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-08-19
Wednesday, Aug. 10. 1896.
Bryan's Speech.


We present liberal extracts from the speech
OF acceptance Of the Democratic nomination
as delivered in New York on the 18th instant
by the Hon. William Jennings Bryan.
Read 1t, and judge for yourself of its merits
Some of the newspapers have exhausted
their vocabulary in trying to sufficiently eu
logiZe 1t.
On the other hand, some OF the newspapers
regard 1t as very poor document.
In the presence of so much that is eulogistit
of the candidate who is so profusely endorsed
by the Silver Kings, the Silver Barons or the
Silver Miners, as you may choose to select g
name, we are led to doubt our own ability tc
form an opinion. But, here's at you anyhow
The Press and Banner believes it TO be the
poorest speech we ever read. 1t isn't goou
dishwater 1t is hardly milk and water-it
is so thin that it needs TO be boiled down.
If there is a single original or iorceiul ioea
in 1t we did not recognize the fact.
II seems to be q modification of Tillman s
views with the snap and vigor taken out of It,.
One idea which he produced has had the
changes rung on it for ten years by the Abbe-
willie Medium. Compared with Bryan's
speech, Hemphilrs editorials are statesman
like, and TIllman's speeches, in comparison,
are bold and eloquent.
twill be noticed that in all that long speech
Mr. Bryan does not give single official fig
ure, or a quotation that is worth cent.
He cites Mexico, Japan and China as coun.
tries for the United States to pattern after,
and says not a word about any OF the great
countries, whose people and whose govern.
ment this people respect as their equals.
He put himself on the defensive from the
first, and not a word Of promise or hope is
held out His plea is against rich Wall Street,
but he was exceedingly cautious to say not
one word about the rich Silver Miners whose
interest he is serving. He made very poor
and feeble effort TO prove that the laboring
man would be better off If he was paid in a
deprecated silver coin.
If Bryan's speech made converts In New
York, those people were not hard to convert
Reduced down TO bottom facts. we presume
it is fair to say that all this howl against Wall
Street and against the Money Power, was in
spired by the men who have silver to sell.
About twenty years ago, the gold men got
an inning, Now the silver men want to reach
base with their fifty-cent dollars. 1t Is a
Quarrel between the Silver Miners and Wall
Street, and we, poor miserable creatures that
we are, must act the part of shuttlecock, and
be kicked back and forth, as the politicians
and the Money Kings may be able to throw
dust into our eyes.
This whole fuss about silver, If the thing
was probed to the bottom, we suspect could
be traced TO the owners OF silver bullion, who
have by arts unknown to US, inspired good
honest men with the idea that prosperity
would come to this country by enhancing the
price of their silver, or by casting fifty cents
worth into dollar.
We confess that we do not know thing
about this whole business, but the existing
facts make US believe that the Silver Kings
are no better than the manipulators of Wall
Street
Any disturbance OF values is calamity.
The history of the last forty years abundant
ly prove this, but If the people are amind to
bring free silver, let 1t come. Charlie Smith
will make US a wheel barrow, and when the
the silver gets to be free and unlimited, we
will send out Gus Richie to gather up at least
one wheel barrow load. If we do not get our
share of the free ard unlimited, remember
it will be because we have forgotten how to
manage our little affairs. We will vote for
Bryan and free silver, because the people
want him and his poor money, but we think
that they are courting calamity for the ma
Jority.