The advocate., 1896-07-22

publican party and everybody three months
ago In the republican party prophesled his
election How is IL to-day. What-the man
who used to boast that he looked like NSpo-
leon. that man shudderS to-day when he thinks
that he was nominated on the anniversary Of
the battle OF Waterloo
Not only that, but as no listens he can hear
with ever-increaSing distinctness, the sound OF
the waves sS they beat upon the lonely shores
Of st. Helena Why this changel All, my
friends, is not the change evident to anyone
who will look at the matter It Is no private
character, however pure; no personal pOpu-
larty, however, great, that can protect from
the Svenging Wrath Of an indignant people the
man who will either declare he IL In favor OF
fastening the gold standard upon this people,
or who Is willing 20 surrender the right Of self
government and place legislative control In the
hands OF foreign potentates and powers
We go forth confident that we shall win.
WhyF Because upon the paramount issue In
this campaign there Is not q spot Of ground
upon which the enemy will dare to challenge
battle. Why II they tell us the gold standard
is good thing, point to their platform and tell
them that their platform pledges the party TO
get rid OF gold standard and substitute bimet-
allism II the gold standard Is Q good thing,
why try TO get rid Of itS II the gold standard
and might coll your attention to the fact that
some Of the very people who are In this con-
vention to-day, and who tell you that we ought
TO declare In favor OF international bimetallism,
and thereby declare that the gold standard Is
wrong, and that the principle OF bimetallism Is
better, these very people four months ago were
open and av0Wed advocates OF the gold stand
ard and telling US that We could not legislate
two metals together, even with Gil the world.
want to suggest this truth, that IL the gold
standard is good thing we ought to declare
In favor OF lts retention, and not in favor OF
abandoning II, and IL the gold standard
Is Q bad thing, why should We walt
until some other nations ore willing to
help us TO let 60 Here is the line
Of battle. We care not upon which
issue they force the fight We arc prepared to
meet them on either issue or on both II they
tell US that the gold standard Is the standard
Of civilization, we reply to them that the most
enlightened Of all the nations OF the earth have
never declared for gold standard, and both
the parties this year are declaring against It.
II the gold standard is the standard OF civlllza-
tion, why, my friends, should we not have III
So, II they come TO meet US on that, we can
present the history Of our nation. More than
that We can tell them this, that they will
search the pages Of history in vain to find o
single instance In which the common people Of
any land have ever declared themselves IN
favor OF gold standard They can flRd where |
the holders OF flXed Investments have.
The sympathy Of the democratic party as as
crlbed by the platform are on the side OF the |
struggling Masses who have ever been the |
foundation OF the democratic party. There are
two ideas OF government There are those who !
believe that II you just legiSlate to make the
well to do prosperous, that their prosperity
vyfn lanl oha
cratic idea has been that II you leglslRte to
make the mass prosperous. their prosperity
will find Its way up and through every class
and rest upon IL You come to US and tell US
that the great cities are In favor Of the gold
standard. tell you that the great cities rest
upon these broad and fertile pralries Burn
down your cities and leave your farms and
your cities will spring up again. as II by magic.
But destroy our farms and the grass will grow
In the streets OF every city In this country.
My Hrie nds, We shall declare that this nation
Is able to legislate for IT'S own people on every
question. without waiting for the aid or con.
sent Of any other nation on earth, and upon
hat issue We expect to carry every single
state In this union I shall not slander
he fair state OF Massachusetts, nor the
'tate OF New York by saying that when
Is citizens are confronted with the pToposi-
ion, Is this nation able to attend TO its
,wn businessp will not slsnder either one by
laying that the people Of those states will de-
,lare our helpless impOtency as q nation TO at
end to our own business. 1t Is the issue OF
776 over again, when our ancestors. 100000
strong, had the courage 10 declare their inde"
)endence OF every other nation on earth Shall
We, their descendants. when we have grown TO
0. 900, 900. declare that we are less independent
han our forefathersI No, my friends. It
Vlll never be the Judgment OF the people
we care not upon what lines the
attle Is fought II they say bimetallism Is
Ood, but we cannot have 1t till some nation
clips US, We reply that instead OF having gold
tandsrd because England has It, we shall re.
tore bimetallism and then let England have
imetallism because the United States has It
they dare TO come out and In the open