Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-13
ARGUED FOR SILVER
MAGNIFICENT SPEECH OF COMMITS
sroxER BELL LAST NIGHT.
REPLIES TO ADDRESS OF MR. INGALLS,
p~s.ss ous the FaIlacics Of the Rail-
way Presidents Proportions
Great Crowd Attends the Meeting
Rcpubuscsn state Committee.

tive address. which Was dehNefeu ~ '"o
Aoade,ny OF Music by Deputy United
states Commissioner II. c. Bell. OF WASH
fneton, q staunch free-silver advocate and
one OF the most convincing exponents OF
Democracy this country has.
Mr.. Bell had as his audience about 1900
OF this oity's most thoughtfui citizens.
and they accorded him the most respect
full attention, seeming really to hang on
his evary word and TO fairly drink In the
logic which flowed from his lips and
which impregnated his every sentence.
His address. while at time most ornately
eloquent was argumentative throughout,
and was OF that character which is cal
culated 10 remove the doubts OF almost
any differing mind. A striking example
Of this was n tribute unconsciously paid
Mr.. Bell after the audience had dispersed
by Hon. ID. c. Richardson. Common
wealths Attorney OF this city. who. in
conversation with a Dispatch man, said:
II have heretofore been sound-money
man. heard Mr.. Bryan In Cleveland a
few days since and / questioned then
whether silver was not the best after ALL
and after hearing Mr. Bell tonight am
fully converted, and fell now like sing
ing, Praise God from whom all blessings
fiow.'"
Mr.. Richardson spoke his mind like
man. and II the truth were known there
are others who were converted by Mr..
Bells arguments last night. The gentle
man not only introduced argument after
argument In support OF the cause OF De-
mocracy. but he called upon any sound
money advocate who might be in the au-
diencs, and there were some present, to
PROFOUND any question they might see
fit TO him. promising TO give them
satisfactory and convincing reply. No
champion of the Boltocratic party. how
ever, came forth and Mr.. Bell concluded
his address The speaker replied most
efectually to tho so~called arguments Of
Mr.. NJ. h. ingalls, president of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio who spoke TO the Bolto-
Gratis and Republicans here Thursday
night
Mr.. Bell was brought here through the
fundamentally of the Bryan and Sewall
Campaign Club. and spoke under its au-
spices He was billed to commence his
speech at $40 o'clock. but an hour or
more before that time the street in front
Of the Academy was blocked with gentle
men waiting 10 gain admittance TO the
building. When the doors were opened
there was n general rush for the best
seats, and II was but a short time before
all the seats I'm the building had been
taken and men stood or sat in the aisles.
RECEIVED WITH APPLAUSE.
When Mr.. Bell, who is tall. finely
proportioned man of magnificent ply
sique. wearing an iron-Sray moustache,
appeared upon the stage, the audience
gave vent to terrific outburst OF APP
plause. which only ceased when Judge
H. w. Flournoy president OF the club,
advanced ard introduced Captain John
Lamb. the Democratic nominee for Con-
yress from this district. Captain Lamb
spoke I'm most complimentary terms OF
the speaker Of the evening, whom 1t was
his pleasure to introduce. and referred to
him as a man who was sacrificing his
pwn political position that his fellow
men might not be led astray.
AS he concluded Mr.. Bell arose and adj
yanced to the footlights. He was greet
ed with n spontaneous outburst Of ap-
plause. which thres tened 10 raise the
roof from the building. He stood for
several moments gazing out over the vast
throng OF animated and excited humani-
w. and then with wave of his hand
brought silence where but a moment be-
fore a vocal storm had reigned.
In soft me,lhuous tones he hegan
"Mr. Chairman and Fellow-Cltizens.-
AZ this inncture he was interrupted by
voice crying 'Louderl" 'Ill get loud
enough for you before l get through"
was the retort. "I want to get loud
enough for my words TO be heard from
Maine 20 Texas"
Before continuing the speaker asked
that all applause which he might merit
be saved until he finished. and said: Il
am not here to hear my voice. but to
make votes for w. J. Bryan and / want
you TO hear what j have to say. If
didn't have hopes that / would succeed
/ wouldn't be here We silver Democrats
are conducting this campaign as one OF
education: but, so far as our gold-stand-
ard men are concerned, IL has long since
degenerated into a campaign of wild as
sertions and vindictive motives"
Mr. Bell then read extracts from vari-
pus eastern papers to show that the Bolto-
Gratis were writing mad and at
once jumped into a discussion OF the
paramount issue OF the campaign-the
currency question.
WE ARE TERRIBLY IN EARNEST.
''The silver men," said he. 'are terribly
In earnest. They believe that to persist
In the maintenance of the single standard
" value means destruction to our COM
mon country. and they propose to free
themselves from the dominion OF the
noney-kings."
Mr.. Bell read from a book on values,
published by William Jacobs and showed
that at one time white slaves were valued
AT only sl3es. He then paid his respects
70 the editor OF the New York Post, who,
he said. was not worth that much. Con-
tnulng he said that we can't forget
that in this nineteenth century mankind
was being crucined on a contracting and
eternaily depreciating currency, and that
10 continue longer under the single
standard would mean that the hands 81
progress would be pushed back and the
country ruined. He dissected the ques-
hon with great care. and briefly sketched
The monetary history OF this country from
is6i 10 1873. following the silver de-
monetization bill from its Introduction
In Congress to Its passage. He claimed
that its passage was secured through
fraud, which smelled to Heaven, and
would stink In the nose OF posterity for
all time. He paid some attention 10 the
bankers OF the country. who, he said.
had begun TO contrive how they could
coin additional gold cut OF the blood OF a
brave people ere Charleston harbor was
lit UP by the fires or war. He then
showed how In the purchase OF bonds
Tho banks had mulcted the government
out OF millions OF dollars, and discussed
the national-bank laws asserting that
Il was eminently wrong for the gov
eminent TO loan them $4,000 free of
interest TO take TO their homes and loan
out to the people at whatsoever interest
they choose to demand. He said that
the bankers deemed It a favor to loan