The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-25

| sure. The others are measures OF guam
tity or length-this u measure VI
value.
II want 10 know how you can main
| tain two standards IL they are not the
| some size or length. Can you have
| two standard bushels when one Is only
I half as much as the other? Can you
have two standard yardsticks when one
Is only half as long AZ the other? You
cannot maintain a double standard OF
weight or measure Of value unless each
one OF them IS the equivalent OF the
other
This contains the pith and essence OF
the whole discussion over free silver.
What is wanted is one fixed and unvary-
the values Of different commodities and
establish thereby a basis upon which
those commodities can be exchanged for
each other. Free silver destroys that fix
cd and unvarying standard by making
second standard less valuable than the
other, and men are embarrassed In do
ing business thereafter because one man
measures the value OF his commodity
measures his by the other, and then
there is confusion and impossibiiiy OF
making the exchanges of commodities
that make up business. until at last
they agree on one common standard
Mr.. William jennings Bryan made
tour of Indiana a day or so after him.
and. at Lafayette. he undertook TO
answer Harrisons speech that we have
lie said:
Ladies and Gentlemen:--I want TO ask
you TO consider for a moment the posi-
tion taken by the leading advocate OF
the other side, eX-President Harrison.
mink l am JUSTIFIED in saying that
OF all the supporters of McKinley's cleo
uoh MI. Harrison is the ablcst and most
distinguished lie made a speech yester-
day IN which he tried to show the i'm
possibility OF there being a doul- STAN
dard. and yet Mr.. Harrison was elected
resident on platform which denounc-
ca Grover Cleveland for trying to de-
mcnetlze silver. lie -tled to show that
II was impossible to have two ward
SUCKS ana yet he ran four years ago on
platform that declared that the Amer
lean people. from tradition and interest
favored bimetallism which means q dou-
hie standard; but worse than that. while
ne opposes the double standard. he is
Trying TO run on two platforms this year
lie SAID IN his speech yesterday that
lhe present conditions are that we are
a oimetallic colrtry and yet the Repub-
mean platform OF this year says that we
must maintain the present gold standard
"A
didn't the platform say that we must
maintain the present bimetallc stand
ard? And yet. while the Republican plat
form declares that we are at present
under a single gold standard. Mr. Har-
rison states that we are under a bimetal-
lie standard.
Nhai does II mean. my friends? II
means that, having been defeated In this
campaign on the gold standard. now as
the election approaches. they are trying
10 get under cover OF bimetalllsm and
claim that their platform is false NY
hlends, having failed to prove the bene-
nts Of gold standard they are seeking
10 win victory under the pretense that
they are In favor Of bimetallism II only
proves. as ] have asserted before. that
the advocates OF gold never win an omen
night. never fought an open fight but
seek
- deceive the people NV friends prir-
ciples and policy do not become true or
Just or wise IL they are supported nv
great men. believe il Is Joab who
says that great men are not always wise
ana ! am afraid that President Harri-
f'n Is trying 10 prove that Joab spoke
the truth"
That was his answer. He did not At
n Has
logic was faulty. He did not attempt
TO show that two standards (what is
really an unthinkable thing. are pos
sible. All he could say was that Mr.
Harrison occupied position inconsis-
tent with one That lie ha1 occupied At
some time before. Put Of what conse-
quence is that 20 the people OF the United
states? What they want to know from
Mr.. Bryan IS how he is going TO work
that impossible thing of two standards
that he is recommending TO them. That
IS The point raised by General Harrison,
and that is what they want Mr.. Bryan
TO explain to them. But upon that point
ne has never a word to say. 1t Is an
other case like that we quoted a few
days back when a voter asked him
most sensible question. and he replied
by a total evasion Of it.
And Mr. Harrison was right IN saying
that We now have bimetallism, as far
as such thing is possible. We have the
gold standard. and then we have as much
silver money as can be kept, equal In
value to the gold standard, and that is
the only oimetallic standard that is pos
slble. II both metals are coined in un-
limited quantities the cheaper necessarily
drives the dearer out OF circulation. and
1t becomes the sole standard.
a.r .nuAaI I.ILI n,S L IlIER