The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-03
his political campaign developing pubic speaking than any
campaign that we have had since the war;

, cess have been open to all The rich to-day
were the poor of Yesterday. No families OF in
heriTed wealth dominate our politics or our
society.
Before the law all men are equal. The same
opportunities do not come to al men; some
succeed, many fall but no barrier 10 success or
position is created by law. Industrial condi-
tions may be affected by unwise laws, and
when this is demonstrated we attempt TO
change them through the opportunity which
every man has TO register his vote at the polls.
But though some men succeed and many fail,
this is the lot OF life, and no candidate for the
Presidency has ever dared before TO use this
fsct to arouse men against men and TO kindle
the fires of social discomfort and disorder.
Proud We have been OF Americas mate
terisl prosperity. we have been prouder still
OF the self-reliant, independent and sensible
spirit OF her people. When foreign critics
have told Us democracy here would some
day prove failure, that universal suf-
frage would lead 10 anarchy, that class feeling
would be engendered which would result in
riot or in the confiscatiOn of property, we
have laughed and have pointed to the sturdy
Americanism on our farms, to the influences
OF our public schools, 70 the respect for law
and order in our cities, TO the examples of
seifmade men in every f mily, 20 the edueat-
ing inhuenses OF our press, to the fuIlness and
broadness OF our charities, and more than all,
to the solid patriotism of our people. 1 be-
lieve that We can still depend upon these
Bad as the times are, stsgnant as industry Is,
distressed many homes are for lack OF en-
ployment, the common-sense OF the American
people will not be deceived by appeals 70 pas
sion, but will perceive clearly what is truth,
namely, that the present conditions are largely
caused. not by the influences against which
Mr.. Bryan IN lurid words disclaims, but by
fear of the very rem edies which he suggests.
When this great shadow which be and his
associates have created passes OF the surface
OF the financial and industrial world, then
confidence will be restored, money will seek
investment, factories will be reopened and
employment be secured. There can be no
prosperity without confidence, and Mr.. Bry-
ans plan skaters confidence and portends
business failures and panic. These mean more
men out of employment, more homes withou.
food and clothing, more misery and distress
All of Mr.. Bryan's speeches. pleas and argu-
ments for silver are based on the assumption
that the free coinage of silver by the United
states alone would establish and maintain BIZ
metalIism-the parity of gold and SILVER at the
exchangeabie ratio OF is 10 1. If that assump-
ton is incorrect or Ill founded each of his ar
guments falls 70 the ground, and every one of
his predictions loses its force Not one word
has he uttered in advocacy of silver stand
ard; not one word does he dare in behalf of
Sl4NSE Std1Q11Q-
He win declaim by the hour against the
evils of gold monometallism, and nearly every-
thing he says on that subject Is equally appli-
cable to silver monometallism also. Bimetal-
nsm is q genuine Democrat C doctrine, but
bimetsllism can never be attained by the men
who dominated the Chicago convention or by
the method implied in the Chicago platform,
There is reason to doubt whether the forces
which controlled that convention even de-
sired 70 accom- plish bimetslIism The word
bimetallism does not appear in the platform.
The convention by an overwhelming vote re-
jected proposition pledging the Government
to maintain the parity Of the two metals. The
disposition OF the convention, as dictated by
its expressions and its actions was toward
silver monometailism or irredeemable fat
money AS well might the ark of the covenant
have been entrusted 70 the Phinsunes as TO
entrust the cause of bimetallism to the reyo-
lutionsry people behind Bryan.
1t is not difficult task to show that under
present conditions free coiusge of silver by
the United States alone would result in silver
monometallfsm. Foolish experiments In that
direction have already caused the loss of
great part OF our gold from circulation. Part
OF it has gone abroad, withdrawn from invest