The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-23
Nr. Bryan'. Speech.

The chairman of the committee, Hon.
Frank Ormsbee, introduced the candidate.
Mr.. Bryan thrust his hands into the pock-
cts of his black alpaca coat and spoke as
fellows in a conversational tone. but grad
ually advanced to oratorical pitch, and
although the audience was frigid in the
beginning it warmed into much enthusiasm
and cheered the peroration loudly, and
after Senator Stewart hau concluded fairly
.lobbed the platform to shake hands with
the candidate and his wife. Mr.. Bryan
said
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen
When our party at Chicago wrote the plat
form which il did we knew that II would
offend some people. No party can take
plain strong, emphatic position upon any
question without offending somebody. We
declared i'm that platform what we be-
lieved was right; we described the policies
which We believed were best for American
people. and we knew that It would alisnate
that platform:
We are opposed to the issuing of inter
est-bearing bonds of the United States in
time of peace and condemn the trafficking
with banking syndicates. which, in eX-
change for bonds and at an enormous
profit to themselves, supply the federal
treasury with gold to maintain the policy
of gold monometallism.
THAT is one OF the planks (voice in the
crowd 1T is a good one,) that was not put
in there to attract the love of those who
have grown rich out of the government
extremities. (Applause.) We did not ex-
rect those who have a pasSageway from
the federal treasury to their offices TO join
with us in closing up the passage we dld
not expect those who are making profit
out of the gold standard and out Of the en-
barrassment ii brings TO the treasury; we
did not expect them to join with us in put
ting an end to the gold standard. Do you
remember the good book states that some
/ sos years ago a man named Demetrius
complained of the preaching of the gospel.
Why? He said 1t destroys the business in
which we were engaged. We are making
images for the worship of Diana. and these
people say that they be not gods that are
made with hands But Demetrius was
much like men who have lived since his
day. When he made up his mind that the
preaching of the gospel interfered with his
business he did not so out and say 10 the
world: Our business Is being injured and
we are mad What did he say? He said
Great is Diana of Ephesians. (Applause.)
NOT WRITTEN FOR GOLD BUGS"
1--WE have some to-day who are very
much like Demetriue. They know that the
restoration of bimetallsm destroys the
business in which they have been engaged.
But when they make public speeches they
do not say that the Democratic party is
wrong because it interferes with their busi-
ness. What do they say? They say, Great
is sound money, great is an honest dollar
(Applause.) L say this platform was not
written to attract their votes. 1t was writ
ten because We want TO destroy the buSi-
ness in which they are engaged. But, my
friends, if those who have made profit
out of the governments financial policy
array themselves against the Democratic
party, may we not expect those who be-
lieve that we are right to come to our
rescue and Ill up the ranks that are being
depleted by their descrtIon. (Applausc.)
If we must part company with those who
believe in a government Of syndicates, by
syndicates and for syndicates, may We
not appeal with confidence TO those who
believe that government OF the people,
by the people and for the people should not
perish from the earth? (Applause) If
these men who pride themselves upon their
prominence in the business world and who
glory in the title of business men are going
TO make a business out OF politics. are 60
ing to use their ballots to increase their
income, L beg you TO consider whether the
great toiling masses of this Nation have
not right TO make a business out of poll
ties once and protect their homes and their
families from disaster. (ApplauSe.)
The founders of our government never
contemplated the time would come when
there would be only few in this country
who were competent to settle great public
questions. (Appause.) II they had they
would have written In the constitution
that on most questions most everybody
could vote, but on the money question oniy
the financiers may vote. (App ause.) Great
political questions are economic questions,
and great economic questions are in their
final analysis great moral questions. and il
requires no extended experience in the ham
right from wrong. and, more than that
that this money question will not be settled
until the common people act upon il. Abra-
ham Lincoln said the Lord must have loved
the common people because he made so
many of them. The common people are
the only people who have ever supported
a reform that had for its object the benefit
Of the human race. do not mean 20 say
that there have not been exceptions TO, the
rule. our opponents OF the gold-standard
Democracy are all linked as to the policy
which should be pursued They ali want
the same object. they all want TO elect a
Republican candidate because they believe
that Democracy Is better exempliiied
through Repub icanism. Laughter)
"A GOOD THING"
Some of our opponents say the gold
standard is good thing. while others say
What we want is bimetallism, but we
cannot have Ii until somebody helps u.s.
| lLaughter.) If the gold standard is a good
thing. why should they want bimetalli.m? !?
\ And yet If they ever have two men making