The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1896-08-22
BRYAN Al MEM lUkk.
CONTINUED from page -

CONTINUED from page
BANKRUPTCY and disaster. It means ruin
to all dealers whose debts are twice their
business capital. though ons-third less
their actual business property. it
means the fall OF all agricultural produc-
ton without any great reduction of taxes.
What prudent man would dare to build q
house, u railroad, a factory or a harm with
this certain fnct before him.
As / have said before, the salaried officer
referred to must be the man whose salary
is fixed for life. and not the man whose sal
AIRY depends upon business conditions.
When Mr.. Sherman describes contraction
of the currency as disastrous to all the pe0-
those who stand in q position similar tn
his, he Is stating a truth which must lie
apparent to every person who will give the
matter careful consideration. Mr.. Sher-
man was at that time speaking Of the con-
traction of the volume OF paper currency,
but the principle which he set forth APP
plies, ii there Is a contraction of the vol
ume of the standard money of the world.
Mr.. Blaine discussed the same principle
in connection with the decentralization OF
silver. Speaking in the house of repre-
sentatives on the 1th of Feb, 1883, he said:
Il believe the struggle now going on in
this country n other countries for a
6lIASs kun t6Isttdid otsitA Ii SuC(ESS&u il,
produce widespread disasterin and throug-
out the commercial world. The destruc-
ton of silver as money and the establishing
of gold as the sole unit of yalue must have
n ruinous effect on all forms Of property
except those invested which yield a fixed
return in money. These would be enor-
mously enhanced in value and would gain
q disproportionate and unfair advantage
over every other species of property"
Is it strange that she holders OF invest
ments which yield a fixed return In
money can regard the destruction Of sill
yer with compiacency. We may not ex-
pect the holders of other forms of prop
erty to protest against giving to money q
.'disproportionatts and unfair advantage
over every other species of property If
the relatively few whose wealth consists
largely in liked Investments have a right
to use the ballot to enhance the value OF
their Investments, have not the rest of the
people the right to use the ballot to pro-
tect themselves from the disastrous conse-
quences Of q rising standards, The people
who must purchase money with the pro-
ducts OF toll stand in a position entirely
different from the position Of those who
own money or receive n liked income, The
wellbeing of the nation-aye of c~iviliza-
ton itself-depends upon the prosperity OF
the masses. What shall it profit Is to have
q dollar which grows more valuable every
OAy IL SUCH u uOlldI 1ONSl8 Lu0 SkAUt18xU OI
civilization and brings Distress to the peo-
Pile, What shall It profit us if in trying to
raise our credit by increasing the purchas-
ing power of our dollar we destroy our
ability to pay the debts already contracted
by lowering the purchasing power in
which these debts must be paids II it is
asserted that the gold standard viii enable
abroad, ] reply that the restoration
OF bimetallism will restore the party be-
tween money and property and thus per-
NIT an era OF prosperity which will enable
the American people to become loaners Of
money instead of perpetual borrowers.
Even if we desire to borrow how long can
we continue borrowing under . system
which by lowering the value OF property
weakens the foundation upon which credit
eesfs, II the holders OF fixed gains, though
Gaey gain an advantage from the apprecia-
ton of the dollar, certainly see the inins-
tice of the legislation which gives them adj
vantage over those whose income depend
upon the value of property and products.
Il the holders of fixed investments will no:
listen to arguments based upon justice and
equity, / appeal to them to consider the
interest of pnsteritv. We do not live for
ourselves alone or for those who come sitter
us. but we must protect our children be
yOnd the period OF our lives. Let these
who are now reaping advantage from a
vicious financial system remember that in
the years to come their own children and
their chiidren's children may. through the
operation of this same system: be made to
pay tribute to the descendants of those
who are wronged today.
As against the maintenance OF q gold
Standard either permanently or until other
nations can be united for its overthrow the
Chicago platform presents a clear and EN-
phatic demand for the immediate restora-
A$-~ - AA~ K-@o >-A ---fS-sA-1