The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-10-01

tons well springs, found work for will
hands and filled them with just return
while honest capital, larger and more Sc
cure. ministered to glad prosperity. but
which currency. wickedly and selhshly
iugglcd. made merchants bankrupt and
scared labor into discomfort and slavery.
while capital added house to house and
field TO field and gathered into its misery
hands all the wealth left in ruined land.
The first question, therefore, i'll an in
dustrial nation. is where ought
the control of the currency to rest! In
whose hands can this almost Omnipotent
power be trusted? Every writer on po-
iitical economy from Aristotle TO Adam
Smith, from Ricardo to Calhoun, admits
that Il change in the currency alters the
price of every ounce and yard of mer-
chandise and every foot of land. Who
can we trust with this deSpotism: At
present the banks and the money kings
WELD this power. They own the yard
stick ana can make it shorter or longer
as they please. They own every pound
weight and can make it heavier or light
er as they chose This explains the rid
die so mysterious to young men, why
those who trade in mony always grow
rich. even while those who trade in other
things grow into bankruptcy. TAP
plauscD
That is the language of Wendell Phil
lips. and Wendell Phillips. who utters
these words. will live in history when
your fnancicrs are forgotten and their
money is scattered to the winds. Great
applause.) Some of your people are
afraid that the masses are not competent
to govern themselves: some of the peo-
pie who speak here through your press
and through pamphlets seem to be very
much afraid that you have among You
an unthinking class and that an I'M
thinking class is lawless in disposition
ana can not he trusted to exercise even
wisely their right TO vote.
Let me read You what Phillips said
on that subject: i believe in the people.
in universal Sutfrages. as fitted To secure
the fitted results human natures leaves
possible. If corruption seems rolling
over us like flood it is not the corrup-
ton of the humber classes; it is the
millionaircs who steal banks, mills and
railways: it is defaulters who live in pal
aces and make away with Millions it
is the money kings who buy up congress:
it is the dcmagogueS and editors in pur-
pie and fine linen who bid $4,000 Vn the
presidency itself CApplause.y
My friends, Wendell Phillips be
licved in the people. The advocates of
the gold standard are not willing to sub
nit their cause to the people and fight
an open HSll bH lHut lSSut. IshltlSpl.
whom the people of Massachusetts will
have as much reason to remember rs
they will TO remember any of their
tinanciers. also spoke on this subject.
He expressed his ideas as to the capacity
of the people for self government.
MY friends, no question was ever
settled in this country until it was settled
by the great mass of the people. Finan-
ciers never settled question. Poll
ticians never settled question. Bosses
never settled a question. The voters
themselves are the only ones who can
settle or who will settle any great
question" (Applause)
He then reviewed the republican and
democratic platforms. He was reward
ed frequently with great applause and
closed amid scenes of great enthusiasm.