The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-26

OiAAikSHhSAi VI .hAo Sodi4tTy- tITedl dp-
plause)
ALWAYS OPPOSED FREE COINAGE.
/ quoted the other day from a speech
made in 1876. It is not. however a question
of consistency; it is a question of princi-
pie; but 1 resent the idea and repudiate il
that any man can find in any utterance of
mine anything that in any measure sup
ports the present proposition for the free
I coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to l.
(Applause) In my messages 1 distinctly
declared against it. Mr. Bryan was for two
years during my administration member
of Congress, and he knew and every friend
Of free coinage in the House and in the
fate of a free-coinage bin if it had been
sent to me. (Great applauSe) He has done
me the favor to say that when / wrote my
messages i spoke as statesman. Laugh
teri spoke then as distinctly against free
coinage as | do now. He has done me the
disparagement TO suggest that l speak now
politician. (Laughter) My friends |
have never adopted that easy code of po-
litical morals that authorizes one who seeks
an office to affect certain views, and when
he has got the office to cast them off as a
masker casts off his domino when the dance
Mr.. Bryan, of whom as candidate of a
party for the presidency 1 must speak with
respect, has Ventured to suggest that GER
tain Republicans, among whom he classes
me, have been illustrating that marvellous
story of DIR. JekyIl and Mr.. HYDE" that
we have had two characters, two voices
tndt we are not consistent upon this great
question. Now that is not compliment
tary allusion, and in a few moments L shall
Undertake, if can, to show you who it is
that is commencing and recommending to
others this character. (Applause.) In the
Evening News of this evening l find that
this distinguished gentleman has again
given attention to something that 1 have
said-for which / am much obliged to him.
(Laughter) 1 want to read TO you what he
which he had before made as to the con-
duct which the workingmen of this coun-
mr. hic ala
ton.
BRYAN AND COERCION.
He says: Two distinguished men'-I
beg to thank him Qaughter)-'have called
me to account because of advice which /
gave to railroad employees. In speaking of
the attempt of the railroads to coerce their
employees I said that in these hard times,
when employment is SO difficult to find
did not want to advise laboring men to do
anything which would lose them their en-
ployment, and added that they should wear
Republican buttons if necessary, march in
Republican parades If they were COM
manded to do SO, and even to contribute to
the Republican campaign fund if that was
required by their employers, but that they
should vote according to their convictions
on election day. Mr.. ingalls,, the president
of a railroad. in a speech at Cincinnati, de-
nounced me for advising employees to de-
ceive their employers, and ex-President
morality in giving the advice which l have
QUOTED.
The right to vote according to ones con-
science is q law-given right. Coercion is a
violation of law, and when advise en-
ployes to vote as they please, even though
they must wear Republican buttons and
march in Republican parades, am taking
higher moral grounds and giving more pa
triotic advice than those who countenance
coercion and appeal to employees to vote the
Republican ticket on election day merely
because they have been compelled to wear
Republican badges during the campaign
Now, my friends, he assumes that Mr..
ingalls, and 1 have justified coercion. 1t is
an assumption absolutely without truth.
Great applause.) Mr.. Ingalls, has publicly
proclaimed that every employe of every
vote as he pleased. (ApplauseD He has
Publicly declared that il any subordinate of
ical opinions or attempted in any to
coerce his action and VOTE that he would
dismiss that man and reinstate the work
ingman that was dismissed. (Applause.)
1t is not a question at all of justifying
coercion. denounce it; have always de-
American doctrine that every man should
vote according to the dictates of his own
conscience (applause); that no man should
coerce him, and that his vote, when cast
should be honestly counted. This gentle
man does me wrong. when he imputes to
me any .acquiescence in the suggestion that
the vote of any man shall be coerced
But what of his position? What of his
position? My view of the situation is that
of labor attempts to control the political
convictions of any employee he should assert
plause), and declare to that president or
employer that he would vote as he pleased
CONTINUED appause): and that declaration
OF his will be supported by everybody
Great applause) 1 will undertake to de-
fend this principle everywhere. Not only
brought to my attention 1 pledge myself
as a citizen and as a lawyer to rebuke it.
(Great applause.)
MR.. BRYAN's SUGGESTION.
hot hall
suggestion that Mr.. Bryan makes? I would
have the workingman assert his manhood
not only vote as he pleases, but wear
the button that he pleases (applause);
march in the parade that he pleases and
ask no mans consent (AIplause) 1 can
not think of qualification that goes further
than for a man TO cover his face with a
mask and march under banner that he
declares he has to conceal his face in order
to keep his place (Applause.) That is not
the spirit of a free man; and Mr.. Bryan
greatly UNDERWRITERS the manhood of the
American workingman when he commends
sGch programme as that to him. GAP
plause) He greatly undertakes the sense
OF fairness OF the American people; for |
unQertake to say that If there were one
well-authentieated instance in the city OF
indianapolis where the poorest Workingman
mad been coerced in his convictions, the
entire press of the city, the entire public
sentiment of the city would be felt in con-
Qemnation of the base act. (Applause)
Eut the advice is to pretend to be some
thlng that you are not, in order to pre-
serve the little stipend of your daily wages
L repeat it; l repeat it; that it is repug-
nant to the sense of honor that every man
feels that it is a degradation to labor to
suggest such a thing. What is it but to
counse! a man to act-yes, to speak that
winch IS untrue; and by what code of NOR
ais is that to be justified?
45Gt as to Mr.. Bryan's position? He
tells US that he is q Democrat and that he
mas always been a Democrat Then he
voted for Mr.. Cleveland in 1883 What were
the conditions? When Mr.. Cleveland was
elected in 1884 he did not wait until the |
oath OF office had been administered to him
put IN FEBRUARY. about month before his |
inauguration addressed letter to Mr.. A.
J. Warner and others, members of the |
House OF Representatives, urging that the |
coinage of two million silver dollars
month under the Bland-Allson bill should |
be at once stopped. Not only that, bur in |
TWO messages to Congress he urged that the |
coinage OF $2.000,000 month should be |
stopped as imperling the financial status |
of the country; and yet Mr.. Bryan voted |
III 1883 for man who was not only on |
the paltry coinage of two millions a month |
lApplause.) suppose he voted for Mr.
Cleveland in 1892. "a voice, mo he didn't. |
he voted for Weaver.'O
Well, he has said that he was ALWAYS a |
Democrat, and L have rejected altogether |
the suggestion which has been made bv |
some that, being himself candidate for |
congress in that year. in order to obtain |
the Fopulst vote he had procured a dis
cratic committee in order to vote for the /
PODuIiSt candidate President n a,rb