Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-09-03
BRYAN ON THE ISSUES.
Speaks to a Large Audience at
Madalin, N. 2.
Explains the Money Plank of the Plat
form in Clear and Concise Man
ner-Presents Able and Con-
= vfncing Arguments.

V1nc1nS Arguments
The democratic candidate for the
presidency, William J. Bryan, spoke to
large audience at Madalin, N. Y, on
Saturday afternoon, August %. He
discussed the issues of the campaign in
clear and concise manner and was re-
oeatedly cheered by his audience. Mr..
Bryan said:
''Mr. Chairman, Ladies. and Gentlemen:
When our party at Chicago wrote the plat
offend some people No party can take a
plain, strong. emphatic position upon any
question without offending somebody. We
declared in that platform what we believed
was right: we described the policies which
we believed were best for the American peo-
pie, and we knew that it would ALLEVIATE
some. Let me read one of the planks OF that
platform: We are opposed to the issuing
Of interest-bearing bonds Of the United
States in times of peace and condemn the
frafficing with banking syndicates, which,
In exchange for bonds at an enormous profit
to themselves. supply the federal treasury
with gold to maintain the policy of gold
monometaliiSu.
That is one of the planks [voice in the
crowd: 1T is good one!l that was not
put in there to attract the love of those who
have grown rich out of the government 8
extremities. fApplause sell We did not expect
those who have paSageWay from the
federal treasury to their office to join with
us in closing up the passage. We did not
expect those who are making a profit out
of the gold standard and out of the en-
barrassment it brings to the treasury; we
did not expect them to join with US In put
ting an end to the gold standard. Why, II
we had expected it, what would we have
expected in the face of all the history OF the
past?
Uses a Bible Illustration.
do you remember the Good Book states
that some 1880 years ago a man named
Not 1ad of haaF ~
the Gospel? Why, he said it destroyed the
business in which we were engaged. We are
making images for the worship of Diana,
and those 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 go out and say to the
world Our business is being injured and
we mad
What did he say? He said: Great is
Diana of the EDhesans.
I'VE have some to-day who are much like
Demetrius. They know that the restora-
ton of bimetaliism 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 intcrferes with their business. What do
they say? They say: Great is sound
money great is an honest dollar Zap
plause.]
II say this platform was not written to
attract their votes. 1t was written because
we want to destroy the business in which
they are engaged. But, my friends If those
who have made profit out of the govern
ment's financial policy array themselves
against the democratic party may we not
expect those who believe that we are right
to come to our rescue and fill UP the ranks
that ire being depleted by their desertfon?
IApplause]
a Government by Syndicates.
eff we must part company with those
who believe in a government of syndicates,
by SyndicateS, and for SyrdicateS, 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.l 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
going to use their ballots to increase their
incomes, beg you to consider whether the
great toiling masses of this nation have not
a right to make a business out of politics
once and protect their homes and their
families from disaster. IApplause.]
. The founders of our government never
conceded that the time would come when
there would be only few people in this
country who were competent to settle great
public questions. If they had they would
have written in the constitution that on
most questions most everybody should
vote, but on the money question only the
financiers should vote. IApplause.1 Our
opponents of the gold standard dem ocracy
are all linked as to the policy which should
be pursued. They all want the same OBJ
ject-they all want 30 elect a republican
candidate because they believe that democ-
racy is better eXemplitied through repub-
GcaniS.n. lLaughtec.l
Mixed Arguments for Gold.
Some of our opponents say the gold
standard is a good thing. while others say
what want is bimetaliism. but We can
not have il unit! somebody helps u.s..
ILaughter.l If the gold standard is good
thing why should they want bimetallism?
And yet if they ever have two men making
speeches the same night. the chances are
sixteen TO one ilaughterl that one of them
will praise the gold tandard a good
thing. while the other will tell you how
anxious they to get rid of it, One
man says the reason why he does not want
free coinage is that he does not think that
the government should pass a law that
cents worth of silver bullion and convert
1t into 100 cents. OF course. hefnay have
been in favor of a system of taxation that
would give 200 or 500 per cent. profit, but
that does not count: it is terrible thing
to allow the silver miner to make that
profit. Then the next man who comes up will
say that a matter of fact the stamp of
the government adds nothing to the value
of the metal. and that the free coinage of
silver simply means that you convert so
cents worth of bullion into 50-cent dollar
and nobody makes any profit out of 1t. Jap
plauSe.
Now. you can the absurdity of 1t.
IF the silver miner under the law OF free
tina, that which is now worth so cents will
be worth 100 cents. then there are no So
cent dollars. and if the other man Is correct
a nd q law adds nothing the value of