The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-12-18
IS THE QUESTION ENDED?
VIM. j. Bryan'S View of the
Late Election.
His Summary of the Situation as it
Now Stands.
An American Financial Policy for the
American People VIII
still Be the Motto.

The December issue of the North
American Review contains the fol-
lowing article by the Hon. William
Jennings Bryan, entitled HAS the
Election Settled the Money Cues
tion?"
The battle between bimetallism
and the gold standard is on, and
whether the campaign Just closed
proves to have been decisive en-
gagement or but skirmish, it will
stand out conspicuously in American
history. On the Bird of November,
1895, the American people sat in
judgment upon the greatest issue
ever submitted to them in time of
peace. Every one who studies the
money question, either from the
standpoint of those who desire BIZ
metallism or from the standpoint of
those who favor a gold standard,
must recognize in it question
which transcends in Importance any
other economic question which can
occupy the attention of the Ameri-
can people. When we determine
the kind and quantity of money, we
determine the level of prices, and
the level of prices concerns every
family in the land. For the first
time during this generation the
money question has been the para
mount issue of political campaign.
For twenty years past the financiers
have succeeded i'll writing the finan-
cial plank for the conventions of the
two leading parties and then have
controlled the presidential nominal
tions. The platforms have gener-
ally been sufficiently ambiguous to
bear a double construction, and the
candidates have usually been known
as safe men," according to the
definition given to that phrase on
Change. AS rule, the mOneyed in
terests have looked after our finan-
cial policy, while the rest of the peo-
pie have quarreled over the tariff.
The Political Parties.
The Republican party met in con-
vention last June and attempted to
again give the tariff question pre-
eminence, but when the Democratic,
Populist and Silver parties agreed in
declaring for the free and unlimited
coinage of gold and silver at the
present legal ratio of 16 to |, without
waiting for the aid or consent of any
other nation, the Republicans found
it impossible to confine discussion
to the tariff issue. In fact, the sill
yer question soon absorbed public
attention to such an extent that it
became practically the sole political
topic considered throughout the
country. People discussed the pres
ent legal status of the silver dollar,
the various laws affecting silver, the
amount of production, the cost of
production, etc., etc. To the world
at large this nation presented the in
terestIng and inspiring sight of
seventy millions of people thinking
out their own salvation. Men who
had never spoken in public before
became public speakers; mothers,
wives, and daughters debated the
relative merites of the single and the
double standards; business partner
ships were dissolved on account of
political differences; bosom friends
became estranged; families were di-
vided-iuf fact we witnessed such &C
tivity of mind and stirring Of heart
as this nation has not witnessed be-
fore for thirty years. Foreign news
papers daily reported the progress
of the campaign and students of po-
litical economy came from Europe
to obtain a closer view of the strug-
gle. 1t is probable that the money
question has been studied within the
last four months by more people
than ever before in all the history
of the world simultaneously engaged
in it's consideration. And what was
: the result of that study? Temporary
defeat, but permanent gain for tbs
? cause of bimetallism. 1t is signifi.
cant sfact that the silver sentiment
was strongest where the question
had been longest considered. In the
, West and South, where the people
had been actively engaged in the
discussion of bimetallism for sever.
al years, the majority favored the
restoration of the money of the Con
, stitution. In the Eastern states
q where, until recently, there was
practically no general consideration
> of the money question, the gold SEN
I timent was strongest. There, thu
people had, up to the opening of thi
campaign, heard only one side. Ii
q those States both parties wer,
against free coinage; nearly all the
leading newspapers were against it
: the banking interests were agaiDs
|. it; the corporations were against it
t and it was also opposed by those in
= fluential members of society VIII,
live under the influence of the finan
Is cial corporate interests.
J. At First Sectional.
e Until the Democratic Nationa
# Convention adopted an emphatic de
! claration in favor of free coinage a
Il l6 to l, our side of the question ha,
d few defenders in the Eastern states
n After the convention adjourned, tn
J. Democratic party in the East wa
reorganized, new men were place,
" i'm control, and the work of educa
is ton was commenced. The result
e instead of being discouraging, is full
/ of encouragement. When befor
= has a great cause made such rapi
progress in so short time as bimet
all;Sr, hos mazda In the EaStarl