The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-16
AT LEXINGTON.
Bryan Talks to Farmers and Wit
ncsSes Processinn

LEXINGTON, Ky. Sept. l5-When Mr.
Bryan reached this city he was taken to
the fair grounds, where it is estimated
$1,000 people had gathered A procession
unique in its character passed before him
as he was the speakers stand The
farmers of the surrounding counties got
into Lexington early this morning and
came in d typical Southern way riding
the entire distance on horses While Mr..
Bryan was addressing the audience the
horsemen were seen entering the gates Of
the fair grounds, riding in double file and
carrying appropriate Democratic cam
paign banners. 1t took twenty-five min
utes for the procession TO pass the nominee.
Mr.. Bryan was introduced to the audience
by the Hon. c. j. Bronston, State Senator
and candidate for Congress. and he spoke
follows
Ladies and Gentlemen-I think that in a
as my throat. perchance,' clears. 1T gives
me great pleasure to meet the people of
this far-famed section. the people OF this
far-famed State, and | desire to express
my appreciation of the kindness of this
club-the first, or at least one of the first.
Bryan clubs organized in the United
States; for this beautiful silver badge
which they have presented me, and to the
other club for their silver badge also. They
served. tAppause.) Whether elected or de-
feated they shall serve continual
HllnuefS OF lne hospitality Wn1cn you nave
extended to me since I entered this State.
II am glad. even for short time to
present in your presence one of the issues
of this campaign. Whlie there are at all
times questions; while there at all
times numerous issues before the people.
yet there is always some one 4oyershadow-
ing issue which more than any other de-
termines the allegiance of those who sup
port the ticket and in this campaign we
portance. No question which concerns poll
tics except the question of government it,
s s. can s4r4as IS the money question as
this time. Ordinarily the attention of the
people is directed to a question like taxa
ton or economy in appropriate
1T is not often that the money question
is presented TO the people. 1t is desirable
that there should be fixed and perma-
more than twenty years the American peo-
pie have been seeking to restore finan-
cial policy which existed from the founda-
ton of the government and had the sup
port of every prominent statesman of all
parties until 1873 II was changed without
the American peoples consent. (ApplauseD
Even since that unfortunate hour the
American people have been seeking to REIN
state the law that was at that time re-
moved from the statute book. Sometimes
they have passed through the lower house
2 bill to open our mints. Sometimes they
have passed the bill through the Senate
but heretofore they have not succeeded in
passing that bill through the House and
Senate at the same Congress. We have
been compelled, time and time again. TO
compromise, and then we have found that
our enemies, Wnen tney nave lOICtu upUl
us compromise. have commenced the next
day to undermine that which they have
compelled us to accept. tApplause)
THE BLAND ACT.
when the people succeeded in passing
through one house bill for the free coip-
age of silver the other house insisted upon
an amendment that resulted in what was
known as the Bland act of 1873. 1t gave
some relief to the people. 1t gave them a
short respite from the Increased depression
that had been forced upon them by vicious
legislation. but sooner was that law
passed--and, remember, that even that law
was passed over the Presidents veto-and
no sooner had it passed than the enemies
of free coinage, who had compelled its
adoption, began to work secretly for its
repeal Then, when the silver sentiment
had grown until. in February. 1890 there
were prospects of the passage of free
coinage law, our friends again forced
compromise and substituted the Sherman
law for the free coinage of silver, and no
sooner the Sherman law passed than
p pu5 Senator sherman. in his book, re-
Gently published, known as John Sher-
mans Recolections.' expressly states that
he secured and favored that bill in order
to prevent the passage of a free-colnage
law and that he ready to vote for its
repeal the next day if that repeal could be
secured without substituting free coinage.
tApDlauSe.)
Il call your attention to these facts to
show you that during all these years, in
stead of meeting open and frank and cam
did enemies we have had to tight those
who, under the guise of being friends OF
have by stealth sought to fasten the gold
standard upon the American people. Great
ApDlauSe.)
I'VE have in this camoaign for the first
time been able to secure Il direct issue.
Heretofore the same influences nave c On.
trolled the conventions in the Democratic
and Republican parties. Heretofore tho
same influences had written both plat
forms, nominated both candidates, ana the II
the advocates of the gold standard have
been able to sit back ana say they are
booth gold men, (Applause and laughter.)
During all these years the advocates OF the
gold standard have been able TO Keep the
fight between the two great parties upon
ties have sought to advance; AFTER eacn
election, the gold standard little furthsr.
They tried it this year, Trey e went we TT 70 81 81.
publican party Did they say in that plat
form that the gold standard was good
thing? Oh, no, my friends. tAppiause.l
TO have made an open declaration of what
they wanted would have been contrary 10
all their history, and they We're not willing
laughter.) What did they do? Why, they
adopted platform which pledged the Re,
standard and to substitute bimetallism-
when leading nations help US 10
do it. AppIaggse ayI haf done G6min 1nSd
the ST. Louis convention went to chicago
and attempted the old game. Iney at
tempted to write a money plank or the
Democratic platform that could not nave
been distinguished from the Republican
plank with the aid of a microscope
Uaughter.) The minority plank in the chi
cage platform did not say that the gold
was a good thing. The minority
plank declared that the opposition OF those
VINO supported II was due TO the fear that
the free coinage of silver by this country
alone would prevent international BIZ
toward which all tho eIorts or
the country should be directed tApplause)
While there were some who came 10 that
for the purpose OF instfuctinS
the Democrats who had assembled In favor
of the free coinage OF silver. there We're
some who thought that ii was necessary
for these advocates of the gold standard
TO Just announce their views
TWO INTERRUPTIONS.
Here Mr.. Bryan was stopped by the rain.
which again commenced TO fall in torrents.
When ne could make himself heard again
he began as follows:
Il don't know that I ought TO keep you
here in the rain. tCries of Go on Don't
stop!D Well. my friends. let conclude
the descriptive part by saying that the ma
1ority did rule at Chicago and wrote the
platform that was Democratic Great APP
strong, open, unequivocal grounds In favor
or the Immediate rostora ION OF free coin
age at the ratio OF Is tc | (applause). and
what was the result? Wig. my friends
four months ago tile Republicans Thought
that sall they had TO do was 10 nominate
thesr candidate and election WAS sure bur
just soon as the Chicago platform was