The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-08-27
SEWALL'S SPEECH OF ACCEP-
LANCE.
The Terse and Weighty Utteranees
of the Candidate for Vice-Presi-
dent

The Terse and Weighty Utterances
of the Candidate for Viee-Presi-
dent.
Last week We published the speech
of acceptance delivered by w. J. Bryan
a, Mad ison Square garden, N. Y. Be-
low we give that Of his associate on the
Democratic ticket delivered at the
same time and place:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the
comnittee-Youh have given me official
notice of my selection by the Demo-
cratic National convention as its can
didate for Vice-President. For the
courteous terms of your message and
the kind personal expressions [ thank
YOU Having been present at that
great convention. | can more truly es-
innate the honor its action has con-
ferred. 1t was the greatest and most
earnest convention in the history OF
our party. 1t was closer and more in
touch with the people. The delegates
were there to voice the sentiments of
their constituents, the people Of the
party, for the people Of the party con-
trSlled aud conducted that convention.
The Democracy Of the country real
ICES that all the great principles OF our
party are as potent and essential to
the we'll being Of the country to-day as
they have always been, and as they
ever will be. But the overshadowing
issue before the country now, made
dominant by the distressed condition
prevailing throughout our land, is the
demand for reform in our existing mon
etary system.
Our party, and, we believe, a great
majority of the American people, are
convinced that the legislation Of 1873.
demonetizing silver, was wrong in-
fiicted upon our country, which should
and must be righted.
We believe that the single gold stand
ard has SO narrowed the base Of our
monetary structure that it is unstable
and unsafe and so dwarfed in its devel-
opment aud in its power to furnish the
necessary financial blood to the nation
that commercial and industrial paraly-
sis has followed
We believe that we need and must
have the broad and expanding founda-
ton Of both gold and silver to support
| a monetary sistem strong and stable,
| capable Of meeting the demands Of a
growing country and an industrious,
| energetic and enterprising people;
system that will not be weakened and
panic stricken by every foreign draft
| upon US; a system that will maintain a
parity OF just values and the nations
money and protect us from the frequent
fluctuations Of to-day, so disastrous to
| every business aid industry OF the
| land.
We demand the free coinage Of silver,
| the opening Of our minis 10 both money
metals without discrimination, the re-
turn to the money Of our fathers, the
money Of the Constitution, gold and
| silver.
We believe this is the remedy and
the only remedy for the evil from which
we are now suffering, the evil that is
now so fast devastating and impover-
! ishing our land and people, bringing
poverty to our homes and bankruptcy
to our business, which, if allowed to
continue, will grow until our very in
stitutons are threatened.
| The decentralization Of silver has
thrown the whole primary money func-
ton on gold. Restore the money func-
ton to silver, approaching its value,
and its purchasing power will increase.
Take from gold its monopoly, its value
will be reduced, and in due course the
parity Of the two metals will again OBJ
tain under natural causes.
We shall then have a broad and un-
limited foundation for monetary sys-
tenn, commensurate with our country s
needs and future development. not the
unsafe basis of to-day, reduced by half
by the removal ofsilver aud continually
undermined by foreigners carrying
from us our gold.
This is the reform to which we are
pledged, the reform the people demand
the return to the monetary system of
over eighty years Of our national exis-
| tence
The Democratic party has already
given its approval and its pledge. Our
opponents admit the wisdom of the
| principle Tor which we contend, but
ask us to await permission and coop
Grafton Of other nntions.
Our people will not wait. They will
not ask permission of any nation on
earth to relieye themselves Of the cause
of their distress. The issue has been
made. The people stand ready to rem
daI their verdict next November.
Mr.. Chairman, unequivocally and
through sincere conviction, indorse
the platform on which | have been
nominated. believe we are right, the
people are with us, and what the peo-
pie declare for, is always right and must
prevail.
accept the nomination, and with
the peoples confirmation, every effort
of which God shall render me capable
will be exerted in support of the prin-
ciples involved.