The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-01-14
BRYAN AT CHICAGO.

The w. J. Bryan League, at its ban
quet in Chicago last night, had for its
guest of honor William Jennings Bryan,
and another matchess speech was de-
livered by that champion Of the people.
With the great success of the local ban.
quet fresh in the minds of Cantonians,
the words of Mr.. Bryan are particularly
appropriate. Here is an excerpt from
his speech of last, that is in line
with the contentious Of speakers at our
own banquet:
"During the month of November, 1896,
seven national banks failed, and in the
month of December nine more closed
their doors. One bank announced as
the cause of its failure inability to real.
ize upon assets This notice was
confession of the argument made during
the campaign by the advocates of free
coinage. We have all along insisted the
gold standard was destroying the value
of assests. With money rising in value
hard times must continue. That this is
not due to local causes is evident from
the fact that the same complaint comes
from other nations.
"The fact that Senator Wolcott, of
Color ,do, has been sent abroad by the
Presdent-elect as an ambassador most
extraordinary, to bring Europe to
bimetallism, is an evidence that the gold
standard is still concealing its blessings
from the American people. If the gold
standard is the standard of civilization,
why should we risk return to barbar.
ism by chasing after international
bimetallism If Senator WOlcott sue
ceeds in stirring up silver agitation in
England, he will be accused of disturb
ing business and destroying confidence
in that great center of financial conf
dence, London. If his errand proves {
fruitless one, it will only give additiona
evidence that the United States mus
act alone. If, in other words, our oppo
nents succeed in bringing bimetallism
they will relieve us of great deal o
labor and enable us to turn our attention
to other reforms. If, on the other hand
they fail in their effort to restor
bime ism, we may expect th
American people to join with us in tn
opening of our mints to free an
unlimited coinage at 16 to l, withou
waiting for the aid or consent of an
: other nation.
"The bankers are now agitatin
g through their conferences and conver
tions and through the press, against ou
present currency system. Why shoul
" those be silent who believe that the gol
. standard is ruinuus to the masses? Th
= ,, club and similar clubs can also keep b'
fore the people the progress which
l. being made by the trusts. They ca
II secure such state legislation as is poss
BILE and bring what influence they ca
d" to bear upon those officials who a
charged with the enforcement Of the lay
u Let me call attention to another wol
% which the clubs can do. They can e.
!, courage the support of those newspape
u which are opposing the gold standar
No newspaper can long exist witho
y readers and unless the advocates
y free silver are willing to support new
papers which represent their idea
% they must expect to be without new
It papers,
"a "And might suggest as another woI
y that the clubs can perform, that thu
"A can be prepared to make such canva
,o of their respective localities that th'
IS will know whether sudden increase
10 the vote means that there is usually
De large stay at home vote or whether
Of means that all the votes cast are n
ne represented by legal voters"