Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-01-08
1.-THE ANCIENT LANDMARKS"
FULL TEXT OF W. j. BRYANs LECTURE
AT ATLANTA, GA, OEo. 20.

AT ATLANTA, GA, DEC. 20.
FRO N the Atlanta constitutional
concluded from last week
NE TOUCHES ON THE MONEY QUESTION.
Snow there is another subject, and
have TO handle this subject with great
deal of care, because If were to express
myself in words too broad, you might be
able to guess my views upon the subject
(Applause.) | want to express myself
upon this subject in language so compre-
hensive that the man who differs from
me in the application of the principle
must agree with me in the statement OF
the principle. | have spoken of this law
of equality. have spoken of this prln-
ciple which we must apply to al leglsla-
ton, and have spoken of it IN its appli-
cation for taxation, and whether for
property or taxation, or collection OF
taxation assessed upon property, or I'M
less with business and fairness, 1t is taken
from the one and given to the other.
call your attention to the application OF
the principle as applied to approprla-
tlons. There is one other question to
which this must be applied, and by the
application of this principle, we must
determine; we must determine that ques-
ton when it is finally determined. L
stated the principle that there is only
one way to determine what kind of mon
cary standard is best, ard that is apply
ing to it the principle that all men are
created equal and selecting that principle
which treats most of all the people with
the greatest Justice. No man, however
much he may differ from me, will be able
to oppose the statement. A man who
says that in the settlement of the money
question, we should so settle it as to vlo-
late the principle of equality, would not
be able to defend his argument before
the community or the bar of his own
Judgment We differ simply in our
efforts to arrive at that system which
brings Justice to most people of his
country, and to the people of the world.
/ may say that in ascertaining what
monetary system is best, there is but
one test, and by that test we must
finally settle this question and when we
try to find what monetary system is the
most equitable and the most just, we
must test 1t by the purchasing power of
the unit which it gives to society to
measure all other things by. Now, in
the end, after all the discussion, the peo-
pie of this country will select that none
tarv system in the long run-the people
of the country will select that monetary
system which gives the unit least change
dUlC Ill us COuuuSl dilOuS bhN PcOPAS' -
/ should tell you what system thought
would give that you might believe me
wrong. If you told me what system you
thought would give the best dollar, the
dollar most nearly honest, | might not
agree with YOU, but when | tell you that
the aim OF both of US should be to come
to the nearest approach to absolute sta
bility and absolute Justice between man
and man you must agree with me IN the
purpose. however you differ from me in
the means of arriving at it. And it is
only by taking the principle of an ac-
cepted fact, and measuring all systems
by it, that we can expect to arrive at a
just or fair conclusion.
Now, | realize thai In all these APP
plications of the principle we have one
great difficulty to meet, and that is the
interest which the individual has, and
that interest colors his judgment. If
you tell me that man will ever reach a
place where seltishness is entirely elimi-
mated, | tell you that | cannot agree
with YOU. [ believe that seltishnes is
here to stay, and that any person who
attempts to legislate, and forgets to
make allowance for seltishness is going
to make a great mistake in legislation.
Nor do | believe that setishness is an
entire disadvantage. Seltishness is but
the manifestation of the instinct of self
preservation. 1t is the manifestation OF
the instinct to t,ke care of yourself, and
we would not be worth much in this
world if we were without that instinct,
because if | were intent on taking care
of somebody else, and somebody else
was intruSted with the duty of taking
care of me the danger is that my extrem-
ity might come when my guardian was
IL. e sol
and you take care of yourself, our
guardians are always present in the
hour of danger. While selishness i
here, and while it will remain here, and
while think that the Creator knew bet
ter than we when he put the seltshness
here, | say, while it will remain here.
vet the evidence of Intelligence among
people is found in their willingness to
put limits to their own seltiShness in
order that they may put limits to the
selfishness of others. believe that the
highest seltishness is found IN that COM
mandment. Thou shalt love thy neigh
Dor as myself That is the highest sell
tishness. because by following that Idea
and applying that principle we secure
for ourselves the highest possible enjoy
ment. And in legislation, if we can but
Withstand the temptation to secure small
dNlN dilldSto at dHplHNl i1Iul We W III
by withstanding that temptation secure
higher advantage by recognizing the
rights of all others, and having our own
rights recognized in return | say this
is the summit of intelligence. This is
the height of wisdom, and it is in the
following of that principle that we
secure a government which Is JUST. re-
fusing to take ADVANTAGE of our neighbor,
and refusing to allow the neighbor to
take advantage of us, each enjoying a
mutual right, each standing ready to
protect the other in the enjoyment OF
the right, in order that others may be
protected also Now, we not only have
to avoid that which is alfirmatively I'M
just, but we have to go further.
THE FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT.
"The government must not only avoid
abuses, but governments must protect
society. That is, government must pro
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