The San Francisco call., 1897-07-08


our assistance and lent his powerful aid in de-
feating the infamous funding bill take
pleasure in Introducing 10 you the next Presl-
dent OF the United States.
There was great cheering when Mr..
Bryan came forward. The crowd became
uproarious. Men and women raised hats
and sunshades and continued 10 cheer
for several minutes. Mr.. Bryan held up
his hand for order, and When the noise
had some what subsidized began his address
In voice which showed signs OF the hard
usage it had baen getting since he left his
home on his Western trip. He said:
Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen: have
been Ia ng so constantly that even The eli
mate tf California cannot keep me from be-
coming hoarse, and am compelled to ask YOU
10 assist me By preserving quiet. My voice
will 60 much further if you Will De still. am
very CRATE: ul to the people OF the State for the
court, sizes which they have extended-grate-
iul to the Democratic committee to the Popu-
lists and TO the Silver Republicans, because
they nave We'd with each other i'll making my
stay among you pleasant. am under oblga-
tion to your committees. and am no less de-
lighted that am scented 10 this vast audi
euce by n former colleague in Congress W whom
learned to resTeet, esteem aud love as saw
him in battle in b.haf OF the interests OF the
ertat mass 6f the people
l wish that the owners and patrons OF the
roads shall have justice done but speaking
Tor myself hope 10 live TO see the day when
cross by canal and go 10 New York without
going around ana across South America.
In my talk this afternoon want to call your
attention 10 The question Of bime etalllsm. but
leave the details OF that subject to be dis
cuSsed at the night meeting. | want to assure
you that We are engaged III carrying out the
principles of the Chicago platform. We are
not trying to take from tho e who have and
give to those who have not. We are trying to
administer justice in legislation and come
back TO the time when II will be administered
to the people regardless OF wealth or power.
Mr.. Bryan then touched upon some OF
the injustices of legislation and claimed
that the spirit of the constitution was
being violated, inasmuCh as while the
constitution promised equal rights to all,
the wealthy and powerfui were being con-
stantly favored by legislation which oper-
ated TO their benefit and to the detriment
of the masses. This was peculiarly the
case in the payment OF taxes he claimed
for the people do not pay taxes in proper
tion to the wealth they own. Men with
than those with large incomes. He sug-
gested that the right way to justify the
matter was by the income tax.
The speaker then turned his attent tion to
the money question and humorously re-
ferred to the definition of the honest dol
lar as given by tie advocate OF the gold
standard.
1 call the advocate of the gold standard
gold bug" but use the word with the same
candid opinion as the god bug does when he
calls me lunatic. [Laughter.l / do not OBJ
ject to being called hard names, and the fact
chat do not object is the reason why | have
got along so well. More iaughter.l The gold
bug was asked by man what he meant by an
honest dollar, aud he looked wise and said
that by an honest dollar he meant sound
money. Ii is hard 10 get him out of the cir
ce. He will tel! you that by an honest dollar
and sound money he means which Will stand
the melting-pot test. The point OF that
definition is that Mexican money is honest
money, according 10 the definition oil the god
bug, becsuse you can melt It.
Mr.. Bryan then spoke OF the criticism
he had been subjected to because OF his
statement that there never would be an
absolutely honest dollar and said:
There never was al absolutely honest dollar
and there is not to-day, and | dou't think
there Will ever be because it Is the work OF
human hands and however nearly they may
approach they viii never reach perfection.
We simply do The best we can.
The speaker then related several anec-
dotes to show that his views OF the money
question were the correct ones and the APP
plause he received evidenced the fact that
his auditors believed with him.
He used an argument, the statement
that the silver issue had caused capital to
be tied up for fear of the effect on the
business OF the country to show that any
system that feared the discussion of o new
system was bad.
II you have to go to foreign fnanciers TO get
them 10 protect the treasury in time OF peace
want 10 ask you how you are going To get
along should they turn agains- you and leave
you?
After some further remarks on the
financial question, Mr.. Bryan concluded
his address and was given several hearty
cheers by the audience.