The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-03-25
GheDfmurrat-S Star
BRYAN'S CONVERTS.

In no instance Is the evidence of
Mr.. Bryan's greatness more distinctly
marked than in the change Of senti-
ment brought about by his speeches
among men who have heretofore
merely accepted the Chicago platform
as d party measure, without being
convinced OF the suundness Of the free
silver doctrine.
Wherever he has discussed the ques.
ton, men who were open to convic-
ton. and who were willing to lay
aside preconceiyed opinions, have
cheerfully accepted his theories, and
particularly after an experience of the
past twelve months under the single
gold standard, such expressions as
the following from a Georgia editor,
are to- be frequently heard among
these who have been on the mourn
er's bench" before hearing Mr.. Bryan
speak, and afterwards announced
themselves as converted. The Gcor-
gia editor Of the Macon News frankly
puts it in this wise:
1t is putting it mildly to say that
Mr.. Bryan's speech, delivered in this
city to an audience OF Gveo or six thous-
and people last night, surprised, ever
amazed, his most ardent admirers and
most devoted adhercnts Of bimetall-
ism.
1t did more; it convinced, converted
more people who were opposed to the
free silver theory than any argument,
oral or written, ever presented to
them before. And, after all, the best
way to judge OF speech is by the re-
sult-thc effect produced upon those
to whom it is addressed.
We believe we do not eXaggerate he
effect OF Mr.. Bryan's effort in Macon
when we say 1t has converted nearly
every man who was opened to cOnvic.
tion. Mind, we do not say it convert.
ed every gold standardist who heard
it, for there were many such-evcn
though they will not admit it-who,
for some reason Or another, are not
open to conviction.
Speaking for ourselves, and we
think we also speak Tor several bun.
drcd others, we were not or Mr.. Bry-
ans way Of thinking on the financial
problem. We accepted but could
not 'indorse' the Chicago platform.
For the sake of party regularity, and
for the sake OF other interests and
other principles which Democracy in.
wolves we preferred to swallow the
free silver plank rather than jump
overheard to be picked up by "A craft
manned by IA crew association with
whom is worse than submiSsiOn-yca,
debasing and unbearable one for whom
Democracy has done so much, and to
whom Republicanism has done its
wOrSt-a Southern born white man.
For these and for other reasons, we
preferred to accept the Chicago plat
form, free silver plank and all. Twelve
months of Republican rule had helped
to reconcile us even more to that plat
form, but we were still unable to hon
cstly believe in its free silver plank
we were simply Oh the m0uncrs' bench,
And it has been N observations that
there were thousands OF other Demo.
Gratis in our fix. We went to hear
Brayan, willing to be, but not expect,
ing to be, converted. We came away
with the scales removed from our eye:
completely converted, and happy il
our conversion. And from converse
ton with scores of other Democrats
who were in u fix, we find that thei
conversion was as complete as GU
own.
Mr.. Bryan's visit to Macon has dem
onstratcd, beyond the shadow OF
doubt, that bimetallism is the surest
oHllUSUlubloi VI UlC IlSocho p'o''''''
and that conviction will grow I'll
more this great champion OF 'equa
rights for all and special privileges 70
none expounds to them the tru
principles Of that doctrine.
1t has been our privilege to hca
some OF the ablest arguments eve
uttered in opposition to Mr.. Bryan
theory Of finance, but we fail to reca'
any objection that Mr.. Bryan did no
fully answer and completely annihi.
atcd last night.
Speaking Of ourselves, we are gla'
that we have been convinced and Xix
the man, we imagine who has foun'
the light Of religious faith, we wan
every one else to become convinced
to sec the light.
Democracy, with its free silver the
cries, has been to us heretofore mere
ly a necessity. 1t is now a conviction
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