The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-04-01

to get rid of good thing. Mckinney
! has practically admitted our poslI'o''
|. 'You can't say anything too mean
! about the gold standard. 1t is the yal-
Ter dog of American politics. 1t has
been repudiated here and IN other
countries. 1t has never been Endorsed
| by the producers of wealth IN any
country. The trouble is the producers
of wealth in other countries don nave
as much influence in Legislation as
they do here. That is saying some'
thing very bad for the foreigners.
THE MONETARY COMMISSION.
Mr.. Bryan referred to the commits
sion which went abroad in the inter
est of bimctallism Why did France
at once signify its willingness to join
the United States if the gold standard
had proved satisfactory in that coun-
try He then read a clipping from a
newspaper giving an account OF the
meeting of 5000 German farmers in
Berlin to demand bimetallism. The
popular branch of the general assem-
bly, of that country had also passed Il
resolution indorsing bimetallism.
''Some people," he continued, SAY I'M
til England desires bimetallism we
should abide by their wishes" He
then read u clipping which showed
that on March II, 1896. the house OF
commons had passed a resolution de-
ploring the fall in silver and pledging
the nation to aid in restoring the par
ity between the two metals
Mr.. Bryan said the producers of
wealth had never endorsed the gold
standard in the history of the earth.
He deplored the fact that u handful
of financiers could determine the pol
icy of 7OOOO.OOO free Americans and
said that he was not willing for few
foreigners not in sympathy with our
form of government to determine the
fortunes and future of his children.
INCONSISTENCIES OF STATESMEN.
He showed the inconsistency of
Sherman Blaine and Carlisle on the
money question. lie showed that Sher-
man had said in the senate that con-
traction OF currency must produce Il
period OF great embarrassment to all
people excepting capitalists out
of debt or persons possessed of am
nuities. He said if we paid our presi-
dent in cotton instead of cash he
would perhaps favor a different tnan-
cial policy. He quoted Mr.. Blaine as
saying in effect that the destruction
of silver as money would have an i'll
effect on all investments excepting
those which have Il fixed value. He
said Mr.. Carlisle in 1878 made one of
the strongest speeches ever delivered
in the English language in favor Of
free silver. '''rhey charge Carlisle
with being against us he said, but
l think we have the largest share of
his favors, as he has never been able
our side in 1878"
Probably the most interesting feat
ure of Mr.. Bryan's lecture was his re-
futation of the charge that bimetal-
lism would enable the debtor to pay
his obligations with Il dishonest dol
lar. If the creditor has the option of
demanding either metal and gold is
worth the least bit more he will de-
mand it. If the debtor has the option
and silver is worth less he will pay
with his metal Both are selfish. Now
we come to decide. If the creditor has
the option he will draw tie metals
apart Give the debtor the option and
he will keep them together. Selfish
ness should be thrown on the side of
the maintenance of parity.
In discussing the means of bimetal-
lism, the speaker said there were two
plans, international and independent.
He pictured the absurdity of waiting
for other nations to act.
According to our plan,' said he,
''we shall send no ambassadors; ac-
cording to our plan the right of perse-
cution was abandoned in '76; accord
ing to our plan our ambassador will
go to announce and not to petition"
(Applause.)
SECRETARY GAGE ATTACKED.
Mr.. Bryan attacked Secretary Cages
money plan, and quoted from Sher-
man and Carlisle, when they were the
advocates of bimetallism. In this CON
nection he referred to Senator Nor
gan, which precipitated tremendous
applause.
Are we guilty of a crime contin-
ued the speaker, IF we point oat now
what these men pointed out then? But
we are told that some of these men
have changed their opinions, but you
will agree that it is an unusual thing
for men to change their minds There
are two kinds of conversion. One is
the conversion like that of Saul of
Tarsus, who went out to persecute
the Christians, but who was converted
and became one of the apostles. The
other is the conversion like that of
Aaron, who was a Christian, but who
became converted and set up for him
self a golden calf to worship. Now, if
you strike one of these fellows whose
conversion was like that of Saul he
will never get tired of telling you
about how he was converted, and will
show you the place where the scales