The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-01-18
Mr.. BRYAN'S GREAT SPEECH IN CHICAGO.
VIGOROUS ATTACK ON CAGES
FINANCIAL POLICY.
rhe republican Secretary of the
Treasury Believes in the Superiority
of Money Over Man.

!, Treasury Believes in the Superiorit
n of Money Over Man.
The Democratic hosts Of Chicag
. celebrated Andrew Jacksou's birthda,
with u magnificent banquet at tn,
, fremont house, and Hon. VIM. j
Bryan was the principal guest III,
held reception in the hotel ,rlor.
which was largely attended. favor
Harrison presided at the banquet anG
introduced the speakers.
Mr. Bryan was received with cheers
when introduced, and spoke in part
as follows:
1t is especially fitting that at this
tlme the American people" should re-
call the name OF Andrew jackson, and
gather inspiration and encouragement
from his public career. We are en-
gagged to-day in u contest very similar
to that in which he played SO conspi-
cuous and honorable a part. During
his term Of Office the national banks
attempted to overawo the representa-
| tlVes OF the people and control the
Government. He grapplcd with them
ana overthrow them. Arrayed against
him were the very classes which have
| forced continuance of tho gold stan
dard in the United States in spite CT
the almost unanimous protest Of the
people-the same classes which are
now trying to coerce the Government
into the surrender OF the sovereign
right to control the money of the coun-
try. 1t seems that every generation
presents combat between the pro-
ducers OF wealth and the money
changers. The latter, conducting
their campaign in secrecy, fasten them
selves upon the body polite, and prey
upon industry until their hold is
broken by an awakened and indignant
public.
The present Secretary Of the Trea-
sury, Mr.. Gage, is eminently fitted to
be the instrument of the financiers in |
their effort TO complete the scheme |
commenced twenty-f -four years ago, and
continued without interruption until |
the present day. He possesses q sub
lime faith in the superiority Of money |
over man, and supreme contempt |
for the rights, the interests and the |
opinion OF the people at large. He
knows that the gold standard was
adopted in the United States without
any party ever making it; he knows
that for twenty three years after its
adoption no party ever dared t. com
mend it he knows that in the cam
paign of 1896 the party composed of
boiling Democrats was the only party
W
dard blessing; he knows that at the
polls 80 per cent Of the voters regis
tered their opposition to a single gold
standard, differing only as to the means
OF securing bimetailism he knows
that the President, to whose partial ty
he owes his position, sent commits
sion to Europe to beg other nations to
help us get rid of the gold standard
he knows that the Senate and House,
with scarcely q dissenting voice, APP
propriated 100000 of the peoples
money to pay the expenses Of the COM
mission while it was seeking relief
from the gold standard ; he knows that
France, by joining in the demand for in
ternational bimetallism, condemned
the gold standard he knows that the
farmers, the laborers, and to a large
extent the manufacturers Of England,
desire international bimetallism he
knows that the maintenance of the
gold standard means unmerited ad-
vantage to the money owning and the
bond holding classes, is nndeserved
punishment to The vast majority of
the people Of this country and of the
civilized world and yet, in spite of his
know ledge of all these facts, he is de-
libcratcly planning the gold standard
permanently upon the people of the
United States.
Not content with advocating a
policy which places the destinies OF
100000 of free men in the hands of
foreign tinanciers and permits few
London bankers to control our standard |
OF money, he now proposes to give to
the national bank full and complete
control OF the paper money Of the |
nation. In November, 1896, six mil
lion and half OF electors voted against |
the retirement of the greenbacks and |
seven million supported platform,
which was silent on the subject. The |
Republican candidate for President in
his letter OF acceptance pledged the
Republican party to keep In circula-
ton (and as good as gold) all the silver
and paper moneys now included in the
currency of the country, while only
one party advocated the retirement Of
the greenbacks, and that party poiied
less than per cent of the total vote.
Mr. Gage knows these facts, aud yet
in spite OF that knowledge he is seek
ing to organize q money trust, more
dangerour not only to the Industries,
but to the liberties of the people than
all the trusts combined. AT such u
time and under such circumstances the
memory OF the hero of New Orleans
ought to be invoked in every State and
q
sense Of their danger.
Twelve months have elapsed since
we celebrated this day year ago and
every month has borne witness to the
failure OF Republican policies to bring
relief to the people. Just after the
passage OF the Dingley bill our oppo.
nents were boisterous 10 their an
nouncement that prosperity had re-
turned. The Republicans were given
full swing. They framed just such a
law as their hearts desired and their
brains devised, and what is the result I?
Head the daily pappers and you will
find the items OF news arranged under
two heads-the formation Of trusts and
the reduction OF wages. A few days
ago picked up copy OF the ST. Louis
Globe e-Democrat and found under the
innocent and unpretentious headlines,
| "Weavers and Spinners,' seven notices
Of wage reductions from four Of the six
New England States.
Is this the result which they pro.
missed would follow, "the opening OF
the mills instead OF the mints ?" II
our enemies boast that they have
buried bimetallism, we point to these
| wage reductions as the weeping will
lows which have sprung up about its
temporary tomb. Why Is not some
Court asked to enjoin the employers
rum uniting together to reduce wages:
Can combinations among employers be
innocent IL cooperation among miners
is crime