The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-20

Colonel Bryan said the other day In
New York. I'm reply TO question that
there are just as many people now as
in 1896 who believed in the free coinage
Of silver, and that they are stronger
now than then in that belief.
We do not question Colonel Bryan's
sincerity. Whenever the wish is father
to the thought "a man can make him
self believe almost anything. Moreover
when a man has a hobby 10 when he
has given the best thought of his life.
in which he has firmly and steadfastly
believed and upon which he has staLed
his destiny. it is q very difficult thing
for him To disillusion himself and break
away. For two years Colonel bryan
has thought and talked Of noti.nS bur
free silver. lie has declared time and
again that there could be mo prosperity
in this country without it-tha1 ny the
so-called decentralization o. silver half of
the primary money of the world was
DESTROYED. and with such destruction
had come contraction Of the currency
and. necessarily, depreciation in values.
That the whole system was conceived
~ the money kings of the world. TO
whose interest 1t was TO make money
as scarce as possible, so that their
holdings might become the more yal-
liable. and so that their money would
purchase more than ever. and that, as
for the plain people 81 the thing should
20 on, they would finally become the
slaves Of the money kings and liberty
would be at an end, while We should
have two classcs-thc one composed OF
rich barons and the other OF imDover-
ished scrfs.
We say that Colonel Bryan had be-
come So thoroughly saturated with that
idea that it is hard even i'm the face of
facts TO abandon 10, and he Is unwilling
To admit. even 10 himself, that the free
silver cause is waning, although a little
while ago he gave out public state
ment. in which he said that the leading
question in this country to-day was inn
periahsm.
IS grossly decelving himself ln 1896
Colonel Bryan told the farmers Of the
west that wheat wouid never rise in
value, and that they would never pros
per until the mints of the country
should be opened TO the free coinage of
silver. But under the gold standard
wheat went up 10 dollar bushel,
and the West is prospering and If tho
people Of the West are as much in love
with Mr.. Bryans theory as they were in
1896. they had a mighty poor way of
showing it In the last November election.
Moreover, Mr.. Bryan said I'm 1886 that.
under the gold standard. money would
be contracted. but since he was there
speaking our gold exports have been
more than $50 900 600. the gold circula-
ton has increased from 1856, l2o,iSS In
July, 1896. 20 S55S.9s6jls on December l.
lSss. and the total circulation OF money
from $3.50. 1920 20 NSs6.S'o5oi. Our
export business has bceen increasing at
an enormous rate, railroad earnings are
tho largest known for years, ana all
CLASSES of good securities have IN
creased from 60 to 100 per cent in value
thus adding untold riches 10 the nations
wealth.
Again. Mr.. Bryan insisted that the
United states was debtor nation, AMI
that It was to the interest OF such a
nation 10 have cheap money while the
lold standard was IN EnEapd's favor,
because England was a creditor nation
ana 50 on. 1ol itmcmber it ALL But
We are now a creditor nation. We have
a trade balance m our favor for the
year Of S5S7 S370l6. and it was
announced in the Associated Press
on Sunday that a great for
eign power had sent representatives 10
the United States. and that they are
now in New York FOR the purpose OF
negotiating loan Of immense proper
tons.
Col. Bryan may think that he Is hold
sng up the silver cause by making such a |
statement as that. which we have
quoted. but. on The contrary he Is SIM
ply making the judicious laugh" If we
may paraDhrase the familiar quotation.
In the face OF such facts as we have !
nted. MIR. Bryan's statement simply
confirms the belief Of rational men that