The Advocate and news., 1898-01-12
BRYAN AT CHICAGO.
Discusses Secretary Cages Proposed Plan
Of Currency Reform.

OF democrats participated in q banquet
in honor Of the memory Of Andrew Jack
son, the day being the anniversary Of
his great victory at the battle OF New
Orleans in 1914 w. J. Bryan was the
principal speaker. He said that It was
hitting that the memory Of Jackson, the
effective enemy OF the national bank,
should be celebrated now when the gov
ernment is In control Of the same ele-
ment which Jackson overcame. The
present Secretary Of the Treasury Ia
we'll fitted to be the instrument OF the
tinanciers In the contamination OF their
present schemes After the people had
given but per cent. of their votes to the
only party (Natonal Democrats) which
had declared sQuarely for the gold stand
ard and after Congress has almost unan-
imously voted 100000 to defray the ex-
pense OF a commission charged with
the duty Of securing bimetallism, Mr..
Gage publicly proceeds to secure the
enactment Of legislation which will fas-
ten the gold standard ON this country
permanently. In the face Of a declara-
ton against the retirement Of the green
backs on the part OF one great party and
silence on the question on the part Of
the other, he is trying to retire them
and turn the issue Of paper currency for
the country over to the banks. Atten-
tion was called to the fact that the Ding
ley law, which had been portrayed as
the means of bringing immediate pros
perity, was really causing q deficit and
was producing as much wage reduction
as had occurred in the past.
During the 1896 campaign the Demo-
Gratis demanded affirmative action and
the timid and half-convinced held back
while the Republicans, drunk with VIC
tory, are disclosing schemes which had
previously been concealed and which
would have brought sure defeat II they
had been exhibited during the cam
paign. Mr.. Bryan then urged propa-
cation Of literature and activity In orga-
nizatiOn that the people may be posi-
ton to win future battles.
Congressman Lewis, the talented rep
resentaive OF the State of Washington,
followed Mr.. Bryan. He emphasized the
importance of recognition of other Is
sues with the silver question, saying in
the course Oh MS RESPONSE
1T may not be gracious, but 1t is just,
that /, speaking for myself alone, should
express a difference from the distin-
guished leader whose flag l followed to
the ditch and whom again l am ready
to follow to that inevitable victory which
fate has deCreed for himself, yet differ
in the view expressed that the reincarna-
tion of silver is the most urgent need Of
the hour. Great and important as Is the
question, yet to me there arises that
other question-what avail Is 1t to the
poor man should the government in
crease his money four-fold while allow
ing favored monopolies to increase their
privileges fourfold to take that money
from him? So long as the law permits
the concentration Of wealth in the form
of trusts to dictate to the citizens the
price of the necessities Of existence, the
citizens increased dollar will be but the
increased sum paid by that citizen for
his existence. l say, therefore, that
when these monopolies, through prOdigal
bounties obtained by special legislation,
can set value upon the poOr's privilege
of living there can be no relief n the ex-
pedients which palltates for an hour the
increasing wealth.
I'VE have the spectacle confronting us
of the combined trusts controlling seven
billions, the consolidated banks eleven
billions, the railroad five billions, yet
this vast wealth, one-third Of the ma
rion's possessions, manipulated by less
men than would FIJI the auditorium of
Chicago-not ten thousand-yet who by
virtue of this pr0digious accumulation
and its power for evil, openly defy the
laws, corrupt the ballot box, and defle
the judiciary; and as result OF 1t all
they force thirty million people to yield
up their benefits and twenty millions of
people to forfeit their political rights.
Therefore, IL there Is any one duty
above all others, ordered Of true DEM
ocracy to perform, 1t is to curb and pre-
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