The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1899-01-18
BRYAN SPEAKS.

The famous Duckworth Club, of Gin
cinnali, gave its annual jackson Day
banquet at the Gibson Saturday even
ing. About four hundred were present,
including Col. w. J. Bryan, who was
the guest of the hour.
After addresses by Mayor Tafel and
Judge jackson, Col. Bryan was intro
duced amid deafening applause, and
made ringing speech, some idea OF
the force and logic of which may be
gathered from the following extract:
1.-The Democracy of the nation is still
defending JefIersonian principles with
Jacksonian courage and has no thought
of departing from the principles eunnci-
ated at Chicago in 1896. That platform
will live in history and the hour OF it,
adoption will be remembered as the
hour when the money changers were
driven from the Democratic temple.
That platform denounced govern
ment by injunction, and the sentiment
against government by injunction is in
cieasing. That platform denounced the
trusts and declared them to he a men,
ace; that menace is greater to-day than
ever before. That platform warned the
people that a conspiracy was on foot to
give to the national banks a monopoly
Of the issue and supply Of paper money;
that conspiracy is now known to every
one. That platform denounced inter
national bimetalism as a delusiOn and a
snare, and its condemnation has been
justified.
"Other platforms have been forgot
ten, but that platform is as fresh in the
memory of friend and foe, because it
was clear and positive upon every pub
lie question. To those who believe in
equality before the law the Chicago
platform is still an inspiration; it is a
terror only to those who seek to use the
government for personal and private
ends.
at has been attacked at two points,
but the attacks will not harm it. Some
who opposed the platform in 1896 have
promised to return TO the party on con-
dition that the party will drop the
mOneE question and confne the fight
to the trusts. The offer will not be ac-
copied. The Trusts opposed the Dem
cratic party in 1896 because the Chicago
convention took the party out Of the
hands OF the Wall street crowd and
adopted platform which precipitated
the plutocracy which the party had
held in solution for several years.
''The gold Democrats had a chance
to crush out the trusts during Mr..
Cleveland's administration, but they
did not do it. The gold Republicans
are having their opportunity now. but
they are not improving it. The trusts
will fail when the gold standard is
overthrow, and not until then.
Mr.. Cleveland was elected in 1892
upon platform which declared for the
use Of gold and silver as the standard
money OF the country. and for the coin
age OF both gold and silver without dis
elimination against either metal or
charge for mintage, and yet Mr. Cleve-
land found no difficulty in supporting
the single gold standard. The Demo
cratic party will not return Ia the days
of uncertainty aud evasipn. When the
opponents Of lG 10 agree upon an
other ratio it will be time enough to
compare the merits OF a new ratio with
the merits of the old ratio.
1.-The Chicago IlatiOrm was good
when it was adopted; it grows better
with age 1t was strong in 1896; it Is
stronger now"