The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-19
The Peoples Journal.
PICkENS 8. O.
THE ISSUES OF THE HOUR
WHY INSIST UPON 10 TO 4?

Bryan Declares tho Chicago Plat
form is Stronger Than Ever-His
Fight Against Expansion.
The annual banquet of the Andrew
Jackson League in Chicago was held
at the fremont House Oh the 7lh inst. :,
and VIM. Jennings Bryan was the
guest of honor, as he has been for the
. past three years. Portraits of Jack
son and Bryan were hung at opposite
ends Of the hall, and these were the
only portraits used in the decorations.
A number of distinguished men made
speeches, and tho address of Mr..
Bryan closed the evening. %IIe spoke
as follows:
"Thc Democracy Of tho nation is
still defending Jeffersonian principles
with Jacksonian courage and has no
thought OF departing from tho princi-
pies enunciated at Chicago in 1896.
That platform will live in history and
the hour Of it's adoption will be rcmem-
bcrcd az the hour when the money
changers were driven from the Demo-
cratic temple. There will be no turn-.
ing back. The platform will bo added
to as new conditions force new issues
into the arena of politics, but nothing
will be substractcd from it. Events
have vindicated every position taken
by the platform. Arbitration was adj
yocated in that platform and arbitra-
ton is stronger to day than it was in
1890.
"That platform denounced govern
ment by injunction and the sentiment
against government by INJUNCTION is
increasing. That platform denounced
tho trusts and declared them TO be
menace that menace is greater to-day
than ever before. That platform
warned tho people that a conspiracy was
Oh 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 intcrna-
tional bimctalism as a deluslon and Il
snare and it's condemnation has been
justified. That platform pointed to in
dependent free coinage as the only
means Of restoring tho double stand.
ard who doubts it now? That platform
named lG to as the proper ratio an(
that ratio stands to-day as the onl,
ratio ut which bimctallsm is possible
"Othcr platforms have been forgot
ten, but that platform is fresh in tn,
memory OF friend and foe because i
was clear and posivlvc upon ever,
public question. TO those who belicv,
in equality before the law the Chicago
platform is still an inspiration il is
terror only to those who seek To us,
the government forpersonal and private
ends.
''lt has been attacked al two points
but the attacks will moi harm it, Some
who opposed the platform IN 1896 have
promised to return to the party on
condition that the party will drop the
money question and conlinc the iiyh,
to the trusts. The offer will not bc
accepted. What confidence would tn,
people have i'll our sincerity if we
si}ould' declare against trusts III general
but enter into treaty of peace with
tho greatest Of nil trusts-thc money
trustT If we should attempt to centre
the light upon the trusts the Republic
CANS would adopt as strong an
intl.hust plank rs wo because 10
party would dare to defend The
trusts. In such fight the trust
magnatcs would be found supporting
both parties and contributing hberally
to both campaign funds provided the
trusts were guaranteed the privilege of
naming the attorney general and the
Judges. The trusts opposed the Demo-
cratic party i'll 1896 because the Chi
caeo convention took the party out Of
The hands Of the Wall street crowd and
adopted platform which prrcipitated
tho plutocracy which the party had
held in solution for several years.
"The gold Democrats had chance
to run out the trusts during Mr.. Glove
LANDS administration, but they did rot
90 It, The gold Republicans arc
having their opportunity now, but they
are not improving it, The trusts viii
fall when the gold standard IS over
thrown and not until then. The gold
standard means falling prices, and fall
ing prices will create trusts more rap
idly than any gold standard party can
destroy them.
"Ihe second point OF attack is the
ratio. Why insist upon l6 to |, they
ask9 | reply, first, because 1t is the
best ratio, and, second, because its op.
ponents have no other ratio to offer.
NO free coinage law can bo enacted
until ratio is agreed upon because
tho ratio is part Of the law. Sup
pose We had majority in Congress
favorable to bimctallism, but differing
as ~ the ratio. Some would favor lG
10 4, some "a to l, some 80 to /, and
some even higher ratios how could
me make progress under such coudi
nons9 Affirmative lclief is necessary
and those who favor remedial leeisla-
ton must secure a majority in both
Houso and Senate for some definite
proposition. The gold bugs under
stand this they know that On ambig-
uous platform Is equivalent to gold
standard platform. Mr.. Cleveland was
elected in 1892 upon platform which
declared for the use Of gold and silver
as the standard money of the country
ADD for the coinage of both gold and
silver without Discrimination apainst