The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-16

that the French Government; joined with
us in sending an Ambassador to England
| And in England the sentiment was 50
| strong that Il petition was sent to the
/ English Government, signed by tho lead
ing labor organizat IONS of England, ask
ing for international III mctaiism. 50
strong that a report was presented while
our commission was there. Il report
signed by ten out of fourteen members
of commission appointed TO inveSti-
gate that condition Of agriculture, and
| the ten of the fourteen declare that the
gold standard was destructive 10 Eng
fish agriculture. and pointed TO bi-nletal-
Iism as the only relief for the English
farmer. tApplausel
But, why, my friends. did the Eng
fish Government refuse to listen to tie
laborers and to the farmers? Because
on the 22nd day of September, 1897, the
bankers of London met ut the clearing
house behind closed doors pledged to
secrecy, and declared that the gold
standard was all right The English
bankers. so few in number that they
can meet in the clearing house. determin>
ed the policy of England, and England
determined the policy of Europe, aud
Europe will determine the policy of the
United States as long as the Rebubi-
can party is in power. Cheers and ap,
plause.)
Il have been asked why | am not
willing to drop the money question |
replied:
Because the money question won't
drop u.s.
Until some other party proposes some
IL. Il IN
secure bimetallism at some other ratio
there is no reason why we should dis
cuss ratio with them. The ,'atio Of iG
to / is the ratio at which our gold and
silver coin now circulate. We simply
ask reinstatement of the law that was
on the statute books-where it was he
fore the act of decentralization was Sc
crety passed We simply want to r.
new by law what was done by law
They struck silver down by law. We
raise it up by law: they close the mints
by law; we open them by law. (Ap-
plause)
My friends YOU will hear people say
that they don't object to silver if W.,
will only open the mints at the brllDa
ratio or the commercial ratio"
Mr.. Bryan condemned the bill pend
ing in Congress providing for the retire
ment of the greenbacks by an issue Of
bonds drawing ~ per cent. He said
if it became a law and 2la per cent
bonds are at par, then national bank
with a capital of 100000 can invest
the 100000 in bonds, deposit the bonds
with the treasury and draw upon the
bonds 100000 in bank notes; 50 that
the amount the bank gets back is lust
equal to the amount the bank paid for
the bonds. So that it has not II single
dollar invested and yet it goes drawing
212 per cent interest Il year on nothing.
lApplause.1
1T is a small proposition in mathema-
tics. and vet these banks will tell YOU
they want this done for the public
good There is another object that is
not included in the Chicago platform.
ana is yet included in the principle it sets
forth. The President. in his message of
1898 asked for standing army of
100000 men. We have had no national
convention since that time. But Demo
Gratis do not have to have a national
convention to learn that the Democratic
party is opposed to miltarism in the
United States. tApplauseD."
Mr.. Bryan referred to the United
States as ii bully for striking down the
Filipino natives. This created the
greatest enthusiasm of the night.
There was Il mighty demonstration
when he said that ii was this country
that had inspired the Filipino with love
of liberty. The American Government
of the FiIipinos is despotism, he de
clared, and this was loudly applauded.
1t was not surprising. he said. that
country that should send to England for
Il financial policy as it had two years
ago. should now send there for Il
colonial policy This was received with
wild APPLAUSE. When he intimated that
he wanted to stop he was told to go on
and many requested him to talk on inn
perialism.
When he said: I'VE may fail in
1900" there were tumultous cries of
NO. never"
When he concluded hurricane of APP
plause broke forth. Men and women
acted wildly.
When Mr.. Bryan had finished there
was Il great rush to him on the plat
form. He was almost suffocated in the
crush. 1t required five policemen to
force way through the crowd for him.
He shook hands on all sides. He had
a few minutes reception in the inside
room where he shook hands with II
number of persons and then with great
difficulty he went down stairs.
There was Il very large crowd here
and Colonel Bryan had to make short
speech to the gathering. He was en-
Enthusiastically cheered as he got into
a carriage, which started for the Hotel
Bartholdi
OF the dinner Mr.. Bryan said
This is the greatest dinner | ever
attended. | think it is the greatest
ever held in the United States. The
hearts of the people are all right"