The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-04-25
/ DEMOCRAT ON TRUSTS.
BRYAN SHOWS MAN IN THE
POWER OF THR TRUST.

@A4@4@ @A9 ~S4 -
Finally its Coffin for the Dead
MILWAUKEE, Wis, April 13.-The
Jefferson Club of Milwaukee observed
the natal day of the founder OF Democ
racy by a banquet at the Plankinton
House to night, attended by Owe four
hundred guests. Col. VIM. ]. Bryan,
of Nebraska, was the guest OF honor
and delivered the principal address.
DELEGATIONS Of Democrats we're IN at
tendance from many towns through
out the State and nearly all the Demo
Gratis from the State Legislature we're
present.
The banquet hall was beautifully
decorated with the National colors, and
back of the guests of honor, above a
mantel was hung a large portrait In
oil Of the third President.
Col. Bryan spoke on democracy"
He said in part:
1--WE are now neal enough to the
next campaign to be able to form some
idea Of the lines along which the con
test will be fought, and I am taking
no risk when / say that those who in
1896 gave their allegiance to the Obi
cago platform are as united to day In
the determination that no step taken in
1896 shall be retraced. That platform
applied to the conditions then existing,
the principles which had been Demo
cratic from the beginning Of the gov
eminent. Suggestions that we aban.
don the money question sometimes
come from those who deserted the
party in 1896, but those suggestions
are not supported by evidence tending
to show that the opposition in 1896
was wrong, but vas p~redicated upon
the the DRY that the issue upon which
the party once lost can never be re
vived, and what seems most strange,
this argument is made by those who
have folio we'd a different course in the
past.
in 1888 Mr. Cleveland was defeated
On the tariff issue, and yet the tariff
was made on the main issue in 1892
and Mr.. Cleveland was elected. In
1892 Mr.. Harrison was defeated largely
on account of Mckinley bill, and Iour
years later the author of the bill wal
nominated upon a platform re-afirm
ing the belief in protection and was
successful. Thus it is seen that in two
instances recently a losing issue in one
campaign became a winning issue in
the campaign following.
"The test ought to be not whether
the issue has been presented before,
but whether the position taken is right.
If the gold standard was unmerited in
1896, it is unmerited now. II it's main.
tenance was a detriment to the interest
of the people of this country, then il is
q detriment now. IL in 1896 it was so
hurttul that the Republicans promised
to put forth their best effort to substi
tute international bi metallism for it,
and after the election was still so hurt
ful that the President sent q commits
sion to Europe to secure foreign aid in
abandoning it, what has happened
since then to make the American peo-
pie accept it as q blessingi If an in
creased discovery Of gold in Alaska
has been Of any advantage to the
United States, it is but another evi
dence that the cumulative theory Of
money is correct. II a large balance
OF trade in favor OF the United States
gives any relief because of the money
thus brought into the country it is an
additional argument in favor Of the
cumulative theory of money.
"Bi metallists have commended that
times will be made better by the re
turn of the double standard and by the
increased supply of standard money
thus furnished for the business Of the
country.
"While it is unnecessary to discuss
the question Of ratio now, it may not
be out Of place to suggest that 16 to l,
being the ratio at which the present
gold and silver coin circulate, is the
natural ratio at which the mints should
be re opened. To increase the ratio by
increasing the size Of the silver dollar
would necessitate the r~e-coinage of our
present silver dollars into q less mum
Der OF dollars and the increase of the
ratio made throughout the world re
suit in a large decrease in the volume
OF standard money, and since the value
OF a dollar depends upon the number
Of dollars such a change would neces
sarily increase the purchasing power
Of a dollar and Increase the burden of
debts. 1t would be equivalent to a
transfer by Legislation Of a vast amount
Of wealth from the producing classes