The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-24
Bryan's Speech of Acceptance.


Mr.. Chairman and Members of the No
tification Committee:
I'm accepting the Presidential nom
ination which you tender on behalf of
the Populist party l desire to give en-
phatic recognition to the educational
work done by your party. The Populist
party, as an organization and the far
mer alliances and the labor organ: So
tions from which they sprung have done
much to arouse the people to a study
of economic and industrial questions. Be-
l!evng as l do that truth grows not
in seclusion but in the open field and
that it thriyes best in the sunlight of full
and free debate. l have confidence that
the discussion which your party has
compelled will aid in reaching that true
solution of pending problems toward which
all honest citizens aim.
Il desire also to express my deep ap-
probation of the liberality of opinion and
devotion to principle which have led the
members of your party to enter the ranks
of another party in the selection of a can
didate.
And let me pause to say that when
this speech was prepared and given to
the press l did not know that formal an
nouncement Of the resolutions passed by
the Monetary League would be made at
this time, and l desire here to express my
gratitude to the members Of that League
for the support which they promise and
for the cordial commentator which their
resolutions speak. The Monetary League
has for four wears been active in the
distribution of literature connected with
the money question aimed at the enlight-
erment Cf the voters, and have on former
occasions, and now express my commen-
dation of the efforts of this League and
Of similar leagues, to spread before the
people information on the money question,
because l believe the more the question
is studied and the better it is understood,
the stronger will be the demand for the
restoration of the double standard in the
United States. (Great applause).
And now to resume"
'Whle l am grateful for the confidence
which the PoDulists have expressed in
me, l am not vain enough to regard as
personal their extraordinary manifesto
tions of good will. The ties which bind
together those who believe in the same
great financial principles are stronger than
ties of affection-stronger even than the
ties OF blood and cooperation between
the reform forces is due to the fact that
Democrats, Populists and Silver Repub-
licans take the side of the people in
their contest against greed and agree in
the application of Jeffersonian principles
to the questions Immediately before us.
THE MONEY QUESTION.
I'm 1896 the money question was OF
paramount Importance and the allies in
that campaign united in the demand for
the immediate restoration of silver by
the independent action of this country
at 16 to 1, the ratio which had existed
since 1894 They were defeated, but that
did rot end the discussion. The Demo
Gratis were defeated in 1888, but that did
not put an end to tariff reform. The
Republicans were defeated in 1892, but
that did not permanently overthrow the
protective tariff. Defeat at the polls
does not necessarily decide great prob
lem. Experience and experience alone
settles questions. If an increase in the vol
ume OF the currency since 1896, although
unpromised by the Republicans. and un-
expected, has brought improvement in
industrial conditions. this Improvement
instead of answering the arguments put
forth in favor of bimetallism, only con-
firms the contention of those who insisted
that more money would make better
times.
The Republican party, however, while
claiming credit for the increase in cir
culation, makes no permanent provision
for an adequate supply of standard money.
1t denies the necessity for more real
money while it permits national banks TO
expand the volume of paper promises to
pay money
Continued on Second Page.)