The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-09
A RUSE OF THE BANKERS
BRYAN Points Out the Fallacies of
the Gold Standard.
The Advocate of BimcinlIism Lays
stress Upon the Ainrm of Wall
street nt Enslnnd's Rcverses -
Notable Gathering Of Leaders ut
the JacksoniRn Club Banquet.

OMAHA. Neh.. Jan. S.--The Jackscrian
Club banquet this evening at the Paxton
Hotel brought together notable ar
ray of political talent. Nearly every
State IN the Union contributed one or
more prominent men. and Bryan was the
hero OF the occasion. G. NJ. Hitchcock,
whom Bryan. il was said, defeated for ap-
pointment of Senator recently, was toast
master. Whether the appointment of Mr..
Hitchcock by the Jacksonians was intend
ed as an evidence OF resentment against
Bryan is not known. but there was no sign
OF ill-fceling anywhere.
Bryan occupied the position of honor.
on the right, and was flanked by ex-Gov-
ernor Hcgg. of Texas; Governor Thomas,
of Colorado; David Oyermeyer, of Kansas:
Congressman Carmsck, of Tennessee;
Willis J. Abbott, of Chicago, and other
notables. Three hundred guests sat down
at 3 o'clock. and the speaking continued
until long past midnight. The toasts and
responses were: Welcome" President
Smith; History Repeats Itself" David
oyermeyer; "Democracy's New Year" A.
J. Weaver; Imperialism" Congressman
E. ". Carmack; THE Press" W. J. Alb
bolt; The Jacksonian Club" w. o. Gill
bert, and 1.-The Nation" Mr.. Bryan.
Mr.. Bryan said in part:
There is proverb which runs like this:
The wise man foreseeth the evil and
hideth himself, but the foolish pass Gu AID
are punished Those who studied the
money question in 1896 foresaw the danger
threatened by the gold standard and point
cd on1 hat ffQ pcfa hi La bTnp
would involve us in every financial dis
turbance occurring in Europe, but the
bankers were for the most part blind TO the
warnings. What do we see now? Not
withstanding the increased production of
gold. few victories won by the Beers in
South Africa have alarmed the same bank
ers and they are now fearing panic unless
England is Immediately successful. Their
financial interest in England's triumph is
so great that many of them have silenced
their sympathy for a struggling republic
and are hoping for the extension of the
authority of a Queen.
If such a situation results from a war
between England and a little Republic,
what must We expect il war ever breaks
out between two gold-standard countries
of the first class? without financial in
dependence this nation cannot be indie
pendent either in its foreign or its domestic
policy. yet the Republican party is even
now preparing TO chain America, like a
captive, to Europe's golden chariot. Those
who studied the money question in 1896
also foresaw that the retirement of the
greenbacks was part of the god-standard
plan Many Republicans secuted at the
idea, and the President avoided any men
tion of the matter in his letter of accept
ancei but now the scheme is being un-
folded and the fnanciers are 10 be en-
powered to expand or contract the currency
at their own will and for their own Pc
cuDiary advantage.
Those VINO studied the trust question of
1886 foressw that an Administration placed
in power by the aid OF great monopolies
could not be relied upon to destroy the
trusts, but many who would not be con-
WINGED by argument are now being con-
WINGED by the rapid growth and increased
audacity OF private monopolies.
Any one who has read history or under
stands human nature knows that one race
cannot cross an ocean and dominate another
race without keeping an army ever present
to hold the conquered race in subjection
and yet the Republican leaders thought. Or
pretended TO think. that an imperial policy
would be accepted by the Philippines with
delight. English rule in India is only toll
Grated because 1000 British soldiers stand
ready to resist any attempt upon the part
OF the natives to secure self-goyernment.
England dares not send her India soldiers
TO South Africa for fear OF another Sepoy
mutiny.
Under a colonial system the imperial
government cannot safely educate the sub
5ect because his desire for freedom in
creases with his intellectual development.
The decision of the nation on the Philip
pine question win be an epoch making de-
cision. We stand at the parting of the
ways and must choose between the doc
trine OF Republics and the doctrine of
empire