The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-08-24
BRYAN ADDRESSES
THE P0PULISTS
CONTINUED from page One,)

dependent upon the seasons for hi.
income. When he plants his crop h,
knows not whether it will be blesseS
with rain or bllghted with drought; h
knows not whether wind will blow 4
down. or hail destroy It, or insects de
YOUR il. and the price OF his crop is a.
uncertain as the quantity. II a private
monopoly can suspend production and
fix the price of raw material as well as
the price OF the finished product. the
farmer. powerless to protect himself
when he sells. is plundered when he
purchases. Can any farmer hesitate tC
throw the influence Of his ballot uron
the side Of those who desire to protect
the public at large from monopolles
The fact that the trusts support the
republican party ought to be sufficient
proof that they expect protection from
il. The republican party cannot be re-
lied upon TO extinyuish the trusts as
long as it draws its campaign contri-
buttons from their overfowing vaults.
The prosperity argument which the
republicans bring forward to answer
all complaints against the administra-
tion will not deceive the farmer He
knows that two factors enter into his
income; first.th size Of his crop. Sec
ond. the price he receives for the same.
He does not return thanks to the party
in POWER for favorable weather and
bountiful harvest, and he knows that
the republican party has no policy
which insures a permanent increase in
agricultural prices. Since he sells his
surplus in foreign market he is not
beneficiary Of the tariff. and since he
produces merchandise and not money
he does not profit by the appreciation
OF the dollar. He knows that the much
vaunted prosperity, Of which he has
never had his share. is on the wane in
spite of the unusual stimulation which
il has received during the last three
years- He knows that each month OF
1890 shows larger number Of failures
than in the corresponding month Of 1880
and that there is already a marked
tendency toward a decreased output Of
the factories. He also knows that dis
covsries Of gold. famines abroad and
war on three continents have not been
able TO raise the price Of farm products
as rapidly as trusts and combinations
have raised the price Of the things
which the farmer buys.
Our opponents have tried TO make
it appear that We are inconsistent
when We desire a general rise in prices
and yet Oppose an arbitrary rise in /
protected manufactures Of trust-made
goods. There is no conflict whatever
between these two propositions. II a |
general rise in prices occurs because Of |
a permanent increase in the volume Of /
money all things adjust themselves to |
the new level. and II the volume OF 1
money then increases in proportion to
the demand for money. the price level
remains the same and business can be
done with fairness to all. II. however,
the rise is arbitrary. and only affects a /
part Of the products Of labor. those
whose products do not participate in
the rise suffer because the purchasing 1
power Of their income is decreased.
II bad monetary system drags down
The price Of the farmers product, while
monopolies raise the price Of what he
buys, he burns the candle at both ends !
and must expect to suffer in COMPARE
son with those who belong to the
classes more favored by legislation. I
1T is sometimes urged by partisan |;
Populists that four years more Of Re- t
publican misrule would so aggrayate :
economic conditions as to make re-
forms easier. No one can afford to 9
ail in making matters worse in the ;
hope Of being able to make them bet +,
ter afterwards, for in so doing he as /,
'umes responsibilities which he may =
not be able to remedy. No Populist, =
however sanguine, believes It possible q
% elect a Populist president at this i,
line. but the Populist party may be =
ible to determine whether a Democrat IL,
lr Republican will be elected. Mr.. h,
Chairman. the Populist convention :,
which your committee represents
hought it better to share with the ;,
Democrats in the honor Of securing
ome Of the reforms desired by your =
'arty, than to bear the odium Of re-
naming neutral in this great crisis. or
4 giving open or secret aid to the Re-
'ublican party which opposes all 5,
he reforms for which the Populists
ontead. =
Those who labor to improve the la
which surround their fellow
Zen are apt to become impatient, but Il
hey must remember that it takes time II
) work out great reforms. Let me II
lustrate by calling your attention to "
le slow growth OF public opinion in b
ippori Of a proposition to which there r,
as been practically no public nppo- Efr
ton. President Johnson. in 1868. rec ia
q constitutional amendment 9,
'oviding for the election Of United
ates senators By direct vote Of the 81