The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-16
Then He Denounced Gold Democrats
as Traitors and Said They
should Never Come Back.
NOW HOLDS OUT OLIVE BRANCH
IN 1896 BRYAN PROPHESIED -FOUR
YEARS OF HARD TIMES.
In His Speeches Now He Has Nothing
to Say of the Present Era
of Prosperity.

on the silver question in 1896 possess added
interest at this time on account OF his re-
markable silence upon the issue, which
would seem equally as important now as
il was four years ago, in view of the posi-
tive reaf1rmance of the Chicago platform
by the Kansas City convention, at Mr.. Bry-
ans emphatic dictation. The Journal has
been at considerable trouble in collecting
certain of Mr.. Bryan's declarations in 1896
concerning the paramount Importance of
the issue of free coinage. They are given
below, together with the places at which
they were made.
In an address delivered in Schlitz Park,
Milwaukee, the evening of Sept. 5. 1896. Mr..
Bryan said, as reported by the indianapolis
Sentinel of the following morning:
TT Republican party in it's platform
expressly states that the financial policy
Of this Nation must be determined by
foreign nations rather than ours. The plat
form says that the Republican party
pledges itself to secure international BIZ
metallism as soon as possible. Until that
can be done we must maintain a gold
standard. What does that mean? 1t means
that bimetallism is better than a gold
standard and that we cannot have that bet
ter thing until the leading commercial ma
tions shall consent to its adoption. Does
1t say that we must bear the affection or
a gold standard for a year? No; they do
not limit it to a year. For four years? No:
they do not limit it to four years. How
long? According to the Republican plat
form we must bear the affiiction of a gold
standard forever. if foreign nations insist
upon it,"
SPEECH OF ACCEPTANCE OF 1896.
Mr.. Bryan said some interesting things in
the speech which he made at his home in
Lincoln, Neb., Sept. s, 1896, accepting the
presidential nomination of the Silver Re-
publicans. rendered by George A. Groot, of
Ohio. Among other things he said:
MY convictions upon this subject Ifree
silverl are not shallow convictions. / may
be in e~rror-none of us can claim infallibili-
ty-but l believe that the gold STANDARD is
a conspiracy against the human race. 1
would no sooner Join the ranks of those
whose purpose IL is TO fasten that upon
the American people than TO enlist in an
army that was marching to attack my
home and destroy my family. L say. there
fore, that l can appreciate the spirit which
animated those who have just rendered me
this second nomination. L pledge myself,
IL elected, they shall never have cause to
accuse me Of being false TO that PLATFORM
The Sentinel of Sept. 10, 1896, contains Mr..
Bryan's letter to Hon. Stephen NJ. White
and others, members of the notification
committee of the Democratic national con-
{ %vention, accepting formally the nomination
for President. In that letter Mr.. Bryan
) said the following:
Tremendous results will follow the ac-
ton taken by the United States on the
money question and delay is impossible.
The people OF this Nation, sitting as a high
/ court, must render judgment in the cause
which greed is prosecuting against hu.
e manity. The decision will either give hope
. and inspiration to those who toll or shut
i, the doors of mercy on mankind In the
s presence of this overshadowing issue, diff
ferences upon minor questions must be laid
r aside in order that there may be united ac-
i ton among those who are determined that
progress shall be made and the gold and
silver coinage of the Constitution restored
AT Concoridia Park, ST. Louis, the even.
: ing of Sept. IL. 1896. Mr.. bryan said:
. IF the gold standard is wrong, as / be.
lieve it is, there will be agitation until we
get rid of it. If bimetallism is right, as
: believe it is. there will be agitation until II
In Phoenix Hill Park, Louisville. twe
evenings later, Mr.. Bryan uttered the fol.
lowing:
II believe, my frineds, that the Chicaee
platform presents the policies which will be-
y best for the people of this country. L be.
/. lieve that those policies, put into law, will
! bring blessings TO the American people, ant
! L call your attention to the fact that in thi.
campaign the lines are drawn between plu,
tocracy and democracy. In a fight between
. plutocracy and democracy there is no mid
Il liz -nry1 Thew tho ~ 80 90
n against U.S."
SPEECH AT ASHEvILLE.
When his swing around the circle
= brought him to Asheville, N. c., the .'Boy
Orator from the Platte perpetrated the
d following on the people Of that city:
: They told US that we must not disturb
! the harmony of the party. Every time We
made speeches in favor of the free coinage
of silver we were told that we were dis.
turbing the harmony of the party. AND
. If we spoke emphatically they tried TO read
I us out of the party. They called us every.
d thing and tried to make us pledge our.
selves to abide by the decision at Chica &c
before we could go into the convention
e L for one told them that whenever they
c would bring a pledge that the Gold Stand
ard Democrats would take il would h.
time enough 10 ask Free Silver Democrat,
s to make pledges. / stated in answer 20 ar
c inquiry that l would not support for pres.
5 ident a man who would in the presidential
! chair continue the present financial polio,
and mortgage the United States TO English
bondholders."
; At Raleigh. N. c., Sept. II, Mr.. Bryan
\ said:
e My friends, when certain ministers a.
d the gospel denounce the great masses ~
S people who stand behind free COMA 90
, when these ministers have denounced thes.
q advocates OF free coinage and have taker
their places upon the side of these grea
r. aggregates of wealth, / remind them tina
II when our Savior was here IL was the com
mon people who heard Him g~ladlv-rh,
very people whom these ministers fo-da,
call Anarchists and Socialists. This none,
!, question is n question which concerns ever,
one of you and you have a right TO con
slider what has been done and what Will n,
done and decide whether you want 70 SIM
port the present financial policy or NOT
When prices are falling and money is ris
A ing a man can better afford TO lock hi
money up in a vault and gain the rise tina
e invest his money in property not wort
having. and everybody is trying 10 tur,
h properly into money. And while the col,
standard lasts that condition must remai,
: and times must be hard. and hard time
!. mean more idle men and more destitut
men. and more destitute men means AT las
: more criminal men, and yet the gold stand
ard men appeal TO the ministers 10 increas
crime.
: VARYING VIEWS.
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