Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-26


fication Committees of the National
Convention of the Populist Party and
the Monetary League, informing him
of his nomination for the Presidency.
The extemporancous portion of Mr.
Bryan's speech was published in the
Virginian-Pilo Of Friday morning
The remainder follows:
Mr.. Bryan, replying to the notifica-
ton by the Populist Notification Com
mittee of his nomination as their
Presidential candidate, said:
Mr.. Chairman and Members of the
Notification Committees:
In accepting the Presidential nomi-
nation which you tender on behalf of
the Populist party. 1 desire to give
emphatic recognition to the education
al work done by your party. The Pop
ulist party, as an organization and
the Farmers Alliance and the labor
organizations from which 1t sprung.
nave done much to arouse the people
TO n study of economic and industrial
questions. Believing as do that truth
grows not in seclusion, but in the open
field, and that 1t thrives best In the
sunlight of full and free debate, I
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
appreciation of the liberality of opin-
ION and devotion to principle which
nave led the members of your party
to enter the ranks of another party in
the selection of n candidate.
E While l am grateful for the conf
dence which the Populists have ex-
pressed in me, am not vain enough
to regard as personal their extraordi-
n q a Inn, ,,f Fr,t--
ties which bind together those who be-
heVe In the same great fundamental
principles are stronger than ties of
observation-disclosures even than the ties
OF blood-and cooperation between the
reform forces is due to the fact that
democrats. Populists and Silver Repub-
llcans take the side for the people in
their contest against greed and agree
In the application of JeffersonIan prin-
ciples to the questions Immediately be-
fore us.
THE MONEY QUESTION.
In 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 coun-
try at l6 to l. the ratio which had ex-
isted since 1884. They dere defeated.
out that did not end the discussion.
inc Democrats were defeated in 1888.
out that did not put an end to tariff
reform. The Republicans were defeat
eu IN 1917, put That did not permanently
overthrow the protective tariff. Defeat
at the polls does not necessarily de-
eide a great problem. Experience and
experience alone settle questions. If
an increase in volume of the currencv
since 1896. although unpromised by the
itepuDllcans and unexpected, has
brought Improvement in Industrial CON
ditions. this Improvement, instead Of
answering the arguments put forth in
Iayor OF bimetallism, only confirms the
contention of those who insisted that
more money would make better times
Inc Republican party. however,
while claiming credit for the increa se
in circulation, makes no pernnanen nt
provision for an adequate supply of
standard money. 1t denies the ncces
sity for more real money, while il per
H m,ts matg9al Banks to expand the
money. P"'
IF the Populists felt justified in OBJ
posing the Republican party when i.
sought to conceal it's gold standard
tendencies under the mask of interna-
tional bimetallism. the opposition
ton as the Republican party more
openly espouses gold monometallism
In 1886 the reform forces charged the
Republican party with intending to re-
tire the greenbacks. This charge, de-
MED at the time, has been confessed NV
the financial bill, which converts green.
backs. when once redeemed, into gold
certificates, and extends new privileges
to banks of issue. If a Populist oD-
posed the Republican party, when it's
hostility to greenbacks was only sus-
pected, that opposition should be
greater now. since no one can longer
doubt the purpose of the Republican
party to substitute bank notes for
srcenbacks.
THE VITAL QUESTION.
"It is true that the Populists believe
in an irredeemable greenback while the
Democrats believe In greenback re-
deemable in coin, but the vital question
at this time, so far as paper money is
concerned, is whether the Government
or banks shall issue it. There will be
time enough to discuss the redeemabil-
ity of the greenbacks, when the green
back itself is saved from the annihf-
lation which now threatens it, The
Republican party is now committed to
currency system, which necessitates
a perpetual debt, while the Populist
finds himself in agreement with the
Democrats who believe in paying off
BILE.
IF belief in an income tax justified
a Populist in acting with the Demo-
cratic party in 1896. what excuse can
he find for aiding the Republican party
now, when even the exigencies of war
have not been sufficient to bring that
party to the support of the income tax
principle?
"Populists believe In arbitration now
as much as they did in 1896, and are
rs much opposed to government by
injunction and the bIacklists as they
were then, and upon these subjects
they have as much reason for coop
Grafton with the Democratic party to-
day as they had four years ago
Democrats and Populists alike ia
vor the principle OF direct legislation