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Commoner.
The
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER.
Vol. 4t No. 29.
Lincoln, Nebraska, August 5, 1904.
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Whole Number 185
Mr. Bryan's Speeches During Closing Hours of
Following is Mr. Bryan's first speech on the
last night of the St. Louis convention, delivered
while Judge Parker's telegram was under discus
sion: Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the conven
tion: I do not know whether I can make myself
heard by you. I was informed that some action
was being aken here vand I came over.
I understand that you have received a tele
gram from the candidate, which has been read
to you, and which I have yead, and that a motion
has been made to send back a reply, and that
the question now is on the resolution directing the
sending of this reply. H
I wish to state the facts in this matter and
then to make a suggestion.
We had a protracted session of the committee
on resolutions. Wov sixteen iours we were in
session .the last time. When the platform was re
ported from the subcommittee it contained the
gold standard plank of which you know. It was
discussed in committeo. It was stated by mem
bers that it would be unfortunate to insert the
plank, and finally, by a vote of thirty-five to fif
teen the gold plank was excluded.
I then introduced some separate resolutions.
I had previously introduced a resolution reaf
firming the Kansas City platform. That was
voted down. When we refused to declare In
fayor. of the , gold standard and refused to re
affirm the Kansas City platicrm, we left the
question open as to the monetary standard,
I called attention to the fact that there were
certain questions before congress upon which we
ought to express an opinion. I called attention
to the fact that a bill had been reported by a
committee authorizing the melting of silver dol
lars into subsidiary coin at thq discretion pf the
secretary of the treasury. I pointed out that the
purpose of the bill was to gradually melt up the
silver dollars and recoin them Into subsidiary
coin of limited legal tender. I pointed out that
the purpose of the bill was to decrease tne amount
of standard money just to the extent of the melt
ing of the coin. But the committee refused to
adopt it, saying that, as we had left the gold
and silver question out entirely, we ought not by
any suggestion to bring any phase of the money
question into the campaign.
I Introduced a resolution declaring our oppo
sition to any contraction of the currency by the
melting or retirement of any or the silver dol
lars. They objected that that brought In the ques
tion. I scratched out "silver dollars" and made
it read that we objected to the contraction of the
volume of metallic money. They said that the
words "metallic money" might bring In the sil
ver question. I scratched out "metallic money"
and put In "standard money" that we were op
posed to the contraction of the volume of stand
ard money; but they said: "We cro not want to
bring the money question In at all."
I then proposed a resolution condemning the
asset currency, and called attention to the fact
that it had no connection with the silver question,
but they said that if we touched on any phase of
the money question, It would bring in all of It.
I called attention to the fact that we had to
meet this issue; that we had to have either a
perpetual debt or an asset currency, if we had
the national banks of issue. But they were so
anxious to get harmony and bring the party to
gether that we might fight this battle as a unit,
that they were not even willing to declare against
an asset currency and branch banks.
I then proposed a resolution declaring that
the United States notes furnished better money
than the national bank notes. I was trying to get
a declaration on that principle which has no con
nection with the silver question, out has a con-
the Convention
nection with a vital, living, throbbing question.
But they saidi "In the interest of harmony we
must leave that out," and thus every proposition
on our side was voted down, ana they put it oh
the ground that as the gold proposition on their
side had been voted down, no phase of the ques
tion should be touched.
When wo came to read over tne flnal draft
I found that, inadvertently, a phrase had been
used in the last paragraph whicn might raise
this question. Here Is the paragraph:
"But also the active assistance or all of our
fellow citizens, who disregarding past differences
upon questions no longer in issue," etc.
I moved to strike out "upon questions no
longer in issue," on the ground that t was a dec
laration that the money question wag settled, and
substantially a declaration for the gold standard.
On motion in that committeo it was fltricken out,
and here (exhibiting) is the official draft of the
platform with those words stricken out. 1 find
that copies had been given out to the newspapers
before this correction was made, and as tho plat
form appears in tho papers those words (the
Words stricken out) are in it.
The committee took every precaution to keep
this question out, and now I understand it is
proposed that we shall make a declaration In this
telegram that:
"The platform adopted by tnrs convention is
silent upon the question of the monetary stand
ard because it is not regarded by us as a possible
issue in this campaign, and only campaign Issues'
are mentioned in tho platform. Therefore there
is nothing in the views expressed by you in the
telegram just received which would preclude a
man entertaining them from accepting a nomina
tion on said platform."
In the committee I asked Senator Hill if he
lenew Mr. Parker's views on the gold standard.
He said he did not; that he had never talked
with him on that subject, and that he did not
know his views upon It. Now, my mends, if you
send this "telegram and say that this question Is
no longer an issue, you simply say it is settled
on the gold standard side; and I Insist that if
you are going to declare for the gold standard,
you should be honest and manly and say so in
the platform. (Applause.)
Senator Tillman has said that we all know
where Mr. Parker stands; that we all knew in the
committee. How did we know? Only by his si
lence. That was the only way. Judging by his si
lence, I believed he was for tho gold standard,
and I have insisted for months that he ought
to state his position, so that the American people
could sit in judgment upon it. and not enter a
convention blindfolded on this subject. (Ap
plause.) If this convention will adopt a plank declar
ing that the gold standard has been, established
In this country and Is accepted, I shall offer no
objection to the plank except to vote against it.
(Applause.)
But I appeal to you to be candid with tho vot
ers of this country. (Applause.) I appeal to you
to take them into your confidence. If there Is
any objection to our saying this plainly, why
should we say it by inference; and if you say that
you are willing to say this In regard to the gold
standard because it is settled, then I insist, that
having entered upon the money question, you shall
say in the platform whether or not the party
favors the molting up of tho silver dollars, wheth
er it favors the asset currency, tne branch banks,
and tho national bank currency. (Apiauso.) And
if tho convention does not want to do this; if it
wants simply to send this telegram, then I Insist
that if wo are going to tell Mr. Parker that his
vlows are unimportant on this question, becauso
It is not an issuo, wo shall tell him that his views
are important on those other phases of the finan
cial question which are before tho country. (Ap
plause.) Mr.'B. F. Pettlgrow of South Dakota: May I
ask the gentleman from Nebraska a question?
Mr. Bryan: Certainly.
Mr. Pettigrew: As I recollect the telegram of
Judge Parker, it practically says that the gold
standard is irrevocably established and ho would
veto any bill to disturb It. I want to know if his
language would admit of any other Interpreta
tion? Mr. Bryan: The words "flrrmy ana irrevo
cably" may mean that thorc Is no
Mr. Pettigrew: He says he will act accord
ingly if he is elected.
Mr. Bryan: Yes "irrevocably established,
and (1) shall act accordingly." If ho means that
it is established boyond the. power or the Amer
ican people to change It, I would deny it, for the
American people havo the right to fix their stand
ard and to change it whenever thoy please. (Ap
plause.) If, however, ho simply means that, so
far as ho is concerned, ho is opposed to any
change, and that ho wauts to go into the office
with flBc understanding that all the influence of
the exeetlvo will be used to prevent any change
In the standard, then I understand it to mean
that If president, and having the veto power which
enables him to override anything less than two
thirds of both houses, he will use that power even
if the majority of the people want to caange the
standard. (Applause.)
I am sorry that this question ever arose. I
joined in the report of tho platform committee
because I wanted harmony. I joined In it because
I wanted to put a united party back of our can
didate. I think it is a manly thing for a man to
express his opinion before tho convention ad
journs; but It would have been manlier to have
expressed it before tho convention met. (Ap
plause.) It is a manly thing to express his opinion
before the delegates act finally upon his position,
but it would have been a manlier thing had he
expressed his opinion before the voters through
out the country went to their caucuses and their
primaries and sent instructed delegates here.
(Applause.)
We can not be blamed for tho Injection of
this question at this time. It Is the Judge's fault
that he did not speak sooner, ano not our fault
He has been invited to speak on numerous and
sundry occasions. It is not our fault that this
question was ever raised. Hier friends brought the
gold plank Into the committee and tried to make
it a part of tho platform; but, having been offered
and having been stricken out and the convention
having acted, I am not willing to send this naked
statement to him, and thereby write Into our plat-,
form a plank that we intended to leave out of the
platform. (Applause.)
I shall, therefore, oppose this telegram, or
possibly as amendments must be acted on first,
I will propose some amendments to the telegram,
and then if the motion to send the telegram is
defeated, you can propose your gold standard
plank and let the convention vote upon it. If the
gold standard is right, why run from It? (Ap
plause.) If It is good, why bo afraid of It? and
if it Is bad enough to scare you out of putting it
in your platform, It is bad enough to leave out,
either directly or indirectly. (Applause.) -.
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