Logansport, IN Speech 2, 1896-10-07

Speech by William Jennings Bryan.

Speech by William Jennings Bryan
Wednesday, October 7, 1896
Convention Hall, Logansport, IN

Source: NO PLEA FOR VOTES, Mr. Bryan Says He Asks but Calm Judgment of Each on His Cause., Omaha World-Herald (Morning Edition), Thursday, October 8, 1896

"[[Illegible]] to address the [[illegible]] of this [[illegible]] and I desire to express my special thanks to those veterans of the war who have so kindly taken part in the exercises today. I say I appreciate the attendance of these war veterans. The [[illegible]] rests of the soldier will be safe in the [[illegible]] of those who are fighting as important a battle today as they fought years ago. (Great cheering.) For, my friends, it is as important to the nation that it shall not be subjected to the dictation of any foreign power, as it is [[illegible]] we shall preserve it as a nation governing ourselves. (Great applause.)

MAY PROVE PATRIOTISM.

[[Illegible]] fact I consider the young men of [[illegible]] who are too young to have shown [[illegible]] love of country upon the battle [[illegible]] consider them fortunate in having an opportunity to prove not only their love of country, but their love of mankind by beating off this invader from abroad, this calamity imported to terminate and destroy the prosperity of our people. (Great applause.) The gold standard is not an American idea. It was never accepted by our people; it was brought into this country in the dark and without discussion and has never in a single campaign received the endorsement of the voters of the United States. (Cheers.) It has been kept here by fraud and deception. They have [[illegible]]sed issues and when the people have discussed the issues and voted on the issues, after the election was over they have got into line for this gold standard idea had taken another step that the people did not contemplate.

[[Illegible]] you people believe that times are [[illegible]] as they could be, if you believe [[illegible]] present financial system is good and ought to be continued, then, my friends, you ought to vote the Republican ticket.

If you are dissatisfied with present conditions, if you are dissatisfied with our present financial policy, if you believe it can be improved, you have got to secure that improvement from those who want to change it, not from those who want to keep it as it is.

...The Republican manager's idea of circulation is to circulate a large amount of money just before election in order to contract the currency right after election. And the Republican manager claims that he [[illegible]]s the advance agent of prosperity. (Laughter). My friends, I am afraid the Chairman of the Republican National Committee is the forerunner of the advance agent of the peculiar form of prosperity that comes just before an election to those who expect to make enough now to run them until the next campaign." (Great cheering.)