Indianapolis, IN Speech 2, 1896-10-06

Speech by William Jennings Bryan.

Speech by William Jennings Bryan
Tuesday, October 6, 1896 at 4:30pm
Tomlinson Hall Balcony, Indianapolis , IN

Source: BREAK ALL RECORDS, Crowds at Indianapolis Greater Than Any Yet Addressed by Mr. Bryan, Omaha World-Herald (Morning Edition), Wednesday, October 7, 1896

"I find in the state of Indiana the Republicans are circulating an editorial which appeared in the Omaha World-Herald about four years ago. It was an editorial which criticized pensions and pension appropriations, and it was stated in the circular that it was my language, because I was the editor of the paper. But, my friends, I need not tell you—because you have probably been told before—that that editorial appeared in the World-Herald about two years before I had any connection with the paper." (Cheers.)

NOT THE SOLDIER'S ENEMY.

"There is no reason why any soldier who believes in the principle set forth in the Chicago platform should vote against the nominee of that convention. If there are soldiers who are opposed to the principles set forth in the Chicago platform they will be found opposing the ticket just as anybody else will oppose the ticked who is opposed to the policies supported by the nominees. But there is no reason why any soldier, who believes in the right of this nation to have a financial policy of its own, should oppose any man nominated on the Chicago platform.

My friends, when I hear these financiers appealing to the soldiers and telling them, the free coinage of silver would hurt the soldier, I cannot but wonder when the financiers became so much interested in the welfare of the soldier. (Cheers. A voice, "It's a Republican scheme all the time.")

The soldiers who went through the war will distinctly remember that when they wer eout fighting in the field the financiers were making laws, and they will remember the financiers so made the laws that the man who furnished the money was paid back in gold, while the man who risked his life was paid in greenbacks. (Cheers. A voice, "Worth 40 cents on the dollar.")

The gentlemen suggests that they were worth 40 cents on the dollar. He is right. The men who are now so much afraid the soldier will receive his pension in 50-cent dollars were not afraid to pay him for his services in 40-cent dollars." (Cheers.)

WILL WORK BOTH WAYS

"My friends, if the soldier looks at the money question merely from the standpoint of his own interest, he must remember that his pension is only property and that if he legislates the value of the dollar up, while he raises the purchasing power of his pension, he will decrease the value of whatever property he has, and if he finds that he can benefit himself by raising the purchasing power of his pension, he must remember that he is condemning his children and his children's children to the injustice of a gold standard."