"In a platform many questions are covered, but the election always turns upon some
paramount issue and in this campaign we have declared that the money question is the paramount
issue. If there are other things in which you believe the settlement of those things can be
postponed until after we have met and passed the crisis presented by the advocates of the gold
standard. Our opponents, not we, are responsible for the fact that in this campaign we are engaged
in a battle royal between the money power and the common people. These contests are always brought
about by the aggression of those who seek to use the government as a means of private gain."
FORCED UPON THE PEOPLE.
"All the great questions which have from time to time been forced upon the public have
been forced, not by the many, but by the few, and the struggles have occupied the thoughts of the
people of the new world have been the struggles made by them in self-defense. And so in this
campaign the hosts are being marshaled to resist the aggression of the gold standard.
[...]I were to tell you that a foreign army was coming to attack us or that a foreign
navy was anchored at our g[illegible], I could expect every one of you to join in an effort to
protect your country from invasion. I announce to you that a foreign financial policy has not only
invaded our country, but it has gained a foothold here, and a great national party, the republican
party, has declared that the foreign policy shall remain here until foreigners themselves shall
consent to its retirement. (Applause.) The gold standard idea is an imported idea (applause) and, my
friends, I care not whether you attempt to restrain it by a high tariff or a low tariff, I shall not
be content until it shall be driven back and find no more a home in our midst." (Applause.)
NOT A TEMPORARY FIGHT.
"This contest upon which we are entered is not a temporary fight. Some of our
democratic friends who have worked with us in the past tell us that in this campaign they will
either work with the republicans or stop half way between our ranks and the republican ranks until
they summon enough courage to go to the other half and declare themselves republicans. (Applause.) I
want them to go understanding that they go never to return until they come back in sack cloth and
ashes. (Great applause.) If these men who have ga[illegible] their greatness through the
ho[illegible] given them by the democratic party have an idea that they can
[illegible]n-ra[illegible] the face of the enemy and then be [illegible] back to take command
hereafter they are making a mistake, the greatness of which will increase as the time goes on.
(Applause.) This is no temporary disagreement. Those who leave the democratic party today, leave
democracy and can never excuse themselves hereafter." (Great applause.)