The bommerang; or, Bryan's speech with the wind knocked out

Preface

The Democratic leaders, including Mr. Bryan, rest their cause on Mr. Bryan's speech, delivered August 12, 1896, in Madison Square Garden. They pronounce it a clear, forcible, exhaustive exposition of the cause of free silver, and a complete vindication of the Chicago platform. These leaders ought to know whether this speech rightly represents them or not. Taking this for granted, we may assume that a successful refutation of this speech is the end of the whole matter. All earnest seekers after truth should feel grateful, therefore, that the Democratic creed has been thus crystallized and made accessible to the investigator.

It is thought no more than fair that the people at large and the different classes of people whose interests are especially referred to, should, in a sort of symposium, exchange ideas with Mr. Bryan. It is therefore as if they said, " Come, let us reason together."

It will be observed that the full text of the

6 PREFACE

speech is given, in the order of its delivery, without modification ; therefore the lack of logical sequence in discussion is chargeable to Mr. Bryan.

The smaller type will be used for Mr. Bryan's speech and the larger for the replies by all the supposed characters, thus enabling the reader readily to review the speech itself both independently of and in conjunction with the dialogue.

Attention is invited especially to the following points :

First. The quarrel between Democrats and Republicans, according to the representative platforms of both parties, is based not upon the money question alone, but upon the tariff as well. The question is not " which is best, free silver or sound money?" but "which is best, free silver and free trade, or sound money and protection ? "

Second. Every voter should take into consideration the motive which prompts a leader of a new cause in his claim for patronage —

" The same ambition can destroy or save, And makes a patriot as it makes a knave."

Third. When a new political proposition is urged for consideration, and when its success

PREFACE 7

threatens to shake to its foundation the existing order of things, all national precedent and all sense of justice and self-preservation would demand that the leader of the new proposition prove his claim beyond any reasonable doubt.

If Mr. McKinley and Mr. Bryan are the opposing advocates in the trial of political wisdom, then the voters who constitute the jury have a right to throw the burden of proof upon Mr. Bryan ; it is not incumbent upon the Republican party to prove the fallacy of the Democratic theory, though not a difficult task ; it needs only to insist that the Democratic party prove the zvisdom of that theory.

Therefore in Mr. Bryan's speech we must look beyond mere assertion, or hope, or belief ; we have a right to expect proof positive.

If ridicule must be resorted to in discussing some of the corollaries of Mr. Bryan's theory, in all seriousness, it should be remembered that where one of the parties to a controversy refusing to meet the other upon the common plane of axiomatic truth, insists upon an illogical and unsound premise, as Mr. Bryan frequently does, then it is impossible to conduct discussion in serious mood ; but it is hoped that the reader will at no time lose sight of the grave truth which it may be necessary to clothe in levity.

8 PRE FA CE

The object in sending forth this volume is not to startle the reader with new and original arguments. The fallacy of free silver is so old that the field of debate concerning it has been well cultivated. In fact, so much has been written about it that, upon any but the close student, the effect is rather bewildering than enlightening. It is hoped, however, that the manner herein adopted of popularizing and condensing the arguments as affecting each class of society and society as a whole will render the subject attractive, and will enable many readers to sum up the evidence on both sides, and the more easily and surely to arrive at a correct and therefore a patriotic decision.

J. S. B.