The question is, do the people of the United States want these prices
restored?
WE ARE WILLING AS AMERICANS THAT AMERICAN INDUSTRIES AND HOME
COMPETITION SHALL ADJUST PRICES, BUT WE ARE NOT WILLING THAT PRICES OF
LABOR SHALL BE ADJUSTED IN THIS COUNTRY BY AMERICAN WORKMEN ENTERING
INTO COMPETITION WITH THE PAUPERIZED LABORERS OF EUROPE.
From the same reliable statistics and undoubted authority we find that
wages have materially advanced in this country during the last third of
a century. The increase from the old double standard wages of 1860 to
those of 1890, have been no less than 58 per cent, in money, and 72 per
cent, in purchasing power. This does not look very much like a falling
off. I will admit that the price of wheat has declined and declined
rapidly since 1892, but you must remember that Grover Cleveland was
elected president that year and is still in the White House. Give us
back a protection that protects, and we will not only insure abundance
of labor for all our people, but will guarantee that farm products
generally will command better prices. (Applause).
FELLOW CITIZENS, I EARNESTLY BELIEVE THAT "COIN" HARVEY AND ALL THOSE
WHO ARE ADVOCATING THE FREE AND UNLIMITED COINAGE OF SILVER AT THE
UNJUST AND UNTRUE RATIO OF 16 TO 1, AS A NOSTRUM FOR OUR ILLS, ARE
ADVOCATING A THEORY AS MISLEADING AS IT IS WICKED AND UNHOLY. NO THEORY
MORE FALSE WAS EVER ADVANCED OR CALCULATED TO MORE THOROUGHLY DECEIVE
THE EARNEST, INDUSTRIOUS, GOD FEARING PEOPLE OF THIS NATION.
Let us undo the free trade blunder of 1892 and we will hear no more
about the mythical crime of 1873. (Applause.)