Page:Coin's Financial School.djvu/151

Rh to be in her power have been won with the sword. She yields only to force. [Applause.]

"The money lenders in the United States, who own substantially all of our money, have a selfish interest in maintaining the gold standard. They, too, will not yield. They believe that if the gold standard can survive for a few years longer, the people will get used to it—get used to their poverty—and quietly submit.

"To that end they organize international bimetallic committees and say, 'Wait on England, she will be forced to give us bimetallism.' Vain hope! Deception on this subject has been practiced long enough upon a patient and outraged people.

"With silver remonetized, and gold at a premium, not one-tenth the hardships could result that now afflict us. Why? First: it would double the value of all property. Second: only 4 per cent of the business of the people of this nation is carried on with foreign countries; and a part of this 4 per cent would be transactions with silver using nations; while 96 per cent of the business of our people is domestic transactions. Home business. Is it not better to legislate in the interest of 96 per cent of our business, than the remaining 4 per cent?

"We now face the situation and must act. We are similarly situated to the Rocky Mountain bear hunter, when meeting a bear in a level trail on a mountain side, with a cliff on the one hand and a perpendicular precipice on the other. This Rocky Mountain bear hunter could neither dodge to the right or left, and there was no friendly tree near, his only weapon his knife, and no alternative but to fight. "It was to be the bear fight of his life. He knelt down and made this prayer, while the bear looked on with curiosity: