The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-04-30
No. So

sally ADMIRED phrases might disn6s'
the war clouds and make line OF
oil battle unnecessary. liz by ssoun&
money you mean aNgotd standard IN b4
did you avoid the ,So-ef the or 60 bfr.
metnllism word gold in your fgf
III by safe currency you meaRy
metallism why did you avoid thpNc
oi the word bi-metailism in yonr)r
| ter? Your letter nowher contain I
direct reference either to the q
standard or to bi-metallism, bpt y
quite replete with expressions white
may mean great deal or nothing, nc
cording to the Interpretation placed
upon them. MA
Your opponents have always. 81, e.
you credit for courageously defining
your position on public questi0ns
viii you prove their confidence well
founded by stating frankly what kind.
OF financial system we shall enjoy IL.
the sound-money sentiment abroad Ia
Tho land succeeds In saving us from
mischief and rdisastcrp Your oppo-
nents oandidly avow their purpose
and clearly outline the legislation
which they desire. Is it not fair 10.
ask that you define your policy With
as much frankness ?
Your opponents favor the free andV
unlimited coinage of gold bullion into
dollars, each containing 25.8 grains of
standard gold. Are you in favor OF
this Your opponents are in favor. Of
the free and unlimited coinage OF sill
yer bullion into dollars, each contain-
ing 4l25 grains Of standard silver.
Are you in favor OF this ? III not, are
you in favor OF the coinage of sflvet
bullion into dollars of any sizeY FL
not In lavor of the free coinage of sfiz
YER, what charge, II any, would youl
make for coinage? If you are not if
favor OF the unlimited coinage. of sit
YER, what limit would you suggest
Your opponents nOs only, belieyf
In the restoration of the free a>fof.-
limited coinage OF both gold a.
YER at the present ratio of sixttso N
one, but they are in favor of t.
this action at once without waiting
the aid or consent OF any other nass
on earth. DO you agree with tn
II not, do you favor the restaaasfs - ~
bi-metallism by International agree1N
mont f-"nn are iD favor of an inter-.
national agreement, what ratio would
you advise and what nations are in8
your opinion necessary to such an
a;sree,ment Ii you favor an interna-
tlonal agreement, how long are YOU
willing TO wait for it? Your oppo-
nents arc in favor of making standard
gold coin and standard silver coin
equally legal tender for all debts,
puolic ana private, and are opposed to
making u silver dollar u promise to
pay gold dollar or gold dollar q
promise to pay Il silver dollar; do you
agree with them?
Your opponents believe that the
free and unlimited coinage OF gold
and silver at the present ratio Of IL to
l by the United States, regardless OF
the action of other nutiOns will uiva
us sound money and safe currency.'
They not only believe this, but they
support their position by arguments
so pausibly presented that even you
are frightened into the belief that the
sound money sentiment must be crys-
tallizcd and combinded and made inn
mediately active in order to prevent
their success at tho polls. Can yuoi =
define your position SO clearly and de- 8
fend it so plausibly taS to scare your
opponents Us badly as they have
scared you? Is the failure OF the gold-~--
advocates to define their pnr-
poses and defend their financial sys-
tenn due to lack of knowledge of the
subject or to an unwilingness to let
the people know what they intend
If the proprities' of your Official place
oblige' you to forcgo the enjoyment
which you would derive from the
writing Of another letter explain ing
your last letter and defining your po-
sitiOn on the financial question ple ase
designate some one who has authOrit v
to speak for you so that the people
may be afforded an intelligent oppor- Z
Lunlty,' as you suggest, to study and ),
decide this now paramount public
question. Yours very truly.
w. j. BRYAN"