Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-10-15

The following letter, received yester-
day by Mr.. Samuel Bancroft, Jr., from
Ambassador Bayard, fully explains
itself:
The following letter fully explains
itself:
London, Sept. 30, 1S96-My Dear
Mr.. bancroft: IL seems scarcely pos
sible that any one could be in doubt
in relation to my personal opinion upon
the very serious Issues now placed be-
fore our countrymen by the machinery
Of the several political organizations.
The evils which surround us, and the
perils that confront us have not grown
in a night, nor have they come without
warning. The dangers of disregardine
sound financial principles have been
distinctly foretold and reiterated; and
looking over the last 25 years, as rep.
resentative of Delaware in the United
/ States Senate, and AS a citizen discuss.
ing elsewhere public measures and
policies, cannot discern any failure
on my part to speak with absolute
plainnes4 in opposition to the acts of
legislation, and financial and COM
mercial policies which are responsible
for the present porilous and distressing
conditions. In such crisis. language
of reproach, Of elimination and re-
elimination, would be useless, or
worse, and unworthy, but zach man,
upon his own responsibility must ask
and answer the question: Whether
men, collectively or individually, can,
with justice or self-respect, abandon a
Just und viral principle in the hour of
it's exigency, and just when the neces-
sity Of its maintenance is greatest. and
fly from the field when the assault is
fiercest and courage is most needed to
defend the rightY Whether the prin-
ciple is imbedded in the text of the
written charter of our government, or
is found in statutes intended to give
effect to the constitution, the measure
Of duty and fidelity is equal; and in
these seasons of excitement, alarm and
passionate unreason which are almost
inevitable in the history of any nation,
patriotic, sincere and seif-respecting
man will hear and heed the summons,
and will feel the real trial of his soul
to support, in the hour of their dis
tress, the truths he has deliberately
weighed, and ayowed it to be his duty
to sustain for the welfare Of the country
to which his faith and allegiance
have been plighted. When, therefore,
Siubons prOiobbiuB bimboit " 10 d
Democrat is called upon by many, or
by few, to yield his convictions and
assent to tho doctrine that Congress
has the power and can rightfully exer-
else it by its legislative fiat, to create
values, and, regardless of their in .
trinsic or commercial value, to invest
ono or other OF the earth metals with
au arbitrary power as money, and over
ride and alter, at Legislative Will or
caprice, the ratio Of the exchangeability
OF such metals, regardless Of the i'm
| rairment of the obligation of contracts
his answer should be that such a
claim of power is not consistent with
q government OF limited powers, as de-
hned by our Constitution, but contains
the quintessence of tyranny, dishonesty,
anu absolutism; and is destructive of
that morality which is essential to the
poace and stability of civilized society.
II is, i'll plain words, proposition to
destroy the institution of property, and
break down every legal defence for its
protection, e..
Ihis one question, and its answer,
sufficiently Justify jhe prompt and abb
soIute refusal of Constitutional Demo-
cfat to support, in any degree, the
hominecs of the Chicago Convention,
lMessrs. Bryan and SewalD, and the
preposterous claims Of legislative
power contained in their platform,
under which the credit Of the nation,
anu the peace and order of society,
would inevitably perish. On the other
nanu We have the Republican organi
IIatinn, whose measures and whose
iealers have steadily created the
hangers that threaten the country
ahl nave made possible such ticket,
s' smu such propositions as we're pre-
seRted at Chicago.
~, Mhiie compelled to recoi from the
pUiicy OF compulsory purchase and
tt"Ihage of silver as an unlimited legal
unuer, yet it is insistently proposed to
v"anloy and intensity the profound
powers OF public taxation to prohibit
ttHTalmerce with other countries, and
;n.ereny prevent revenue from coming
wh '4 me public treaeury--to lay taxes
cnit. "%,ch shall prevent the payment and
tbmection of other taxes necessary fol
nnw U support OF the government, whose
son''I,s Its are exerted, directly and per.
s' upon eaoh individual uitiHen,