Milford chronicle., 1896-10-16
Bayard's Timely Letter.

Wilmington, Del, Oct. l2-The following
letter was received yesterday by Samuel Ban
croft, Jr., from Ambassador Bayard:
London, Sept 30, ls96.-My dear Mr.. Ban
croft 1t seems scarcely possible that any
one should be in doubt in relation to my per-
sonal opinion upon the very serious issues
now placed before our oountrymen by the
machinery of the many political Organiza-
tions. The evils which surround us, and the
perils that confront us have not grown in a
night, nor have they come without warning.
MEMS CONVICTIONS MUST BE HONEST.
The dangers of disregarding sound finan-
cial principles have been distinctly foretold
and reiterated; and, looking over the last
twenty-five years, as representative of Del
aware in the United States Senate, and as
citizen discussing elsewhere public measures
and policies, can scarcely discern any fall
ure on my part to speak with absolute plain
ness in oppOsiOn to the acts of legislation
and financial and commercial policies which
are responsible for the present perilOus and
distressing condions.
In such crisis, language OF reprOach, of
elimination and recrimination, would be
useless, or worse and unworthy; but each
man upon his own responsibility must ask
and answer the question, whether men, col
lectively or individually, can, with justice or
self-respect, abandon a just and vital prinei-
pal in the hour OF its exigency, and just when
the necessity of its maintenance is greatest,
and fly from the field, when the assault is
fiercest and encouragement is most needed
to defend the right.
TIME FOR PATRIOTISM.
Whether the principle is imbedded in the
text OF the written charter of our Govern
ment, or is found in statutes intended to give
effect to the Constitution, the measure OF
duty and fidelity is equal and in these sea-
sons Of excitement, alarm and passionate
unreason which are almost inevitable in the
history of any nation, patriotic, sincere
and self-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 avowed it to be his duty to sustain for
the welfare Ofthe country to which his faith |
and allegiance have been plighted.
CREATION OF FICTITIOUS VALUES
When, therefore, a citizen, progressing |
himself himself to be Democrat, is called |
upon by many, or few, to yield his convic-
tions and yield to the doctrines that Congress 1
has the power or can rightfully exercise 1t
by its legislative fiat to create values, and re-
gardless Of their iptrlsnc or commercial
value to invest one or other OF earth metals
with an arbitrary power as money, and over
ride and alter, at legislative will or caprice'
The ratio OF the exchange ability OF such met
ais, regardless OF the impairment OF the OBJ
legation Of contracts, his answer should be
hat such claim of power is not consistent
With government OF limited powers as de-
lined by our Constitution, but contains the
luintessence Of tyranny, dishonesty, and alb
Oluteism, and is Obstructive Of that moral
ty which is essential to the peace and stabil=
ty of civilized society. 1t is in plain words
proposition to destroy the institution Of
property and break down every legal defense
or its protection.
JUSTIFIED IN REFUSING BBYAN.
This one question and its answer sufficient
y justify the prompt and absolute refusal iOf
constitutional Democrat to support, in any
egree, the nominees Of the Chicago COnven-
ion (dessrs. Bryan and sewalD, and the pre-
osterous claims of legislative power con-
aimed in their platform under which the ]
redit Of the nation and the peace and order
( society would inevitably perish. on the 7
ther hand, we have the Republican oFgani-
alton, whose measures and whose leaders
ave steadily created the dangers and threat :;
ned the country and have made possible
Ich ticket and such propositions as were
resented at Chicago.
DANGERS OF PROPOSED TAXATION.
While compelled to recoil from the policy
compulsory purchase and coinage of sill
sr as an unlimited and legal tender, yet it
insistently proposed to employ and inten-
fy the profound powers Of public taxation,
prohibit commerce with other countries,
Id thereby prevent revenue from coming
to the public treasury-to lay taxes which =,
all prevent the payment and collection Of '
her taxes necessary for the support Of the
e Government, whose powers are exerted n
rsctly and personally, upon each individ-
J citizen, and over every part OF land and y
iter within its national boundaries.
UNEQUAL LIBERTY
Every constitutional Democrat can truly
ply to such propositions that they are \
iught with such gross inequity between
IN and man as is inconsistent with public u
ety, because it employs the most far-reach-A
: and sovereign power known to govern
mt to impOverish the worker and poorer ~ {
'mbers of society twho form Ire great ND " Nj
rieai maiorityl and aggraDdize those al
-..sa. ..ra =