The record-union., 1896-09-10
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYANS
LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE

lStraLlOn Oh the GONeFuHleHC. In deter
! mining what appropriations are neces-
sary the interest of those who pay the
| taxes should be considered rather than
the wishes Of those who receive or dis
burse public moneys.
BONDS
An increase In the bonded debt of the
| United States at this time is entirely
without excuse. The issue Of interest
bearing bonds within the last few years
has been defended on the ground that
they were necessary to secure gold with
/, which to redeem United States notes
and Treasury notes, but this necessity
has been imaginary rather than real.
Instead of exercising the legal right
vested in the United States to redeem
its coin in either gold or silver, the ex-
ecutive branch Of the Government has
followed a precedent established by
former Administration and surrendered
the option to the holder of the obliga-
tions. This administrative policy leaves
the Government at the mercy of those
who find a pecuniary profit in bond
issues. The fact that the dealers in
money and securities have been able to
deplete or protect the Treasury accord
ing to their changing whims shows how
dangerous it is to permit them to exer-
else a controlling influence over the
Treasury Department. The Government
Of the United States, when admins
tered in the interest Of all the people,
| is able to establish and enforce it's
financial policy, not only without the
aid Of syndcates, but in spite Of any
opposition which syndicates may pre-
sent. To assert that the Government
ye- Il l.
sistance Of any portion of the people
| other than a constitutional majority,
is to assert that we have a Government
in form but without vital force.
NATIONAL BANK CURRENCY.
The position taken by the platform
against the issue Of paper money by
national banks is supported by the
highest Democratic authority, as we'll
as demanded by the interests Of the
people. The present attempt Of the
national banks to force the retirement
of United States Treasury notes In or
der to secure basis for larger issue
Of their own notes, illustrates the dam
ger which arises from permitting them
to issue their paper as a circulating
medium. The national bank note, be
ing redeemable in lawful money, has
never been better than the United
States note, which stands behind it,
and yet the banks persistently demand
that those United States notes which
draw no interest shall give place to
interest bearing bonds in order that the
banks may collect the interest which
the people now save. To empower ma
tional banks to issue circulating notes
is to grant a valuable privilege to a
favored class, surrender to private cor
porations the control over the volume
of paper money and build up class
which win claim a vested interest in
the Nations financial policy. Our
United States notes commonly known
| as greenbacks being greaeemablei in either
gold or silver, at the option of the Gov
ernment and not at the option Of the
holder, are safer and cheaper for the
people than national bank notes based
upon interest-bearing bonds.
MONROE DOCTRINE.
A dignified but firm maintenance Of
the foreign policy first set forth by
President Monroe and reiterated by the
Presidents who have succeeded him, in
stead Of arousing hostility abroad, is the
best guarantee of amicable relations
with other nations It is better for all
resist any extension Of European au-
thority in the western hemisphere
rather than invite the continual irrita-
| ton which would necessarily result
from any attempt to increase the influ-
ence Of monarchical institutions over
that portion of the Americas which had
| been dedicated to republican govern
ment.
pENCT0NS
| No nation can afford to be unjust to
| its defenders. The care of those who
have suffered injury in the military and
naval service Of the country is a sacred
duty. A nation, which, like the United
| States, relies upon voluntary service
rather than upon large standing army,
| adds to it's own security when it makes
a generous provision for those who have
risked their lives in its defense and for
| those who are dependent upon them.
| THE PRODUCERS OF WEALTH.
| Labor creates capital Until wealth
! is produced by the application of brain
! and muscle to the resources Of this
country there is nothing to divide among
the non-producing classes Of society.
| Since the producers of wealth create
the nations prosperity in time of peace
1
peril, their interests ought at all times
to be considered by those who stand in
| official positions. The Democratic
party has ever found its voting strength
| among those who are proud to be
| known as the common people, and it
| pledges itself to propose and enact such
| legislation as is necessary to protect
| the masses in the free exercise Of every
| political right and in the enjoyment of
| their Just share Of the rewards of their
| labor
| ARBITRATION.
| / desire to give special emphasis to
| the plank which recommends such
| legislation as is necessary to secure the
| arbitration of differences between en-
/ ployers engaged in interstate commerce
and their employees. Arbitration is not
new idea-it is simply an extension of
the court Of justice. The laboring men
of the country have expressed a desire
for arbitration, and the railroads can
not reasonably object to the decisions
rendered by an impartial tribunal. So
ciety has an interest even graver than
/ the interest of employer or employe, and
| has right to protect itself by courts of
arbitration against the growing incon-
venience and embarrassment occa-
stoned by disputes between those who
own the great arteries of commerce on
the one hand, and the laborers who op-
crate them on the other.
| IMMIGRATION.
/ While the Democratic party welcomes
| to the country those who come with love
for our institutions, and with the de-