The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-01
THE GROUND or AGREEMENT

Mr. W. J. Bryan is going about tell
ing people i'm every quarter Of the coun-
try that there is one issue involved in
the pending canvass Of paramount inn
portance and that AN other issues are
comparatively insignificant. I'm other
words. Mr. Bryan urges the sufragcs
of the United States 10 vote for him II
they agree with him in regard 70 the
money question Thousands of old DEM
ocrats are earnestly opposing the election
OF Mr.. Bryan on that very ground.
The money question g. in itself one OF
enormous Importance. but Mr.. Bryan's
proposed solution involves a fundamental
reconstruction of Democratic doctrine.
and its acceptance would carry with IL
Reputation of principles which the
Democratic party has hitherto considered
essential TO the right conduct of the Fed
oral Government and distinctive Of its
own attitude I'm national politics.
IL has always been the Democratic idea
in the United States that national devel-
opmcnt should be determined by inii-
yidual initiative. that individual genius
should have free course. and that the
power of government, whether of the
separate States or OF the nation, should
be exercised in the protection OF pcr-
sOnal rights 20 the utmost limit of their
conformity with the general interest 10
was never supposed or intended by the
men who ade and adopted the C0nstitu-
tion of the United States that &C. in-
VOWED anything more than a political
effect To was never imagined bv the
makers of that instrument that govern
ments could or ought 90 invade the mar
kcts for the enrichment OF individuals
There was always iu their view clear
distinction between business and politics.
and the most visionary among them new
er dreamed that any Qt cstion of value
could be settled by governmental de-
cree. They all believed that thing
was worth simply what 80 would bring
In The markets OF the world. and no
one even remotely succ ostcd that ratio
would be arbitrarily fixed between gold
and silver ana more easily. logically or
Justly between wheat and rye. Tho ant
thors OF the first coinage law of the
United States sought the advice Of rec
ognized experts. and their whole anxiety
was TO discover The commercial ratio be-
tween gold and silver They did not
Inquire what was the limit of their con-
sututonal authority. They consulted
men OF learning and experience only TO
learn what was practicable. IL never
occurred 10 them that they must accept
the ruling ratio in the markets Of the
world because the Government Of the
United States was then comparatively
weak but they adopted the ratio OF Is TO
! because they were led to believe that
1t had been determined by the course OK
trade ana was likely TO prove permonent
The Bryan Democracy occupies an ex-
actly opposite standpoint. 1t holds. in
effect. that values are not necessarily
dependent upon free bids lin an open
market, but may be fixed by govern
mental decree, and moreover, that the
Government Of the United States is
50 powerful that its decree must be de-
cisive everywhere.
Now, this is exactly the point. II Is
impossible TO surrender the determination
OF values TO the Government without
admitting and accepting everything that
is embraced under the most cOmprehen-
siVe scheme OF paterualism. This is the
point OF reapproachmcnt between the
POpulists and the Bryan Democracy. So
called. Their differences are only ques-
lions OF detail which they should be
able to adjust without Inconsistency on
either side.--Ncw Orleans Picayune.