The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-10-16
THEY CAN'T co BRYAN
Three Leading Democrats
Of Oregon Bolt.
THEY STATE THEIR POSITIONS

Ex- Governor Thayer. Judge Bronaugh
and Benton KILN Denounce
the Chicago Platform.
| Three leading democrats of Portland have
furnished The Oregonian with interviews
| containing their reasons for refusing to
support Bryan and the Chicago platform.
They are Ex-Governor W.. w. Thayer,
Judge E. c. Bronaugh. and Mr.. B. Kill
in, all of whom are known from one end
of the state to the other, and whose opin-
ions and actions will, without doubt, have
much weight with the rank and file of
democracy. The interviews follow:
EX-GOVERNOR w. w. THAYER.
The Chicago Platform an Expression
of Anarchy.
Ex-Governor Thayer had the following
to say:
81 cannot support the candidates for
president and vice-president nominated at
the late democratic convention, held at Chi
cago, Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Sewall. They
may be worthy men for the respective po-
sitions for which they are candidates. so
far as personal integrity of character is
concerned. Very probably they are; but I
am satisfied that their election under the
circumstances and conditions of the coun-
try at InlS time, WOulO De nlSnly QlSdStrOuS
to its peace and welfare. I have long been
| convinced that the most serious danger
| which threatens the stability of our institu-
tionS and the perpetuity of our gov
ernment is not from any encroachment
liable to be made by the government upon
the rights of the people; that the latter
would be perfectly secure without a Magma
Charta even, but that it is from a revolu-
tionary and anarchistic spirit which ap-
pears to pervade the community to an
| alarming extent. And it seems. to me that
the course of conduct pursued by the ma
jority of members of the Chicago conven-
ton was designed and intended to encour-
age that spirit. They indcat ted purpose
and determination to enforce a civil and
financial policy of government to suit
their own whims. without care or consid-
Grafton for the opinions of our wisest
statesmen and a large body of our most
highly-respected and conservative citizens.
Their attitude towards every one opposed
to their vagaries exhibits vicious tenn
per, and the scheme they propose to carry
out is one fraught with mischief
"The president of the United States
whom, four years ago, they ardently sup
ported, Is now, according to their view, too
contemplate to be treated with respect, and
the head and front of his offending seems
to have been that he has attempted to en-
force the law and maintain public credit.
1.-THE supreme court of the United States,
composed of members whose learning, abil-
ity and high character for integrity, the
American people ought to be proud of, they
propose to reorganiZe in such a manner that
1t will carry out their wild theories and
caprices. And their whole aim evidently is
to incite antagonism between the different
sections of the, country and classes OF it's
Inhabitants.
'In the name of heaven, have we not
already suffered enough from sectional ami
mositfes? It seems to me that the Ameri-.
can citizen who cannot see that the course
of the majority of the members of that con-
Vention, and which they and their adherents
are now pursuing. does not point to an
archy, is certainly blind. It's whole ten
dency is in that direction: And who Is to
be benefited by it's consequences? No one
but the reckless adventurer, who has
everything to gain and nothing to lose. It
certainly will not be the man who by thrift
port himself and family in his declining
years, and is called upon to divide it up
with idle and unthrifty persons.
'But, say some, we have hard times upon
US and must have relief. and the only
relief to be obtained Is the adoption of the
free coinage of silver. A resort to the
free coinage Of silver might be necessary
under some conditions or circumstances. It
probably would be if the volume of gold
together with the silver now in use as
money and being maintained at parity
with gold, were inadequate to transact the
commercial affairs Of the world: but to
adopt the free coinage of silver at this
time, instead of proving a relief, would
postpone the return Of good times for
years; srs.,. :. =. .,,o, .o,.,,.. . o,, m
volume has not only been kept up, but
has increased, and is now being added to
by an output of over $500, 600 annually.
It Is not in circulation as freely as we
might desire. perhaps, and will not be un-
til its possessors are assured that they can
invest 1t with reasonable prospects of get.
ting 1t back again, or its equivalent. No
prudent man will invest his accumulations
in times Of civil dissensionD threatened
changes Of the existing system in none
tary affairs He will sooner wait and see
what the new system brings forth. And
II the free coinage of silver at sthe ratio
sofS 16 to / were adopted today, and an
san1ount issued sufficient to transact busi-
ness, who would be benefited thereby? It
certainly would not be those who are in
debt, as their obligations as general rule
are payable in gold, and they would be
compelled to purchase gold with which to
discharge them. Who would that benefit
but the 'gold-bugs'? They would be in a
condition to exact such amount Of ex-F
change as their consciences would permit,
and the unfortunate debtor who is strug-
CLING along to get out of debt would be
further burdened by this new feature
which would arise.
1.-THE free-coinage silver policy cannot,
however, possibly be carried out for years
to come If Mr.. Bryan were to be elected.
law would have to be enacted authoriz-
ing it, and it would require a long time to
coin sufficient amount to answer business
requirements. In the meantime, gold would
be boarded more securely than now, and
the community be destitute of money emf
tirely. The adoption of free coinage Of sill
yer at this time would as I view the
matter, be suicidal. At least, I think it
better 'to endure the ills we have than fly
to others we know not Of
''Nor do believe it prudent to resort to
any legislative scheme to improve the
times. Financial matters, if left alone,
will adjust themselves much better than
can be accomplished by legislative TINKER
ing. Good times are only secured by the
active circulation of money, and legislative
enactment cannot accomplish that. The
depression in the money market for the
last two months is due largely to the dis
trust occasioned by the action and conduct
of the Chicago convention and its support
ers since. Hundreds of thousands of dol
lars now idle would have been invested
and in circulation in our community were
1t not for the pernicious influence which
that performance melted. And should the