Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-09-08
QUERIES FOR BRYAH.
An Open Letter to the POpOcratio
Candidate for the Presi-
- a denoy.
SOME PERTINENT QUESTIONS.
Apprehension Excited by Campaign
Utterances Refuses to be
s Allayed.

Ter to Candidate Bryan on Tuesday
morning, puts some grave and important
questions TO him, and urges him to
answer them If he wants to be elected,
as the people are bordering those very
points, and their votes will turn OH how
they are answered and explained by
him. The readers of the Tribune should
peruse this editorial, which is reprinted
here In connection with Bryan's speech
at Madison Square garden last night.
The World says, under the caption
''To Mr.. Bryan"
To Mr.. Bryan: On the 10th of July,
the very day of your nomination for
president, you addressed communfca-
lion to the World in the following words:
:, 10 the World: The restoration OF silver to
ats ancient place by the side of gold WILL in
any Judgment, restore the parity between
money ana property and thus permit re-
turn OF general prosperity. The World,
which did such effective work in behalf OF
an Income tax, will find still larger field of
usefulness In supporting the gold and silver
coinage OF the constitution.
WILLIAM ]. BRYAN
The World has conscientiousy consid-
cred your courteous request. 1t has
carefully studied your speeches made
during and since the Chicago conyen-
ton. 1t has studiously examined your
record in Congress. 1t has impartillly
traced your career as a politician, Il
lawyer, an orator and editor, in order to
characteristic hardest thing in the
world to ascertain concerning any man.
1t has published every word that could
Toe obtained from your eulogists and as
sociates, with the same end in view. 1t
pas done all this in the sincere hope that
the knowledge gained or impressions re-
viewed would relieve the fear and appre-
hension excited by some of your utter
ances, and particularly by some parts of
the Chicago platform, on which you
stand
In this connection it is only Just TO
remind you that the plank in the Chica-
go platform seeming TO reflect upon the
integrity of the Supreme court and in
tlcating a purpose to pack that tribunal
In order to secure n desired decision
and the other resolution denouncing
government by Injunction" have been
severely criticised by conservative and
law-abiding citizens. The people have
profound and abiding respect for their
highest court, even when they are dis
appointed in their decisions They
would be glad to hear your interpreta-
ton of the resolution. which is generally
accepted as stupid and incorporate
attack upon the Supreme court and the
avowal of the purpose TO reconstruct it
IN accordance with the beliefs of the
platform makers should your election
Present The opportunity. Is this your
understanding?
Definition is also called for of the
resolution denouncing arbitrary inter
ference by federal authorities in local
matters. This is generally believed to
mean free riot with free silver" as
well as sympathy with lawlessness and
Interpretation Of President Clevelands
action at the time of the Chicago strike
Yet all who believe in law and order
ms the very life and rootbasis of civil
tzed government regard this as one of
1u ifa1
administration. What is your view of
It? "a
Are you, Mr.. Bryan, for actual and
practical bimetallism-the equal coinage
of gold and silver at ratio that will
permit the free circulation of both money
metals, as the ratio of 16 to has never
done? When you say that Won favor
free coinage by the United States with
out waiting for the aid or consent of
any foreign government, do you mean
mat the concurrence of the great com
mercial nations with which we trade is
not desirable and even Indispensable if
the country is not to sink to silver
OASIS Do you really favor the none
lary isolation of the United States in
the family of great nations? Do we not
want our money to be accepted at it's
race value all over the world? You in
slst upon ''the right of the peo-
PIE OF the United States to legislate
Tor themselves upon all questions"
rms right is not questioned by any
not imply the duty or the wisdom. Con-
gress mas the right to declare that our
surplus agricultural products shall he
sold abroad. But would such an asser-
ton OF national independence benefit
the country? Would it have helped the
had the $780, 100000 of exnorts in
the last ten years kept in the home mar
ket, or to have sold them for a denreci-
ated currency while buying in return ~
gold prices? If you would not favor the
isolation of the United States why
should you desire its financial isolation
In the interest of a clear understand.
Ing OF your position, and to allay if nos
sibie the fear and apprehension which
you Know TO exist, will you answer these
questions In your acceptance of the presi
dental nomination, which you are about
TO deliver! You must perceive in the
preparations for a second Democratic
ucket' ana III the divisions and distfac-
IONS among your Populist and Demo |
cratic supporters at the South, a growing
danger TO your cause. We assume thai
you wish TO be elected. These are some
OF the points upon which Won can So |
cure votes. by allaying apprehensions
lou Lay also be able to do this by reply |
ing to these questions, suggested Nv yn;,r
telegram to the World:
i. When in the history of this cou,trv,
has silver occupied Its ancient nIoce
by the side of goldY Has there aver
been time when the two metals cir,u.
lated upon equal terms as full legal
tender money, with the minis omen to
the free and unlimited coinage of botb9 |
If so, when was itg
2. You say that the restoration of tbot
condition will, in your judgment "ra'
store the parity between money and
property" Will you kindly explain what
you mean by this? What is the ..par;tv
between money and property?" Do Won
mean that the restoration" will mt nm
prices, undo the cheapening effects of inn.
proved machinery, transportation. etc
and increase the cost of living IN al
classes of the community? If SO. will
you kindly explain how this Increase in
the cost of all commodities is likely Ia
promote "a return of general prosneri.
typ Will the workingman, whose wages
are stationary or nearly so, be made
more prosperous by having to nay more
for his flour, meat, groceries, chickens.
eggs, fruits, vegetables, clothing. bonse,
hold utensils, rent, and all the rest of II?
Will even the farmer be better off with
q double price for his produce. in the
wholly improbable contingency that Eu-
rope will consent 20 pay it, if he must
pay double fr- everything be has to buv? ,