The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-10-02
QUERIES FOR BRYAN.
An Open Letter to the Popocratic
Candidate for the Presi-
deney.
SOME PERTINENT QUESTIONS.
Apprehension Excited by Campaign
Utterances Refuses to be
AlIayed.

Il
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 pondering those very
points, and their votes will turn on how
|. they are answered and explained by
: him. The readers of the Tribune should
peruse this editorial. which is reprinted
here in connection with Bryans 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 a communlea-
ton to the World in the following words:
To the World: The restoration of silver to
Its ancient place by the side of gold will. in
my Judgment, restore the parity between
turn of general prosperity. The World
which did such effective work in behalf of
an income tax, will find a still larger field Of
usefulness in supporting the gold and silver
WILLIAM j. BRYAN.
The World has conscientiously consid-
cred your courteous request. 1t has
carefully studied your speeches made
during and since the Chicago conYen-
tion. 1t has studiously examined your
record in Congress. 1t has impartillly
traced your career as politician. a
lawyer, an orator and editor, in order to
obtain an understanding of your real
characteristic hardest thing in the
world to ascertain concerning any man.
1t has published every word that could
be obtained from. your eulogists and as
sociates, with the same end in view. 1t
has done all this in the sincere hope that
the knowledge gained or impressions re-
ceiyed would relieve the fear and appre-
hensiOn excited by some of your utter
anees, 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
dicating a purpose to pack that tribunal
In order to secure a desired decision,
and the other resolution denouncing
government by injunction" have been
severely criticised by conservative and
law-abiding citizens. The people have a
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-
tion of the resolution, which is generally
accepted as stupid and Incorporate
attack upon the Supreme court and the
v0wal of the purpose to reconstruct it
Il; 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-
matters" This is generally believed to
mean "free riot with free silver" as
well as sympathy with lawlessness and
'disapprObation of President Cleveland's
action at the time of the Chicago strike.
Yet all who believe in law and order
as the very life and root-basis of civil
lied government regard this as one of
the most highly creditable acts of his
administration. What is your view of
it?
Are you. Mr.. Bryan, for actual and
practical llism-the equal coinage
of gold and silver at a ratio that will
permit the free circulation of both money
metals, as the ratio of 16 to l has never
done? When you say that you favor
free coinage by the United States with
out waiting for the aid consent of
any foreign government, do you mean
that the concurrence of the great COM
merciai nations with which we trade is
not desirable and even indispensable if
the country is not to sink to silver
basis2 Do you really favor the none
fary isolation of the United States in
the family of great nations? Do we not
want our money to be accepted at its
face value all over the world? You in
sist upon ''the right of the peo-
pie of the United States to legislate
for themselves upon all questions"
This right is not questioned by any,
so far as we know. But the right does
gress has the right to declare that our
surplus agricultural products shall be
sold abroad. But would such an asser-
ton of national independence benefit
the country? Would it have helped the
farmers of the United States to have
had the $4,000, 100000 of exports in
the last ten years kept in the home mar
ket, or to have sold them for a depreci-
ated currency while buying in return at
gold prices? If you would not favor the
49, rhry
should you desire its financial isolation!
In the interest of clear understand
ing of your position, and to allay if pos
sible 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
ticket, and in the divisions and distrac-
tions among your Populist and Demo
cratic supporters at the South, growing
danger to your cause. We assume that
of the points upon which you can Sc
cure votes by allaying apprehensions.
You may also be able to do this by reply
ing to these questions, suggested by your
telegram to the World:
1. When in the history of this country
has silver occupied sits ancient place
by the side of gold?" Has there ever
been time when the two metals circu-
lated upon equal terms as full legal
tender money, with the mints open to
the free and unlimited coinage of both
If so. when was it?
2. You say that the restoration of that
condition will, in your judgment, ere
store the parity between money and
property" Will you kindly explain what
you mean by this? What is the parity
between money and property?" Do you
mean that the restoration" will put ur
prices, undo the cheapening effects of inn
proved machinery, transportation, etc.
and increase the cost of living to al
classes Of the community If so, viii
you kindly. explain how this increase il
the cost Of all commodities is likely tc
promote "a return of general prosperi
ty?" Will the workingman, whose wages
are stationary or nearly so, be made
more prosperous by having to pay more
for his -four, meat, groceries, chickens
eggs, fruits, vegetables, clothing, house
hold utensils, rent, and all the rest of it
Will even the farmer be better off witt
double price for his produce. in the
wholly improbable contingency that Eu