The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-05-06
BRYAN ON B0LT0CRATS,
Cleveland's Recent illumination the Text for a Very Enter
tanning Discourse.
owe Egotistn, Sfubbornncss and Stupidity The Devotion OF His
strikers, Backers and Doodle Partners Explained.
ny WILLIAM JENNINGS nRY.

ny WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN,
LINCOLN, Men, April % The presence of Mr. Cleveland, two members of
his cabinet and such eminent gold democrats as cx Congressman Turner, Bynum
aa patterson made the banquet an important political event and the address
delivered by Mr. Cleveland may fairly be accepted as setting forth the present
views inc future purposes Of the boiling democrats
Probably the most unexpected thing in the address was his refreucc to the
republican administration He horrows emphasis from a scriptual text and ac
uses thu republicans of returning in hot haste tot their wanowing in the mc of
extreme protection This is nm unfair criticism, because the republicans have
never shown any disposition to abandon extreme protection.
ON MKINLEy DEMOCRATS.
Mr. Mckinley won a political fame as the apostle of high tariff and duru,
the late campaign reiterated his devotion to this policy. Those democrats who
voted for Mr. Mckinley voted with their eyes open to tariff possibilities
Neitherh ave those democrats reason to complain of Mr. McKinlcvs attitude
on tn money question. To be sure, the president has sent an argosy abroad in
search not o" golden fleece bnt of al object equally elusive, namely an inter
national agreement for the restoration of Mmealrm, hut in 80 doing he is only
carving out a pledge contained in his platform.
Unless the gold democrats were in possession of assurances not given to the
p''n' s."'"N " rNlt''e the president to abandon his platform, they ought
to l~ satisfied with his financial policy He promised to maintain the gold stand
ard nntlr relief comes from abroad and h ck doing it in spite of the continued
distress caused by such a policy
CAN CONDEMN POLITICS.
The democrats who supported the Chicago platform IAN consistently condemn
1mn 'e 'arh policy and the financial policy of the administration, hut those
VIII supported Mr. Mckinley are only receiving what they had a right to expect
Mr. Cleveland accuses the republicans of a determination TO repay partisan
ready overaden
He knew that the republicans had collected "a campaign fund larger than ever
before known in American politics Did it never orcur to him that the contriln
tors would expect repayment through legislation friendly to their interests Has
nt he Dngey bill been drawn exactly upon the plan of the Mckinley bng It
may differ in its schedules but it does not differ in its general plan and prepor,
ton But it those democrats who supported Mr. Mckinley have no reason to
e1'cse MS conrscw what shall we say of those democrats who supported the In
PRESIDENT
FROM NOTHING DEMOCRATS.
Mr. Cleveland asserts that when the fate oft tho nation seemed in fine ha,,cs
we" came through the boiling democrats Does he mean through those
'"nNnnis VINO 'omd directly for Mr. Mckinley, or through those who voted for
'e INDIANAPOLIS ticket The leaders among the gold democrats claim to have
vohd fr Palmer and Buckner Certainly did they not entitle them to pose as
s''onn OF their country. They knew that the contest would be close even Mr.
cleveland refers to HE campaign as one Of doubt and fear
VAST patriotic for gold democrats to throw their votes away una tickle,
"".h ~" n nance when their support might have decided the contest There
.. WI, a"'or IN me pos''rous pretentions of those who during the con
test watched the struggle from afar and after the battle as wei claimed all
credit for the victory.
HIS WAR pEcI.AR ALTON.
The important part of Mr. Ceveands address however is fopnd in hi n
mr"uo OF ar against those who supported the Chicago ticket In this last nd
.s e ma s1''h more ad Ito his opponents than to his supporters lust as he did
oy us ohNhai acts His surrender of the executive branch of the government,
INTO the hands Of the Wall street fnaneicn during his lost dmipisra,i,p aa
more ma any other ont thing to arouse the American eople to A knowleloe ~
the iniquiy of the gold standard
His hinly dg@ted support Of the republican ticket in the late mpaip ala
much 70 drve thu silver republicans out Of the republican marty and tlsi, ln,