Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-03-18
MR. eRYAN.s OPINION.


The Democratic Leader Analyses Ne
kinIey's Inaugural Speech
In special communication to the St.
Louis Republic regarding President Nc
Kinley's inaugural speech William j.
| Bryan says:
/ II have read with much interest those
portions of President McKinley's inaugural
address which treat OF the money question
and the trusts. His declaration against
/ trusts and other combinations OF capital
| is encouraging to those who believe that
| IL Is the duty OF the government to protect
the weaker members of society from those
| who are pecuniarily powerful. His words
/ for he promises 70 recommend new legis-
lation, IL new legislation Is necessary. a.
| well as to enforce the laws already In ex-
| istence.
THE official duties of president are &C
great and exacting that he must necessari-
| ly depend largely upon his appointees in
| the department OF justice, both for the
| enforcement OF the laws now upon the
| statute books and for suggestions as 20
/! additional legislation
earnest, they viii find immediate work &c
do and can soon determine whether the
trusts are flourishing because Of executive
clemency or because of legislative indiner~
ence. II. on the other hand. the presidents
subordinates are friendly TO the combina-
ton, 1t viii be difficult for him to carry out
his promise, no matter how good his inten-
tons may be.
1.-The sympathies OF public ofhcer con.
troll his conduct, and ii is to be hoped that
the executive viii surround himself with
men whose sympathies are with the people
rather than with the trusts. The promise
OF the president should make even his po-
ltical opponents withhold criticism until
he has a chance tie redeem the pledge given.
II was especially pleased 10 note the
emphasis which he placed upon the de-
nand for equal rights. 1t Is not equality
Of possessions but equality Of rights that
the people demand: equality before the
law. or. to quote the democratic maxim.
equal rights TO all and special privileges &c
none
The president recognizes that prevailing
conditions are unsatisfactory. He refers
to the fact that willing laborers are idle.
and that loss IL entailed upon useful en-
terprises.
He admits that the country is suffering
from Industrial disturbances and needs
speedy relief. BY following this admission
with the financial question, he seems &c
suggest that the money question is a para
mount issue.
His promise to endeavor constantly to
secure international bimetallism is q re-
buiSe to those who think that the gold
standard should be maintained because of
its own merits. The system which is so
bad as to justify an early and earnest at
tempt to get rid of II cannot &c defended
II s.,
must be endured until help comes from
abroad will be discouraging to those who
have ceased to expect International CO.
operation can be secured through persua-
sion.
''It is Illuminating to think that after more
than a century OF national existence we
must depend upon the right of petition in
stead of relying upon the right to legislate.
If any part of our industrial depression Is
due to the gold standard. then it is certain
hnx hat xffaFar
tinue, unless the other great commercial
powers OF the world Join us in restoring
bimetallism.
1T is to be regretted that the executive
did not define his position more clearly upon
the question OF paper money. IL he had
openly advised the retirement OF the green
backs the people could be considering the
question. but instead of doing that directly
he obscures his purpose by using the phrase
ology commonly employed in bankers con-
ventionS.
His reference to arrangements which
are temporary in their nature and his
anxiety to relieve the government from
the necessity of maintaining so large q
gold reserve are familiar to those who
have watched the effort which the national
bankers have made to secure the right to
issue all the paper currency of the country.
The commission is q favorite scheme OF the
financiers, but o commission cannot settle
SO important q question as that now before
the people
IF a commission Is appointed, each MEM
Der viii have q fixed opinion before he
enters upon the work, and each senator
and member of congress win vote his own
opinion without regard to the report of the
commission.
shall we have bank paper or government
paper? That is the question suggested but
not directly asked.
THE question must be settled by the peo-
pie through their elected representatives
and commissions will have but little effect
'WILLIAM J. BRYAN"