People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-05-27
BRYAN REPLIES TO CLEVELAND.
The ioldbug Democracy Impotent to Bring
Any Relief TO the Country.

which ClevelaDd'S boom Tor the preSl-
Dental nomination in 1900 was cur
loose:
"Tne presence of Mr.. Cleveland. two
members OF his cabinet aud such eml.
nent gold Democrats as ex Congress,
men Turner, Bynum aud Patterson
made the banquet an important
political event, and the address de-
Iivered by MIR. Cleveland may fairly
be accepted as seULing forth tie pres
ent vie@s and further purposes Of The
boiling Democrats.
Probably The most unexpected
thing in his address was his reference
to the RepuOican administrator.
He Burrows emphasis from a scripture
text ana accuses the Republicans of
returning in hot haste 10 their walluw-
ing in tie mire Of extreme Protection.
This is an unfair criticism, because
the Republicans have never shown
any disposition to abandon extreme
protection.
"Mr, Mckinley won political fame
as the apostle of high tariff, AM dur.
ing the late campaign reiterated mis-
devotion TO this policy. Those Dem
Ocrats who voted for Mckinley. voted
with their eyes open to tariff pOssibil-
tiles. Neither have those Democrats
reason to complain of McKinley's atti.
tude on the money question. To be
sure the president has sent an argoSv
abroad in search, not of golden fleece
but of al object equally elusive, name.
ly an international agreement for the
restoration of bimetallism, but in so
doing he is only carrying out plecge
contained in his platform.
UNLESS the gold Democrats were in
possession Of assurances not given to
the public generally, or expected the
president TO abandon his platform
they ought to be satisfied with his f.
nanCial policy. He promised to main
tain the gold standard until relief
comes from abroad, and he is doing if
in spite of the continued distress.
The Democrats who supported the
Chicago platform can consistently
condemn both the tariff policy and
the financial policy of the adminiStra-
tiOn, but those who supported Mr..
Mckinley are receiving only what
they had a right to expect. Mr..
Cleveland accuses the Republicans
of determination to repay partisan
support from the proceeds of increased
burdens of taxation placed upon those
already laden.
He knew that the Republicans had
collected a campaign fund larger than
ever before known in American
politics. Did it ever occur to him
that the contributors would ex-
pecJ repayment through legislation
friendly to their interests? Has not
the Dngley bill been drawn exactly
on tie plan of the Mckinley bill? 1t
may offer in its schedules, but it
does not differ in general plan and
preparation. But if those Democrats
who supported Mr.. Mckinley have nc
reason to complain or critcise his
course, what shall We say of those
Democrats who supported the Indian
apOliS ticket? What claim have they
to consideration at the hands of the
president?
''Mr. Cleveland asserts that when
the fate Of the nation seemed in tue
balance, deliverance came through
the bo.ting Democrats. Does lie
mean those Democrats who voted
directly for Mr.. Mckinley, or through
those who voted for the indianapolis
ticket? The leaders among The gold
Democrats claim to have voted for
Palmer and BuCkner. Certainly this
does not entitle them to pose as
saviOrS Of their country. They knew
that the contest would be close. Even
Mr.. Cleveland refers TO the campaign
as one of doubt and fear. Was it
patriotic for gold Democrats to throw
their votes away upon ticket that
had nu chance when their support
might have decided the contest?
There is touch of humOr in tne
6OiSterOus contentious of those who
during The contest watched the strug-
gle from afar, and after the battle
was over claimed all the credit for
the victory. The important part of
Mr.. Cleveland's address, however, IS
found in his declaration of war against
those who supported the Chicago
ticket. In his address he has given
more aid to his opponents than his
supporters, justaS he did ia his Official
acts. His surrender of the executive
branch of the government Into the
hands of Wall street fnanciers dur
ing the last administration did more
than any other one thing towards
arousing the American people to a
knowledge of the iniQuity of the gold
standard.
ellis thinly disguised support Of
the Republican ticket in the late
camplI-n did much to drive the silver
RepuaiIcans out of the Republican
party, and their loyalty to bimetallism
has | been shaken by defeat. In
his address last Saturday night he
aided Tie silver cause still further by
removing whatever danger there
might have been of concessions from
the regular Democrats to the boilers
"It he had discussed the fundament-
al principles of democracy and then
urged union Of forces upon a plat
form comprising differences on the
money question he might have done
rs hlFm in some sections, but his
dOgmtlh insistence upon foreign
financial policy and his emphatic in
dorsenent of the organization of the
gold Democrats will have a whole
some influence 10 convincing timid
Democrats Of the folly of an at
tempt Jp reunite the Democrats vino
believe in bimetallism with the
Democrats who are welded to pnld
monOmetallism.
"Mr, Cleveland recognizes that he
contest over the money question
instead NJ hpinC andad l. go