The Louisiana populist., 1897-07-09
HE HITS THEM AGAIN.
BRYAN RESENTS COMPROMISE
WITH GOLD BUGS.
uhe Great Leader Sounds Note of
Warning That Makes Interesting
Reading-The Attempt to Boost q
Dead Issue to the Front.


William ]. Bryan, writing to the
New York Journal, says that an agree
ment between the regular and the bolt
Ing gold Democrats would be disas-
trous to success In 1890. He also
urges the continuance of the grand al
lance that polled 6.512,931 votes for
him In 1896. His advice to the party
leaders is interesting to Populists, sill
Yer Republicans and Democrats alike.
1t is as follows:
The regular Democrats In their last
national convention declared the mon
ey question to be the paramount issue.
The bolting Democrats, both In their
minority report at Chicago and in their
platform at Indianapolis, recognized
the money question to be the para
mount issue. The regular Democrats
announced their unalterable opposition
to monometallism, describing 1t as an
un-American and anti-American finan-
cial policy.
They demanded the restoration Of
the free and unlimited coinage of both
silver and gold at the present legal
ratio Of 16 to /, without waiting for
the aid or consent of any other nation.
: They declared that the silver dollar
should be a legal tender equally with
gold for all debts, public and private,
and insisted that the government
should retain the right to redeem coin
obligations in either gold or silver.
They also expressed themselves as en-
phatically opposed to national bank
currency.
The gold Democrats indorsed the
gold standard, declared against the
restoration Of bimetallism by the inde-
pendent action Of this nation, and de-
manded the retirement of the green
backs and treasury notes.
Those who supported the Chicago
platform are now as firmly in favor Of
the position taken upon the money
question as they were during the cam
paign. II any change has taken place
their devotion has been increased
rather than diminished.
The adoption Of the gold standard
by Japan and Peru has increased the
strain upon gold and emphasized the
warnings uttered by the advocates Of
free silver during the campaign.
There Is nothing to indicate that the
leaders among the gold Democrats feel
any more kindly toward the regular or
ganization than they did six months
ago. In fact, 1t is only few days
since the most conspicuous boilers met
at the Waldorf dinner, and not only
paid homage to the golden image
which they have set up, but breathed
out warnings and slaughter against the
greenbacks and treasury notes.
AN ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE
IN SOME QUARTERS TO PUSH THE
TARIFF QUESTION TO THE FRONT.
BUT DO NOT THINK THAT THIS
EFFORT CAN BE SUCCESSFUL. THE
TARIFF QUESTION IS NO MORE
IMPORTANT NOW THAN 1T WAS
DURING THE CAMPAIGN, AND IT
WAS NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH
THEN TO KEEP THE GOLD DEMO-
Gratis WITHIN THE FOLD.
To be sure, some Of the gold Demo-
Gratis are criticising the Dingley bill,
but the moment the Republicans turn
their attention to the money question
all complaining will cease, and the
gold Democrats will be found in the
front ranks fighting shoulder to shoul-
der with the Republican leaders. II
the Republicans attempt any further
degradation Of silver and gold Demo-
Gratis will be their allies. II they at
tempt to retire the greenbacks and
treasury notes, directly or Indirectly,
they can rely upon the earnest co.
operation Of the gold Democrats.
Both the regular Democrats and the
gold Democrats know that the money
question will be the paramount issue
OF 1900.
It is folly to expect that either
branch OF the party will give any ma
terial assistance to the representatives
Of the other branch while this great
contest continues. Knowing that they
will fight each other three years hence.
Is 1t reasonable to suppose that they
can be political friends In the mean
time?
When that gallant Democrat. Colo
mel Watt Hardin. was candidate for
governor Of Kentucky. two years ago,
many gold Democrats would mot sup
port him because they feared that his
election would strengthen the silver
cause, and there is no evidence that
the gold Democrats have lost any Of
their sensitiveness on this subject.
Is 1t not probable that the silver
Democrats will exert themselves to
give political position and influence to
men who will use their position and
influence against bimetallism in the
next great battle!
The regular Democrats ard the bolt
ers now have separate and distinct par
" organizations. No matter which is