The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-01-14
BRYAN DEFINES DEMOCRACY.
Separation of Gold and Silver Fac
tions Necessary and Desirable.

w. ]. Bryan spoke as follows:
AS we are assembled on this occasion to
do honor to the memory of Andrew Jackson.
we may properly discuss the relations which
should exist between the Democrats who
indorsed the Chicago platform and the So
called Democrats who aided in the election
Of Republican President. The Democrats
who controlled the Chicago convention earn
ed their right to the party organization and
to the party name by whatever rule their
claims may be measured. A democracy is
a government in which the people rule. In
other words 1t is government such as Lin
coin described: "a government OF the peo-
pie. by the people. and for the people" and
a Democrat In the broadest sense is one
who believes in this form of government.
When l say ''beieyeS" in this form OF gov
ernment l mean actual, sincere, heartfelt
belief, not n formal and enforced submission
to that form of government. Measured by
this definition, those who supported the Chi
cago platform are Democrats, because they
assert the right Of the people to govern
themselves and the right of the American
people to iegislate for themselves upon all
questions regardless Of the wishes OF those
who live In other lands.
In technical sense democracy is outlined
and defined by the Democratic party. The
Democratic party of the United States In
national convention assembled, according to
CUSTOM adopted a platform which received
the sanction of nearly twO-thirds of very
large proportion of the Democrats of the
nation That convention had q right TO de-
fire democracy In a party sense, and we
have a right to declare that those who re-
fused TO support the platform are not Demo-
Gratis.
The right TO the party organization be-
longs 10 the majority, and the right TO the
party must also belong to the majority.
There should be no difficulty in understand
ing the relations which should exist between
the Democrats who remained In the party
and those persons who went out Of the
party. party is defined an association
of persons who agree upon an important
question or questions, and who unite to give
effect to their ideas. The money question
became the paramount issue of the day.
The Democrats in convention took Il post
tiOn upon the question and made a gallant
fight in defense of the platform adcStcd.
If the money question was now considered
settled another issue could be taken up and
a new alignment made. But the money
question Is not settled. The contest for
the restoration Of the money of the Cons.i-
tuition will go on with renewed yigor. The
people who advocated free silver before the
election advocate it now. The election has
decided the Presidency for four years. and
it has determined the complexion Of Con
grcss for two years. but II has not over
thrown the convictions of those who be-
lieve that the gold standard is a conspiracy
against the welfare Of the producing masses
nor has ii changed the convictions of those
who believe that trusts must be abolished
and corporations made to obey the law.
This campaign has shown the impossibility
of keeping bimetallists and gold standard
advocates in the same political OrganiZa-
tions, and it will be more difficult task In
the future than 1t has been this year. To
use common Illustration, a hen Is always
disturbed II she has in her brood q few
ducks which insist upon padding fu the
water. while the chickens are content to
scratch upon the land. The Democratic
party will in like manner be i'll a: ease If it
has a few web-footed members who insist
upon crossing the ocean for their ideas
while the great ma jority of the party are
willing to find their political food upon
American soil
Not only Is this separation between the
gold standard Democrats and free silver
Democrats a necessity, but it ought to be
desirable to both sides. If the gold stand
ard Democrats arc rs bad. politically, as we
think they are, we ought not to care to
affiliate with them; and II those who sup
ported the Chicago platform are half as
bad as the goldbugs say they are, they are
apt to contaminate all who associate with
them.
We are engaged now in just such con-
test as that through which Andrew Jackson
passed, and we DO well on this occasion to
take encouragement from his devotion TO
the cause OF the people. He gained his
greatest victory In his fight against the ma
tional bank.
We have the same fight on hand to-day
The national bank is seeking TO force re-
tlrement Of the greenbacks and then mon
opolize the issue Of paper money. The Re
publicans during the campaign Just closed
avoided this subject and refused to declare
themselves either for or against the retire
meDt of the greenbacks. But when they
come TO apply their ideas to legislation they
must disclose their views,
statement issued by the Treasury De
partment near the close of December
showed an available cash balance, including
gold reserve of more than S225 coo, 600 OF
this sum about 10000. 900 was in greenbacks
and about S38,OOO,O0O in Treasury notes.
This money is either good or bad. II 1t Is
good, 1t ought to be in circulation among
the people instead of locked up in the
vaults at Washington. To keep a balance
Of S225, 100000 in the Treasury when the
money is needed among the people is in
eScusable. The only way to get this mon
ey our among the people is, first. to have
the taxes less than the expenditures. in
which case the amount of the deficit is be-
ing saved to the people in taxes; and, sec
Ond. to loan it through banks or other
agencies. We have got 4 surplus of about
SIPS, 600, 900 above the reserve. For the fis-
cal year ending June 80. 1885, the eypendi- |
lures exceeded the receipts nearly $4,000
coo; for the year 1896, little more than
S25, 100000
If the Republicans attempt to Increase the !
revenue they must expect either TO in
crease the expenditures or the surplus in
the Treasury. l think we are safe in assum- |
Ing they are hostile to the sreenback, not |
because 1t Is inferior TO the bank note, but |
because the national banks desire to retire |
the greenbacks with bonds and then draw |
upon the bonds the interest which the peo-
pie as Il whole now save on the greenbacks.
While the Republicans have not yet had |
an opportunity to write their policies upon |
the statute books, we have proceeded far |
enough to discover that the mere announce
ment of Republican success does not restore |
If the advocates of free silver |
had won every bank and business failure |
would have been attributed to their success,
and the gold standard papers would have
been loud in their wailing. But the Repub- |
lican organs. although compelled TO chroni- |
Gle an increasing number of business fail
ures over the corresponding period of last |
year, never connect these failures with Re- |
publican success. |
During the month of November, 1896, |
laIi lnr, fniln lnd mil In, tl,x,l