The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-06
MIR. BRYAN no THE WORLD"

The New York World prints on It's 'front.'
page an article from the Hon. william
j. Bryan. over his own signature. on
THE Problems That Confront the New
Administration" Mr.. Bryan is pictured
in the World in the act OF writing TINS
communication to the public. and. above
him in the dim distance. is a picture OF
the CAPITOL building at Washington. Wheth-
er this is intended as prophecy OF the
World for 1900, or as the dream Of Mr..
Bryan. we are not informed.
Perhaps. by way OF introduction. the
World prints a fac-simile Of the conciud-
ing paragraph OF a personal letter from
Mr.. BRYAN. encloing his communication,
In which he thanks the World FOR TINS
opportunity TO speak TO It's readers AS
to the significance Of this. we do not ex-
press an opinion.
We find little that IS new in Mr.. Bryan
communication. IT is somewhat poide''
and a bit more extreme than anything
that has emanated from him since the
election. Two paragraphs in the com
munication will arrest attention. The
first is this
Tho right of the debtor 10 select the
coin of payment is a part OF bimetalilsm,
and this right Is lodged with the debtor:
whether the debtor IS a private lndViduai
or the Government.
This is an old campaign story. and we
can make nothing out Of 1t, except that
Mr.. Bryan believes that the country needs
and that the people demand and should
have a cheap money with which to pay
their debts. We have watched the asita-
ton of the silver question with deep IN
tercst. and we believe that this was the
most tempting argument ever offered in
favor Of free silver. that the debtor class
might discharge their obligations in de-
preciated silver. Mr.. Bryan Abandoned
this argument for a time. but he has
evidently come 10 the conclusion that it IS
too valuable an argument in favor OF his
pet measure to be laid aside.
The second paragraph relates TO trusts,
and Is as follows:
jefferson said that one Of the main
duties OF the Government was 10 restrain
was it more necessary than now for the
Government TO exercise this restraining
power All admit that the Government
should protect the physically weak from
injury at the hands OF those who are
physically strong. and yet the strongest
man is scarcely twice as powerful a. the
average man. Now. when improved ma
chinery and associated wealth make
single corporation a thousand times as
strong, sometimes. as the average indi-
vidual is ii not right and necessary 10 pro-
tect the pecuniarily weak from injury
at the hands of those who are pecuniarily
powerful?
Now. If this proposition be true. why
should the Government stop at trusts.
The inevitable conclusion of Mr.. Bryans
reasoning is that the Government should
exercise a guardianship over those who
are pecuniarily weak, and whenever a
competitor by reason Of greater capital
or better machinery. shall th-'aton TO
drive out of business the weaker brother,
should come TO his relief at once by laying
it's hand upon the strong. and closing up
his business.
We take it then that Mr.. Bryan begins
his canvass for 1900 upon this platform:
Cheap money, with which 10 pay debts.
and protection for the weak against the
stronger competitor