The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-15
rtrrrXsOSA AND SILVER.

Democratic Clubs, IN Washington, on the
occasion of the celebration of Jefferson'S
birthday. the Hon. w. J. Bryan among
other things, said:
Mr.. Cleveland. more than any other one
peison i'm this nation, is respohslO'e AO'
the prominent position when the ihohe'
o,estion now occupies. 1t was his deter
mination TO complete the demonetNaHon
OF silver and make the gold STANDARD per
petual that aroused the masses OF lhe
United States TO active resistance On
conditional repeal, the veto OF the selg-
nioraee bill the attempt TO retire the
greenbacks with an issue OF gold Donds.
and. finally, the Rothschilds contract-al
these together forced the money question
into the forefront Of the conflict ana maze
II possible for the Democratic party 10
take the position which II did In the cam
palgn OF 1896. The struggle for supremacy
between the gold standard and bimetai-
lism was recognized as contest between
the money power and the common people.
In seeking TO restore bimetallism the
Democratic party was applying the prin-
ciples of Jefferson 10 the money ques-
ton, because bimetallism will give us a
financial system more Just than the gold
standard in its operation as between man
and man.
So far as Mr. Cleveland Is concerned
we do not see why Mr.. Bryan should
either criticise him or complain OF him
for what he accused Mr.. Cleveland of
having done. IT Is well-known fact that
Mr. Cleveland served notice on the Demo-
cratic party before he was nominated
in 1892. that he was Internationally op-
posed TO the free coinage of silver. and
the party OF which Mr.. Bryan was then
a prominent member Chough Mr.. Bryan
voted against him at the election). nomi-
mated him with a full knowledge of his
position on the silver question. and with
full knowledge that Mr.. Cleveland would
veto free coinage bill. should such
bill pass Congress and come TO him for
his signature. So much for the criticism.
AS for the complaint. surely in the esti-
nation Of Mr.. Bryan and other advocates
Of free silver Mr.. Cleveland did the
Bryan people great favor when he
forced the free silver issue to the front.
Unless Mr.. Bryan thinks that the thing
was prematurely done.
But this. by the way. Mr.. Bryan says
that in seeking to restore bimetalhsm. the
Democratic party was applying the prin-
cples OF jefferson TO the money question.
When Mr.. Bryan says bimetallism, he
means free silver. and while his party
may. in his estimation. have been apply
ing the principles Of jefferson to the
money question, il ditl not apply the prac-
tlce Of jefferson. for during the admins
tration Of President jefferson. his Secre-
tary Of State issued the following order:
Department of State. May /. 1s06.
Sir: In consequence OF a representation
from Inc directors Of the Bank OF the
United States that considerable purchases
have been made Of dollars coined at the
mint for the purpose of exporting them,
and as IL is probable further purchases
and expectations will be made, the Presi-
dent Crhomas jefferson directs that all
silver TO be coined at the mint shall be
OF small denominations so that the value
OF the largest piece shall not exceed half
a dollar. JAMES MADISON.
Robert Patterson. Esq. Director of the
Mint.
This fact was prominently brought out
the other day 10y Senator Caffery. OF
louisiana in an interview with the New
York Evening Post, and after quoting
the above order. he mentions the r'lrther
fact that pursuant TO this order, the
silver dollar was dropped from he coin
age, and that no more pieces wee struck
for thirty years. only 1000 being coined
during the eight years that Jackson was
President. Mr. Caffery also calls atten-
ton to the fact that Jefferson throughout
all his writings on the subject Of the
monetary standard. leaned TO gold as the
standard OF value, and never at any time
varied from his proposition that the pro-
portion between the values OF gold and
SILVER Is mercantile problem altogether"
NJ. Bryan is having a hard time of IT.
indeed, In trying TO adjust the Father
OF Democracy 10 modern Organism.