The Delta independent., 1898-02-18

The New York Journal publishes
long letter from William j. Bryan, in
which he contends for the retention of
the l6 TO ratio as cardinal feature Of
the democratic creed.
The moment the ratio OF l6 TO is
surrendered" writes Mr.. Bryan, "our
silver plank loses its force. Those who
oppose the ratio OF 10 TO are not agreed
among themselves. No considerable body
Of men ask for any other ratio. One
man says 30 TO /, another 81. another -; y;
but all objectors together are small in
number compared with those who be-
iieve in the ability Of this nation TO main
tain the parity of i6 10 l."
Mr.. Bryan then argues against leaving
the ratio to be determined by congress.
and points out that such a policy divides
the free silver forces Some congressman
may be elected on 10 to platform and
others on platforms favoring other ratios.
The ratio Of 10 to L. be says, "has
been adopted by the democratic party in
a convention which more than any other
recent convention received its authority
| direct from the people. The rank and
fiic OF the party. instead OF leaving the
ratio TO the leaders, expressed their own
opinion upon the subject and that
opinion has not changed since the con-
vention. This ratio has also been in
dorsed by the populis, party. the nation
al silver party and the silver republicans
To abandon the ratio would be wrong in
itself. and as impoli,ic as it would be
wrong. II the democratic party were 10
allow its policy on this question 10 be
determined by few doubling Thomases
or by the desertcrs who supported the
enemy in the great struggle between
democracy ard the pluiocracy. it would
lose the respcc: and confidence Of those
who now look TO it as an efficient means
of restoring a government OF the people.
To turn its clear and courageous enuncia.
sious. TO wallow again in the mire OF
ambiguity and deception. would ALLEVIATE
tho.e who have been drawn to it by the
platform OF 1876"
Mr.. Bryan does not mincc words in
charactcrizing those democrats who re-
fuse 10 stand up for l6 to l.
The democratic party could have re.
taincd within its folds the dcscrters Of
1896 IL IL had consented TO meaningless
PLATFORM he says. "but it preferred 10
lo~c some members of the body rather
than have the whole body destroyed.
Regeneration did not come toosoon. The
gold democrats were rapidly making the
party rival Of the republican party for
the favor of trusts and monopolics. IL
the Chicago platform did nothing else. it
drove from The party those who had been
manipulating the party for private gain
and using the government for public
plumber. There are many Of the desericrs
whose return TO the party would bring
weakness rather than add strength. and
there are millions of democrats who
would not surrender a single line OF the
Chicago platform because OF antagonism
TO the principles set forth in that plat
form. The party can win more voters by
steadfastly standing by the right than
by weakly compromising with error. and
those who profess attachment TO the
democratic name rather than the demo
cratic principles will always require
watching. TIE democratic party has
put its hand 10 the plow, and. unless ]
mistake the spirit which animates the
members. IL will not look back